I Heart TV

All Time Low?

2009-11-14T23:52:00.000-08:00

Just when you think SNL couldn't get any worse...

Now, to be fair I'm only 30 minutes into tonight's episode featuring Mad Men's delightful yet visibly nervous January Jones but things are pretty horrific so far. I'd like to say the show probably won't sink any lower than the catastrophic "Grace Kelly farting on the set of Rear Window" skit, but I'm not holding my breath.

The Weather (and Movie) Channel?

2009-11-14T00:45:00.000-08:00

So I was flipping around the TV tonight and I was caught off guard when I saw that the Kathy Bates thriller Misery was on...The Weather Channel? I'm not sure how I feel about TWC now playing weather related films. The channel itself has become pretty obsolete since the advent of the internet, so I guess it was only a matter of time before the network stopped airing weather forecasts 24/7 but it still seems odd.

Thoughts?

Rock On The Mend?

2009-11-13T23:27:00.000-08:00

After a (very) shaky start to it's 4th season, 30 Rock finally seems to be finding its creative mojo once again. Last week's episode, "Audition Day", was Rock in top form. Liz and Pete scheme to fix the audition process at TGS so that Jack selects the actor they want to become the new cast member. Also, Jack comes down with a case of the bedbugs and feels how it is to be on the bottom of society's pyramid. The episode played on Rock's biggest strength as a powerfully biting workplace satire, and if Fey and Co. stay in that territory they're always brilliant.(Bonus points for the closer featuring Jack singing on the subway! HI-larious.)

This week's episode, "The Problem Solvers" - which wasn't AS funny as "Audition Day" - begins with Jack informing Liz of a new development regarding her "Dealbreaker" franchise. He wants Liz to host a talk show version of her book and she couldn't be more excited - until Tracy and Jenna inform her that she should shop around for a better deal and get an agent before signing anything. Meanwhile, new cast member Jack (who was renamed Danny to avoid any confusion with Jack Donaghy) is learning the ropes of TGS. While there were a few components of the episode I didn't quite get on board with (Liz taking Tracy and Jenna's advice for one), and I'm not crazy about another cast member on an already crowded show, "The Problem Solvers" succeeded on the foundation of Liz and Jack's ever strengthening relationship. These two have one of the most interesting and satisfying dynamics in TV today.

So, do you agree that 30 Rock has found its footing? Or is it still way off?

Snap Judgment: White Collar

2009-11-13T22:57:00.000-08:00

I just happened to catch an episode of USA's new drama White Collar, and my snap judgment is: this procedural is as cute as a button! Neal Caffrey (played by the devastatingly handsome Matthew Bomer) is a con artist enlisted by the FBI to assist in apprehending white collar criminals. His team includes partner Peter Burke (Tim Dekay) and fellow agent Lauren Cruz (Natalie Morales). The plot was simple and breezy, but the real fun here was the cast of characters (which also includes Tiffani "Kelly Kapowski" Thiessen and Willie Garson of Sex and the City fame). Bromer, in particular, plays Caffrey with exceptional charm and debonair; he literally oozes cool.

White Collar is bright and slick. The stories aren't complicated, and they don't need to be. Collar is the cotton candy of procedurals and there's no denying the fact we could all use something light and sweet every now and then.

Rollin' On The River

2009-11-11T22:06:00.000-08:00

Glee returned tonight (after a far too long three week hiatus) and it certainly didn't disappoint. While the show is well known for its musical savvy and wickedly sharp wit, tonight's hour aimed right for our heart strings. Glee flexed its emotional muscle, proving it has the ability to be genuinely sweet without being excessively sappy.

The episode, entitled "Wheels", focused on the gang's continued preparation for sectionals, with Rachel and Kurt vying for the lead in the club's upcoming "Defying Gravity" number. Will is confronted with the challenge of trying to raise money for a special bus to the competition which accommodates Artie and his wheelchair, and the Gleesters suggest Artie simply ride with his dad to save money. In an attempt to teach everyone a lesson about understanding and togetherness, Will has everyone spend three hours a day in a wheelchair. To continue the theme of diversity and acceptance, Sue is ordered to fill Quinn's vacancy on the Cheerios by having open tryouts where anyone is permitted to attend.

Even if you missed tonight's episode, you can tell by the recap that Glee definitely had the potential of being dangerously cheesy. However, the writers made it work by staying smart and retaining Glee's characteristically razor sharp edge. There were some truly touching moments here, and showcasing the show's soft side only makes it that much more satisfying as a whole.

Kurt's exchanges with his father were tender, but the real punch came with the shocking revelation that Sue has a sister with special needs and that she visits her in the hospital on a regular basis! Even though I love Sue's evil side, her character became a little more realistic (and more effective) with this tiny glimpse of compassion. All that, plus a finale featuring a kick ass performance of "Proud Mary" and I'd say "Wheels" was a pretty damn good episode. Encore!!

And the final verdict on "Defying Gravity"? Personally, I would have loved to hear Rachel knock it out of the park on her own (cause she was definitely headed for a grand slam), but it worked slightly better than I had expected. In the context of the show the song carried some weight, but I wasn't blown away. I still think they could have done wonders with that number, and "Proud Mary" definitely eclipsed it in the fabulousity department.

Family Vacation

2009-11-11T18:14:00.000-08:00

ABC will be airing the CMA's tonight, therefore we won't be treated to another hilarious installment of Modern Family. However, with baseball over we finally get Glee back after a 3 week hiatus. I personally love all the grandeur and spectacle of a professional sporting event (speaking of which, NBC informed us last week that we are less than 100 days away from the Winter Olympics), but I'm glad we're back to regularly scheduled programming.

In related news, I recently listened to the preview track of "Defying Gravity" from tonight's episode of Glee. Now, let me point out that I'm a huge Wicked fan and "Defying Gravity" is one of the most powerful numbers I've ever had the pleasure of seeing live.

However, the arrangement seemed to strip away all of "Defying Gravity's" emotion and gusto. What's left is a watered down, lite FM version of the song which lacks everything that makes the original so wonderful. I'm hoping it either a) works better in the context of the episode or b) is arranged completely different. I still have faith in the show runners, and I've read a few reviews touting tonight's Glee as pretty fantastic so we'll see how it goes!

Another One Bites The Dust

2009-11-11T14:28:00.000-08:00

And the carnage continues. FOX announced today that it will not be picking up Dollhouse, effectively canceling the (very) low rated Joss Whedon drama. ew.com reports that the remaining episodes will still air, however. Dollhouse averages less than 3 million viewers on Friday nights, so it was only a matter of time before FOX eventually gave it the ax.

So long Hank

2009-11-11T12:17:00.000-08:00

I suppose you can file this under "least surprising news of the season", but it was reported today that ABC officially canceled Kelsey Grammer's critically maligned comedy Hank. The future of the show, which has gotten abysmal ratings pretty much out of the gate, has always been an uncertain one, and the fact that it missed out on full season pick ups when schedule-mates The Middle, Modern Family, and Cougar Town received them weeks ago was effectively the nail in its coffin. According to ew.com, the net will not air the remaining episodes. Ouch. Better luck next time, Dr. Crane...

Eastwick Cursed

2009-11-10T17:45:00.000-08:00

The witches on Eastwick have cast their last spell. According to ew.com, ABC has opted not to pick up the freshman series most likely due to its abysmal ratings (last Wednesday, the show failed to reach 5 million viewers). With 7 episodes aired, ABC will probably just burn off the remaining 6 episodes of Eastwick in its current time slot.

Betty On The Move

2009-11-10T13:20:00.000-08:00

In a truly exciting development, I just recently learned (according to tvbythenumbers.com) that ABC is planning to move Ugly Betty from the viewer wasteland that is Friday nights to Wednesdays midseason. Ugly Betty's ratings have been, well ugly on Fridays and the network's decision to move it there in the first place was a head scratcher to begin with. This move is great news for the struggling comedy and it's prospects for sticking around. There is no word yet on where ABC will place Betty, but my guess is that the net will shift The Middle (which got a full season pick up) to another night and most likely cancel Hank (which did not), leaving the 8pm hour free for the Mode gang. How awesome of a night would that be? Betty+Modern Family+Cougar Town = One happy TV fan! I'll keep you posted as new information comes available.

M.I.A.

2009-11-10T13:13:00.001-08:00

So, for the few out there that might have been wondering where I've been this past week and why I haven't posted anything new let me fill you in. My laptop decided to kick the bucket, which for a blogger is pretty much the end of the world. I woke up cheerily one morning to check my mail and surf my selection of TV industry websites to absorb the latest news when I was confronted with the dreaded blue screen of death. Any PC user will tell you (and yes, I know the superiority of the Mac and fully intend to purchase one very soon!), that is no bueno.

So, without a laptop (or the internet for that matter), I've been unable to keep up with the writing. But, a friend of mine was gracious enough to loan me an old computer so here I am back online and ready to write again!

Keep your fingers grossed this one doesn't bite the dust too.

FOX (Insert Baseball Analogy Here) to win Thursday Night

2009-10-30T17:52:00.003-07:00

FOX scored again with Game Two of The World Series averaging a solid 18.95 million viewers on Thursday night (final ratings numbers on the telecast will post sometime today), the first official night of the November sweeps period. In adults 18-49, FOX dominated with a 5.7 rating. CBS returned to first run episodes of its lineup and attracted 14.11 million viewers, which was good enough for second place in total audience and third in 18-49 (3.5/9). ABC was third with 10.54 million viewers, yet ahead of CBS in the key demo with a 3.8/10 rating. NBC struggled in fourth with only 5.55 million viewers and a 2.4/6 in 18-49. The CW was fifth with an audience of roughly 3.53 million and a 1.7/4.

At 8pm, CBS’s Survivor: Samoa was the most watched non-baseball program with 12.5 million viewers (7.1/11). Flashforward, on ABC, occupied the third place position with 8.95 million (5.7/9), well ahead of the comedy duo of Community and Parks and Recreation which averaged 5.48 and 4.96 million viewers respectively (3.6/6 and 3.2/5 in households). On the CW, The Vampire Diaries continued to impress, this week boasting an audience of 4.2 million and a 2.6/4 household rating.

CSI claimed second for CBS at 9pm with 14.9 million viewers (9.0/14), slightly ahead of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy (13.4 million; 8.6/13). NBC’s comedy block was fourth, with The Office averaging 8.14 million (4.8/7) and 30 Rock – still off considerably in the ratings from last season’s first few episodes -- only posting about 6 million (3.7/6). The CW’s Supernatural was last with 2.9 million viewers and a 1.7/3 in households.

CBS continued a second place sweep with The Mentalist retaining its entire lead-in, averaging 14.9 million viewers and building on CSI’s household rating to post a 9.4/15. Private Practice on ABC was third (9.2 million; 6.2/10), and NBC’s The Jay Leno Show (4.4 million; 2.9/05) was fourth.

Updated Wednesday Ratings

2009-10-30T00:02:00.000-07:00

Final ratings reports have game one of The World Series averaging an impressive 19.511 million viewers on Wednesday night (11.9/19 in households). FOX also scored in the important 18-49 demo with a 6.3/17.

FOX Hits a Home Run on Wednesday

2009-10-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

FOX was the most watched network last night, thanks to Game One of The World Series which averaged a solid 17.8 million viewers (10.9/17). Since the telecast was a live event, the ratings may tick up or down slightly when all the markets are tallied, but right now it looks as if FOX scored the best Game One numbers in 5 years. CBS, still in repeats, ranked second for the night in terms of total viewers (8.49 million; 5.6/9) and tied for NBC third in adults 18-49 with a 2.1/5. ABC was third overall with 6.64 million viewers (4.7/7), yet second in adults 18-49 with a 2.5/6. The CW was dead last with 2.47 million viewers (1.6/3) and a 1.2/3 in the all important demo.

Reruns of The New Adventures of Old Christine (6.61 million viewers; 4.3/7) and Gary Unmarried (6.44 million; 4.2/7) combined to put CBS in second place after The World Series at 8pm. Perhaps a sign of the lack of confidence ABC has in Hank, the net opted for another airing of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown instead of the Kelsey Grammer sitcom which attracted 6.32 million viewers (3.7/6) – which was an improvement of about 500,000 viewers from Hank’s numbers last week. The Middle finished the hour for ABC, building to 6.63 million viewers (3.9/6). NBC’s special Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space came in a hair behind ABC with 6.3 million viewers (3.3/5). Over on The CW, Tyra and the gang on America’s Next Top Model averaged 3.5 million viewers (2.3/4).

At 9pm, a rerun of Criminal Minds (9.72 million viewers; 6.3/10) was the most watched non-baseball program of the night. On ABC, Modern Family and Cougar Town both posted gains versus last week in spite of being opposite The World Series, averaging 9.23 and 7.51 million viewers respectively (5.5/8 and 4.8/7). NBC’s Law and Order: SVU was close behind with 8 million viewers and a 5.1/8 household rating. The CW aired a rerun of its hit The Vampire Diaries, which failed to scare up much interest, only posting a 1.0/2 household rating and 1.4 million viewers.

At 10pm, CBS’s rerun of CSI: NY (9.22 million viewers; 6.2/10) easily captured second place ahead of ABC’s struggling Eastwick (5.06 million; 3.3/6 and NBC’s The Jay Leno Show (4.98 million; 3.3/6).

And lastly, being a huge Modern Family fan, I feel the need to point out that the new comedy was the most watched non-World Series show last night in adults 18-49. MF posted a strong 3.7/9 rating in the demo, which was its best performance in 4 weeks. In addition, the show hit series highs in adults 18-34, key men, teens, and kids. You can read all the details in this press release from ABC. So, apparently my grassroots campaign to get as many viewers as possible to watch Modern Family is working!

If You Haven't Seen It, It's New To You: CBS Wins Tuesday with All Repeats

2009-10-28T16:27:00.000-07:00

CBS easily won Tuesday night in total viewers, averaging 12.13 million (7.8/12 in households) - an impressive feat considering the fact that the net’s lineup was entirely in reruns. However in adults 18-49, CBS (the old fogey of broadcast nets) actually came in fourth with a 2.4/6. ABC was second both in total viewers (10.72 million and a 6.6/11 in households) and in 18-49 (2.6/7). NBC averaged 8.446 million viewers over the course of the evening (5.2/8), yet placed first in 18-49 with a 3.1/8. FOX came in fourth in total viewers (6.5 million and 4.0/6) and third in adults 18-49 (2.5/6). The CW, also in repeats last night, barely registered a blip on the Nielsen radar. The netlet only averaged 1.13 million viewers and a 0.5/1 18-49 rating.

NCIS claimed first place for CBS – and solidified its position as the most watched show in America -- with a solid 16.1 million viewers and a 10.0/16 in households for the 8pm hour. NBC’s The Biggest Loser was way behind with 9.3 million viewers (5.7/9). ABC’s traditional October broadcast of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown scared up 8.9 million viewers (5.0/7), beating the 6.8 million for So You Think You Can Dance (4.3/7) over on FOX. A rerun of 90210 could only muster up 1.4 million viewers and a 1.0/1 household rating.

At 9pm, Dancing with the Stars helped ABC waltz into first place with a 14.7 million viewers and a 9.3/14 in households. CBS’s rerun of NCIS: Los Angeles dipped to 11.1 million viewers (7.2/11), and The Biggest Loser gained a few more sets of eyes to average 10.2 million (6.0/9) for the hour. So You Think You Can Dance slipped to 6.2 million viewers (3.8/6) and a repeat of Melrose Place didn’t even snag a million viewers (844,000; 0.6/1) for The CW.

CBS regained the lead at 10pm with a rerun of The Good Wife, which scored 9.3 million viewers (6.3/11). On ABC, The Forgotten continued to live up to its title. The new drama lost over 40% of its DWTS lead in to average only 8.6 million viewers (5.7/10). NBC’s The Jay Leno Show came in third with 5.9 million viewers and a 3.8/6 in households, which actually was a gain of over 28% in its total audience compared to Monday night.

ABC Dances to #1 on Monday

2009-10-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

Monday night’s household ratings haven’t completely posted on a few of the sites I use as references, however the total viewership numbers and adult 18-49 ratings are available so I will use those for now and update the post when I get more info.

ABC dominated Monday night, partly due to an impressive performance from Dancing with the Stars and partly due to the fact that CBS’s entire lineup was in repeats. The Alphabet net averaged a strong 15.52 million viewers and a 3.4/9 adults 18-49 rating. This was miles ahead of second place CBS, which posted 9.57 million and a 3.0/8 18-49. FOX came in third with a special airing of So You Think You Can Dance, which averaged 6.03 million viewers and a 2.5/6 18-49 rating. NBC, as usual, was fourth with 5.42 million viewers and a weak 1.9/5 18-49 rating, and the CW actually came in sixth place (2.45 million viewers and a 1.2/3 in adults 18-49) – behind Spanish language channel Univision (3.41 million and 1.3/3).

At 8pm, Dancing with the Stars scored big numbers for ABC with roughly 17.03 million viewers. A rerun of How I Met Your Mother kept CBS in second with 7.09 million viewers, and Heroes on NBC was third with 5.86 million. FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance was fourth with 5.78 million viewers. One Tree Hill was fifth for the CW with 2.69 million.

DWTS jumped up to 18.44 million viewers during its 9pm hour, which was a noticeable gain of over a million people compared to last week. A rerun of Two and a Half Men on CBS was a very distant second with 11.25 million viewers. Lie to Me helped FOX overtake NBC for third with 6.28 million viewers as freshman procedural Trauma dragged The Peacock down to fourth with 5.77 million. The CW’s racy Gossip Girl lost a few hundred thousand viewers from its lead-in, and attracted 2.21 million viewers.

A repeat of CBS’s CSI: Miami managed to prevent ABC’s sweep of the night by averaging 11.22 million viewers to Castle’s 11.09 million. In more bad news for NBC, The Jay Leno Show only managed to snare 4.62 million viewers.

Dexter: Consider Me Hooked!

2009-10-26T23:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I happened to come across a little show called Dexter on Showtime. Dexter has been airing since 2006 and is based on a series of novels written by Jeff Lindsay, yet due to the fact I was never fortunate enough to get Showtime, I was never able to watch it. Let’s just say, I’m incredibly thankful to get the pay channel now because I was thoroughly engrossed in the two episodes I watched and can’t wait to see where this crazy thing goes. There’s a spoiler at the end of this post so if you don’t want to know what happened in Sunday’s Dexter, consider yourself warned.

I realize I’m extraordinarily late in the game with the show, and there is a lot of catching up I’m going to have to do (Netflix here I come!). From what I gathered by watching the two most recent episodes (“Dex Takes a Holiday” and “Dirty Harry”), Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is a Miami police investigator with a wife, children, and a dark secret – he kills people, lots of people. However, he channels his psychopathic tendencies towards socially responsible murder. Dexter is a serial killer of serial killers; that is, he offs people that deserve it.

This moral ambiguity creates one of TV’s most interesting and complex characters, and Hall’s performance is mesmerizing to watch. He plays Dexter with an uncomfortable, anxious confidence that is a true extension of how layered and psychologically messed up this guy really is. In addition, Dexter gets advice and guidance from visions of his deceased father (James Remar). Yeah, there’s plenty here to keep a psychoanalyst busy for decades.

Dexter’s recent developments have him on the tail of an elusive serial killer nicknamed “Trinity” (played by subdued John Lithgow) who, in last week’s episode, shot his sister and killed an FBI agent she was involved with.

“Dirty Harry”, which aired this past Sunday, continued this story line and dealt with the ramifications of his sister’s shooting and how his double life is affecting his marriage. The extraneous goings on, such as the interoffice romances and other drama seemed clunky and paled in comparison to the main plot. I just found myself eagerly waiting for Dexter to pop back on my screen again.

However, the show's final moments were superb. Dexter locates Trinity and frantically attempts to chase him through a high rise office building only to lose him in the stairwell. However, Dexter manages to follow him by car only to discover that Trinity -- this sadistic serial killer who has been murdering for over 30 years -- is a suburban husband and father just like him. Dun, Dun DUN!

Chenoweth back on Glee, Madonna themed episode in the works!

2009-10-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

Attention all Gleeks! According to recent reports, Kristin Chenoweth will be reprising her role on Glee in 2010, and I couldn't be more excited! Her guest spot was a highlight of the season so far, and Chenoweth is spectacular in everything she does.

In other exciting Glee news, Madonna apparently just released her entire catalog to the hit music series and the show runners are planning an entire Madonna themed episode to air later this season! That's almost fabulous overload right there! Everyone is speculating Quinn will be singing "Papa Don't Preach" but what about everybody else? I'm dying to know who will be singing what, so I'll be doing plenty of research and I will post any info as soon as it becomes available.

So TV junkies, what songs are on your wish list for Kristin Chenoweth when she returns to Glee? And, what should everyone sing on Madonna night??

FOX scores with NFL and MLB on Sunday

2009-10-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

FOX was easily the most watched network last night, thanks to an NFL game that spilled over into primetime and ALCS game 6 between the Angels and the Yankees. FOX averaged 15.77 million viewers (9.8/15 household rating) over the course of the evening, with a 5.5/14 rating in adults 18-49. NBC came in second, with its football coverage averaging 10.977 million viewers (6.7/11) and a 4.2/11 rating in adults 18-49. ABC was a close third with 10.690 million viewers (6.7/11) and a 3.3/8 18-49 rating. CBS was a fourth, lost in the shuffle, posting a weak 9.978 million viewers (6.3/10) and an even weaker 2.2/6 adults 18-49 rating.

The 7pm hour was dominated by FOX’s football overrun which averaged a whopping 21.04 million viewers (12.0/20 in households). CBS’s 60 Minutes was a very distant second with 12.2 million viewers (7.9/13) and ABC’s America’s Funniest Videos was third with 8.4 million (4.9/8). NBC’s Football Night in America was fourth with 5.5 million (3.5/6).

At 8pm, Game Six of the American League Championship Series kept FOX in first place with 15.8 million viewers (9.3/14). Sunday Night Football kicked NBC up to second place with 12 million viewers (7.2/11). The Amazing Race came in third for CBS with 11 million viewers (6.4/10) and ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was just behind with 10.6 million (6.4/10).

NBC’s football coverage inched by FOX at 9pm, averaging 14.1 million viewers (8.4/13) over the 13.84 million (8.5/13) for baseball. ABC’s Desperate Housewives actually scored the best household rating (8.8/13), despite coming in an extremely close third with 13.81 million viewers. That pileup for NBC, FOX, and ABC left only scraps for CBS’s newbie medical drama Three Rivers, which was D.O.A. with only 7.9 million viewers (5.0/8)

FOX closed the night out with 12.4 million (7.7/13), slightly ahead of NBC’s 12.2 million viewers (7.7/13). Over at ABC, Brothers & Sisters lost 27% of its Housewives lead in to post 10 million viewers (6.7/11) and Cold Case left CBS in fourth with a mere 8.8 million (5.8/10).

Ratings 101

2009-10-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

Given that my TV obsession extends into the business aspect of the industry, I’m going to start covering ratings news as well. Ever since I was a little boy, and my dad bought me my first Variety magazine (yes, I told you I was strange), I was fascinated with the ratings game. I follow ratings on a daily basis like a sports junkie follows sports statistics.

If you’re not quite sure how TV ratings work, here’s a crash course in Nielsen 101:

Nielsen ratings are essentially a percentage of viewers watching a particular show at any given time. Ratings are displayed with two sets of numbers (xx/yy). The xx number is the rating, or percentage of households tuned into a show measured against all households in the country. The yy number is the share, or percentage of households watching a show measured only against those TV sets that are on at that time. So if a program gets an 8.0/12 rating that means 8% of all the households in America were watching, and 12% of the TVs on at that time were tuned in.

In today’s heavily fragmented world, demographics are just as important (if not more) as total viewer statistics. Adults aged 18-49, which advertisers pay the most money for, is the group networks want to be watching their shows. So, in addition to household ratings you will most likely see an 18-49 rating or, the percentage of adults 18-49 watching. Many shows with low household ratings will end up staying on the air thanks to strong 18-49 numbers.

It may sound complicated at first, but if a 12 year old me can pick it up, anyone can. So, starting Monday I’ll post brief little ratings updates. My info will come from these very reputable industry sites:

tvbythenumbers.com

zap2it.com

ew.com

Touchdown!

2009-10-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

I know I’m probably starting to sound like a broken record when it comes to recapping Modern Family, but this show just gets better every week! 5 episodes in and we find ourselves with the best written, most consistently funny half hour on television right now (you hear that Tina Fey??). Each installment adds layer upon layer of complexity and richness to these already brilliant characters and, by shuffling up the pairings and conflicts, the writers are constantly forced to redefine the relationships over and over again. The result is a richness and dimension rarely seen on the small screen.

This week, Jay and Gloria plan a family barbeque at their house where everyone will be watching a big football game. We find out that Cameron is a huge football fan and used to play in college, but Mitchell isn’t too fond of the sport (or sports in general). Luke and Manny end up getting in a physical fight at school which turns out to mirror hidden tensions between Claire and Gloria. All these conflicts come to a head at the barbeque – when we discover that Claire had previously called Gloria a Coal Digger (“Gold Digger”) - and Phil tries his best to mediate the situation. Of course, in true Modern Family fashion, by the end of the episode, apologies are exchanged and bonds are strengthened. The last scene is touching and it’s just proof how masterfully the writers uniquely balance wickedly sharp comedy with moving sentimental moments.

Best moment of the night? The scene where Gloria is showing Phil all the nice things Jay bought her, including an multitude of underwear in every color imaginable - which she ends up throwing at him - definitely had me cracking up. Phil's reaction is absolutely priceless, as is most of his inappropriate affection for Gloria. The two of them also tie for Funniest Family Member of the Week.

I'm Phillip, and I'm a Gleek

2009-10-24T03:39:00.000-07:00

Gleeks of the world (yes, that's really what we're called) rejoice! I come to you now with my inaugural (albeit it very late)Glee post and we certainly have a lot to cover.

From the moment I watched the pilot back in May, I knew we had something truly special on our hands (a weekly musical dramedy?! No way!!) The incredibly written and produced first episode, complete with an AMAZING final number (the immediately downloaded and heavily repeated "Don't Stop Believin'"), shattered all my expectations and completely raised the bar on what a superb pilot should be.

We were introduced to kindhearted and sensitive teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) and his wife Terri (Jessalyn Gilsig). Will is a high school Spanish teacher who offers to run a failing glee club full of misfits and social rejects. Of these outcasts we find Rachel Berry (Lea Michele of Broadway's Spring Awakening), a star in her own mind and ripe with unbelievable talent, yet she remains unappreciated and is lost in the harsh social hierarchy of the high school world. To compliment her, Mr. Schuester creatively convinces football star Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) to join the club and sing, despite his hesitations. If the plot sounds vaguely familiar (cute, popular jock enticed to sing in a school production amidst protest from his peers), you might recognize it - or embarrassingly admit to recognizing it - from Disney's High School Musical. Think of Glee as a smarter, edgier, wickedly funny version of HSM.

Finn's girlfriend, Quinn Fabray (Dianna Argon), is head cheerleader and leader of the school's celibacy club. She isn't keen on Finn joining Glee and becoming close to Rachel as he inevitably does. Coach of the girl's cheer squad (called the Cheerios) is Sue Sylvester (played by the scene stealing Jane Lynch), and she quickly becomes the enemy of Glee as she detests any attention the club gets, especially if it's diverted from cheer. Also at the school, we meet Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays), a germaphobic guidance counselor who appears to have a romantic connection with Will.

Glee is so many things at once. It's a high school drama, a wicked satire, and a Broadway musical all rolled into one jam packed hour of television. It's remarkable to believe that the show runners are able to juggle them all and make it work, but they do (and pretty spectacularly too).

Admittedly, the first few episodes after the pilot struggled to find a successful balance, but the show definitely discovered its groove and it is soaring high right now. The musical numbers are inspired and Kristen Chenoweth's guest spot in "The Rhodes Not Taken" was sheer brilliance (If you haven't downloaded "Maybe This Time" yet, do it right now!). And, in the season's breakout performance, Jane Lynch as Sue is so gut-bustingly hilarious you'll wish she was in every single scene. Each line she spits out is so expertly crafted and delivered, that if she isn't nominated for an Emmy next year something is horribly wrong.

So far we've learned that Quinn is pregnant, but not by Finn. She managed to convince him that the child is his, even though they've never fully had sex (something to do with premature ejaculation and a hot tub). Will's wife Terri, who we thought was pregnant, turns out to not be and is lying to Will about it in order to keep him in line. Terri has an agreement with Quinn to take her baby once she gives birth, and pass it off as her own (although I'm not exactly sure how that is going to work). I'm actually not too crazy about the whole pregnancy story line and I fear its dragging down the entire show. It just seems that whenever an episode is zipping along, the pregnancy subplot floors the brakes and causes all the momentum to come to a screeching halt. It's one of the few kinks in an otherwise spectacular show.

So there it is Gleeks, the first installment of Glee Weekly! What is your favorite performance so far? And do you agree with me about the pregnancy story line?

Rock My World!

2009-10-24T03:12:00.000-07:00

For the record, 30 Rock is my favorite show on TV. Minute for minute and joke for joke it is the sharpest, funniest, and fastest paced sitcom on the air today (although ABC’s Modern Family is very quickly giving Liz Lemon a run for her money). The writers brilliantly blend wildly irreverent humor, hilarious non-sequitors, and even a handful of sweet moments together to give us one of the best character driven comedies of the decade. Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon and Alec Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy are reason enough to keep anyone glued to their sets every week, but throw in fantastic supporting players like Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer and you’ve got yourself one of the best sitcom ensembles in recent memory. Liz Lemon grounds the show with all her self-deprecating glory, and it’s her relationship with boss Jack that is the real meat and potatoes of 30 Rock. Morgan’s Tracy, Krakowski’s Jenna, and McBrayer’s Kenneth take the show in all sorts of crazy directions but it's Liz and Jack that always bring us back to center. In just three short seasons, 30 Rock has given us countless quotable lines (I want to go to there!), indelible and iconic characters, and lest we forget 3 consecutive – and much deserved - Best Comedy Series Emmys.

That said, 30 Rock is also uneven and unpredictable at times. The writers constantly tango between crazy funny and just plain crazy and occasionally they take a few too many steps in the wrong direction. Some story lines haven’t worked as well as others and - last season in particular - a cavalcade of guest stars was met with varying success (Steve Martin and Salma Hayek = great; Jennifer Aniston = not so great).

This unevenness was apparent in the season premiere, which to me felt like it never quite got off the ground. The episode - which is a very obvious jab at parent network NBC – involves Jack pressuring the cast of TGS to become more relatable to the average American and he insists Liz secretly search for a new, more mainstream cast member. In lieu of the tough economy, Jack also eliminates overtime pay for Kenneth and the rest of the NBC pages, yet still keeps a huge bonus for himself.

The social commentary is clever, yet the story never quite gains enough momentum to become thoroughly enjoyable. Kenneth, who is best used in small strategic doses, dominates too much of the episode and his interactions with Jack never seem to really work. For me, it just seemed like a hodgepodge of situations that should have been hilarious but never quite got there.

Episode two (“In the Crevasse”), which aired this week, more resembled the 30 Rock we all know and love. Liz is starting to receive backlash from her co-workers for writing a book based on the “Dealbreaker” sketches, and the advice she’s dishing out is ruining relationships left and right. Tracy’s wife ends up kicking him out because of this and he is forced to stay with Liz until they resolve their problems. Meanwhile, Jack must find a way to outsmart arch rival Devin Banks (the HILARIOUS Will Arnett) once again. Jack and Devin steal the show here, and the cut to Devin hanging out with Sasha Obama wins the honor of funniest moment of the night. Liz and Tracy’s co-habitation should have been ripe with all sorts of comedy but it ended up being just so-so. And the porn shoot? I could take it or leave it. All in all “In the Crevasse” was a much better episode than the premiere, but it feels like 30 Rock still needs to find its footing in season four. Let’s hope the third episode’s the charm.

So what’s the verdict? Am I being too tough on 30 Rock or does this season feel a little like some of the air has been let out of our beloved sitcom?

Sex, Lies and Procedurals

2009-10-24T01:16:00.000-07:00

I was flipping channels late last night and I happened to come across a rerun of Law and Order: SVU on USA. I honestly haven’t seen a new episode of the procedural drama in a season or two (I sadly broke up with it in 2007 and haven’t looked back since), but I was quickly reminded of how much I loved Benson, Stabler, and the whole gang with only a few minutes of watching this repeat from the show’s second season. The episode was “Noncompliance”, and while it wasn’t the best SVU, it had the glimmers of excellence and eccentricity that would soon become the show’s trademark in the upcoming years.

While Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Chris Meloni) are the foundation of SVU, and their relationship and interplay provide some of the series' best moments, the strength of this Law and Order was always its unique and intriguingly disturbing brand of storytelling. At its finest, the show managed to straddle the ever so thin line between complexly fascinating and disgustingly twisted. You genuinely never knew where the writers were going to take you every week, and that was half the fun. The best episodes cleverly balanced the freakish and shocking with the emotionally gripping -- never tipping the scale too much in either direction, but masterfully playing the strengths of both sides.

However, as the show grew on in years, the writers seemed to lose focus and the stories became more and more mainstream. SVU ultimately lost its razor sharp edge. New characters came and went, and a revolving door mentality regarding guest stars tended to yield hit or miss results at best. It was a directional change that the show never fully recovered from, and sadly it’s now a shell of its former and amazing self.

But in honor of its prime when it was truly something fantastic and unlike anything else on the air, I’d like to raise a glass (which tonight is a robust Cabernet) to Law and Order: SVU. You have given us countless incredible (and, for lack of a better term, wonderfully fucked up) hours of television. Cheers!

Betty Late Than Never

2009-10-23T21:19:00.001-07:00

To be fair, I haven't watched Ugly Betty in quite some time, but I decided to catch up with the fashionistas at Mode tonight and see if I should once again add the show to my weekly line up. The result: I have to say that it was quite delightful to rejoin the show. It's still as colorful and effervescent as I remembered it to be, and the pacing was wonderfully zippy and fluid. The writing is sharp, smart, and devilishly funny. Ugly Betty is as sleek and chic as a hot little Chanel number - and just as enjoyable to admire.

Now, apparently I've missed a lot over the past year. Betty is an editor now, and in this episode she is struggling to land a hot story for the upcoming issue of Mode. Meanwhile, Marc is planning to sabotage her chances for success and uses her ex Matt in his scheme.

I worry for the show's prospects given that ABC has relegated it to the barren viewer wasteland of Friday nights, but here's hoping that its fans remember to tune in (or at the very least, Tivo it!).

NBC pick ups

2009-10-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

NBC announced today that they will be picking up freshman comedy Community as well as newbie medical drama Mercy for the full season. Also on the short list for back nine orders was struggling Amy Poehler vehicle Parks and Recreation. This comes as good news for all three shows as none of them have been doing particularly well in the ratings so far (although nothing on NBC really is this year).

Back to Reality

2009-10-22T02:18:00.000-07:00

So fellow TV enthusiasts, I'm back from my fantabulous vacation and ready to start blogging my little heart out once again. I'm going to immediately get to work on this week's shows and hopefully have a post or two up and ready for consumption by Thursday or Friday so keep checking back for updates. I know I'm a tad behind (eternally behind it seems) but I'll get all caught up this week!

Update!

2009-10-15T23:51:00.000-07:00

My daily updates for Modern Family (which was HI-larious once again!!), Cougar Town, Glee (my gargantuan mega season-to-date recap is almost complete), Project Runway (featuring Christina freakin' Aguilera!), and the inaugural 30 Rock write up (I have a lot to say about the season premiere, believe-you-me!) will all post next Monday or Tuesday as I am going to vacation starting tomorrow. Yes, even TV bloggers need a few days to unwind. I'll be in a far away land with no internet access (unless I break down and pay for it in my hotel room), so look for me back after the weekend!!

It was the best night ever!

2009-10-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

How I Met Your Mother is definitely on a roll this season, and last night’s episode was another solid effort. Ted, sporting his new professor look (complete with a classic elbow patched tweed jacket), is convinced women are digging his new duds. However, Barney informs him that his recent luck with women is most likely due to the fact he lives right above the bar and the ladies are just looking for a place to crash – Ted has assumed the unfortunate roll of sexless innkeeper. Meanwhile, Lily and Marshall invite Barney and Robin over for a couples’ night and the two get a bit over zealous. Everyone is really clicking in their roles right now, and HIMYM is building some powerfully hilarious momentum week to week.

Each story had its moments, but it was Marshall’s online photo montage – complete with an original song - that stole the show. As soon as I find a clip online that CBS hasn't deleted, I'll post it!

Cutbacks

2009-10-12T17:10:00.001-07:00

Is The Jay Leno Show destroying NBC? Well, many industry observers are beginning to think so. While The Peacock was in trouble long before Leno moved to 10pm, recent decisions - including the shocking cancellation of the critically acclaimed drama Southland before a single episode was even allowed to air - and ratings woes (Leno averages less than 5 million viewers most nights, which translates to lower numbers for network affiliates' newscasts at 11pm) make the situation seem a lot worse.

This interesting NY Times article on Leno's effects on primetime and what it means for NBC's long term prospects is definitely worth checking out.

Personally, I feel it's a sad day when quality shows aren't even given a chance to prove themselves in lieu of money, but TV was always about money. Leno is dirt cheap to produce and its minimal ratings still most likely out profit other networks' more expensive offerings at 10pm (dramas like Eastwick or the forgotten post similar ratings, but cost millions more to produce). However, it is unsettling that insiders are claiming NBC's decision to cancel Southland was less based on content (as originally reported) and more based on its anticipated performance as lead-in for Mr. Leno. Southland, nowhere near a ratings hit, would be a shaky lead-in for Leno which already is posting weak numbers. When Southland would eventually go into reruns, Leno's numbers would surely suffer even more. NBC is replacing Southland with Dateline, to ensure a cheap and consistent lead-in for The Jay Leno Show.

With Law and Order:SVU (just last season, the network's number one drama and its highest rated show on Tuesdays) now struggling in its new Wednesday at 9pm time slot, how much is NBC willing to sacrifice to ensure the success of Leno? My guess is almost everything.

Project Runway Part 2

2009-10-11T20:45:00.001-07:00

This week’s Project Runway featured the dreaded wedding dress challenge, with a twist. The remaining nine designers were presented with nine recently divorced women looking to transform their old wedding gowns into something new, fun and sexy – a new look for a new life. Some of the original dresses were so mind-blowingly hideous that I literally had to turn away from my TV to prevent from becoming physically ill.

My thoughts:

The tenderness of Gordana’s backstory was a much needed break from the sheer annoyance of Shirin’s constant complaining.

Chris misfired again, this time with a disastrous metallic bag style dress. Where happened to the brilliant designer who constructed a magnificent feather dress with a bodice made completely out of newspaper just a few weeks ago?

Gordana’s punk dress was outstanding! This was the first time I’ve truly been blown away but something she has done.

Shirin’s final product, albeit nice, was too safe (in the words of her client as well) and lackluster for me.

Irina, while talented, isn’t as fantastic as they claim her to be.

In the end, Epperson’s Oktoberfest/Pirates Wench outfit bought him a ticket home and Logan’s hideous pant/blouse combo nearly sent him packing as well.

I just had a quick thought on the season so far. If I didn’t sit down to write this blog – or stopped to physically count the number of competitors remaining – I would never have noticed that we are more than half way to our Bryant Park finally. We’ve yet to see a designer with a cohesive aesthetic and unique vision, and that worries me a bit.

Planet Earth

2009-10-11T18:16:00.000-07:00

I'm completely immersed in the Planet Earth marathon, airing as we speak on the Discover Channel. This amazing 11-part series on the wonder, beauty, and drama that is life on Earth is the most stunning documentary on the natural world ever put to film and it only gets better with repeat viewings(The sequence of the crocodile attack of the wildebeest heard at the river's edge still amazes me every time). Narrator Sigourney Weaver - who could narrate something as mundane as morning traffic on the 405 and still keep me riveted - guides us through each installment with ease, confidence, and emotion. Yes, I'm a nerd but this is something definitely worth nerding out over.

Courtney, we could use more cougars like you...

2009-10-11T03:42:00.001-07:00

Three episodes in to Cougar Town, and I have to admit the show is growing on me. While I still have my reservations, I do feel the comedy is beginning to find its footing. Courtney Cox continues to shine and grow as Jules, and while she is still the biggest draw, the writers have now given us two weeks of solidly funny predicaments to for her wriggle out of. Sadly, the supporting characters are left to fight over the story scraps which barely constitute enough material to staple together a decent subplot. Jules’ ex-husband Bobby (Brian Van Holt) is just plain annoying and his over the hill frat boy act isn’t funny, and gal pal Ellie (Christa Miller) is in dire need of something interesting to do stat(aside from complaining about her baby).

This week we find Jules on a date with another delicious piece of man candy by the name of Josh (Nick Zano), but they are both frustrated by her 10 dates before sex rule. With the help of some funny math, they realize that they are only one outing away from the big night. Jules wants everything to be perfect, so she takes all the necessary precautions – waxing, crunches, etc. However, she is constantly interrupted by her friends and family and has to come to terms with the fact she always puts everyone else’s interests ahead of her own. Jules and Josh finally have sex, only to discover it was sub-par – for him. Distraught over the notion she is bad in bed, Jules decides to take a selfish approach at dealing with Josh, and the two have an amazing time. The main subplot in the episode involved Bobby learning to take more responsibility with his son – but seriously, nothing truly memorable or funny came of that so it’s barely worth mentioning. Bottom line: Jules = Funny.

Casablanca.

2009-10-11T03:08:00.000-07:00

I’ve already watched this week’s episode of Modern Family three times now, which is quite a testament to my unabashed enthusiasm for ABC’s brilliant new comedy. I can’t say I’ve ever been this convinced of a show’s genius so early on. I’m surprised to say that I’ve relinquished enough skepticism to let them take me wherever it is they want to go (and now with a full season pick up, the journey will continue for at least 19 more episodes!) I just hope the production team can continue to supply us with such a high level of quality.

The most recent episode, while not quite as stuffed with as many laugh-out-loud moments as the previous two, provided us with a more understated outing - but equally as enjoyable nonetheless. This time around, we were treated with different pairings of the characters which gave us some extra insight into their personalities. While Phil was hilarious again (I was in a plane crash!), it was Gloria who stole the show. Her lunch with Claire’s daughter Alex was both funny and tender. She made everyone in America wish they had a grandma (or step-grandma) like her. Claire, meanwhile, was paired with Gloria’s son Manny. We never really got to see much into who she was before this, so her therapy session with Gloria’s wise beyond his years son was nice to see. Phil, in an attempt to bond more with Jay, decides to accompany him to the park to fly his toy, err, model plane. Their interaction yielded some predictable comedy, but the culmination of their storyline at the end of the episode – literally bringing everyone together – was wonderfully moving. The only duo to remain together was Mitchell and Cameron. Cameron takes Mitchell to Costco for his first time, against his will. However, their comical outing was trumped by their hilarious interview segments, revealing to us that they first met during a game of charades at a party. Mitchell’s miming of his clue, and Cameron’s utterance of the one word answer – Casablanca – had me rolling on the floor with laughter. The two of them get the award for funniest moment of the night.

Saturday Night Blah

2009-10-10T23:48:00.000-07:00

I'm watching tonight's episode of Saturday Night Live, featuring Drew Barrymore and if the evening's first sketch - an excruciatingly unfunny bit entitled "Gilly" - is any indication of the progression of the night, then we have a long hour and a half ahead of us. Not even the hilariously gifted Kristen Wiig could save this stinker. I'll post again if a) the night gets any better or b) it gets inconceivably worse than this.

In the meantime...

2009-10-10T21:55:00.000-07:00

Since I'm definitely lagging in my posts this weekend (I'm behind on 3 shows!!), I'm offering this great article by TIME magazine TV critic James Poniewozik on the comeback of comedy (which I just happened to stumble upon while waiting to check out at CVS). The piece goes in depth to discuss what happened to the sitcom after Seinfeld and how it has evolved since. Is the traditional situation comedy dead? In short, yes. However, the new and transformed format of television comedy is - in his opinion - stronger, sharper, and more complex. Using Glee, The Office, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, and 30 Rock as examples, Poniewozik proclaims that while the old-fashioned format is (for the most part) gone, the laughs on the small screen are still abundant. Enjoy!

No Laugh Track Required: The Comeback of the Sitcom

This Just In...

2009-10-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

According to TV industry megasite tvbythenumbers.com , ABC just announced that critical darling (and my favorite new show) Modern Family and well performing Cougar Town will be picked up for the entire season. The two comedies have been doing admirably Wednesdays at 9pm - especially in adults 18-49 - so it's not a huge surprise there. Also on ABC's shortlist for pick ups was The Middle, which seemed a bit premature to me considering its two outings yielded minimally decent numbers at best. However, the odd man out today was Kelsey Grammer. His new sitcom Hank is the only member of ABC's Wednesday night comedy block not yet confirmed through the season.

Project Runway Part 1

2009-10-09T03:16:00.000-07:00

Project Runway has always been one of my favorite reality shows. Its sleek production, workroom drama, and overall fabulousness have kept me glued (or in this case, stitched) to my set for years. I’m fascinated the with design process and (since I’ve never had the privilege of going to an actual fashion show) admittedly get way too excited watching the models strut down the runway. If I block out everything around my TV, I can partially fool myself into thinking I’m sitting in Bryan Park during Fashion Week!

This season, the show packed up and moved to Los Angeles, but thankfully retained the majority of its form and style. Although, I have to say that a tiny portion of it's personality was left behind with the glimmer and grit of New York. LA, with its bright, palm tree laden skyline and overly glossed appearance just doesn’t offer the same oomph that the Big Apple did as a locale. Nothing against the City of Angels, but Runway always felt uniquely New York to me. The finale at Bryant Park fully integrated the show with NYC, and now it's been taken out of its element in a way. But, alas, it’s a minor complaint and unless I win the lottery and buy out Miramax from the Weinsteins , Heidi and Co. are staying put on the West Coast.

Since I’m a week behind with my Runway episodes (sacrilege!), this update is a double recap and a two-parter. So let’s travel all the way back to October 1^st and get started…

Last week’s episode, entitled “Sky's The Limit”, involved the remaining 10 designers competing in teams to create 2 related looks – in blue - for Macy’s INC line. I’ve never been a huge fan of team challenges. I feel like each designer should stand on their own merits and be judged accordingly, but of course pairing up two creative individuals with giant egos and forcing them to work together always yields a healthy dose of reality show drama (and someone usually gets screwed over in the process). Speaking of giant egos, or lack thereof, can I just say that I’m enjoying three designers in particular this season for their grounded, down to earth personalities? Chris (who’s stunned us more than a few times with amazing garments on the runway), Althea (a girl I’d seriously love to go grab a martini or two with), and Logan (he’s understated, he’s hot, and he loves strutting around the apartment shirtless – what’s not to love?!) are all a breath of fresh air in the workroom and a great counter balance to the bitchiness of Irina and the catty pretentiousness of Nicolas.

Now, for the show...

Heidi, who usually looks fabulous, walks out from behind the Project Runway screen in a strange chain-link pajama ensemble and announces that this time one – or MORE – will be out! Drama! Michael Kors is back after being M.I.A. for weeks, but Nina Garcia is still absent from the panel.

Irina and Gordana are up. Their first outfit, a pretty and youthful sundress, is charming. The second look is a sheer blouse and skirt combo that I could definitely see being sold at Macy’s and bought by tons of women.

Althea and Logan are next and their first model explodes on to the runway in a KILLER suit. The outfit is so sexy and chic that if I was a woman, I’d wear that to work in a heartbeat. Their second design is a sleeveless, ruffled blouse with high-waisted denim slacks. I’m not as crazy about this one, but the blouse is definitely cute.

Oof. Louise and Nicolas miss the mark on this challenge big time. The first dress looks like it has a ruffled boa courtesy of the Miss Piggy collection stapled to the front of it and the second one unfortunately suffers a similar fate.

Carol Hannah and Shirin’s first look is sleek and classic, and I really enjoyed the contrast of the two tones between the top and the skirt. Their next look, though I can see being extremely commercial, just didn’t do it for me. I have to side with Tim Gunn on this one and say I’m anti-leggings.

Last up are Chris and Epperson, and while earlier in the episode I LOVED Chris’ shirt-dress idea, the final product just didn’t work. The shine of the material made the outfit look cheap and it didn’t quite fall right. I also was a disappointed in their second design, which was some weird, high-collared shiny top with the dreaded leggings. Chris is my favorite designer this season, but I just failed to get this one.

We return after the break to find that Althea and Logan are safe, which did shock me a bit. Their suit was absolutely amazing and they totally deserved to be, at least, in the top 2. Irina/Gordana and Carol Hannah/Shirin have the highest scores and Louise/Nicolas and Chris/Epperson have the lowest. Irina wins her 2^nd challenge in a row, and Chris and Louise are in the bottom 2. Chris (thankfully)squeezes through by the skin of his teeth, and Louise – in all her ruffled glory - is out.

Check back tomorrow for the recap of this week's episode!

Update!

2009-10-08T22:13:00.000-07:00

I swear – on all that is good and true in the Universe - that I am sitting down at my desk right now, with my laptop and glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, to begin the monstrous task of writing recaps for (deep breath) Modern Family, Cougar Town, Glee, the inaugural post for Project Runway, and possibly FlashForward (which I've seriously been putting off for a week now and it's probably not a good sign for my long term interest in the series). I’ll be up through the wee hours of the night getting to the bottom of all these shows (and most likely this bottle of wine!) so look for articles to randomly pop up between now and tomorrow afternoon. Cheers!

You Call That Dancing?

2009-10-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

My relationship with So You Think You Can Dance has always been a superficial one. The main purpose of SYTYCD in my life was to gently ease myself off of American Idol during the summer months and prevent me from developing full on withdrawal symptoms (which it did a fine job at doing). Apparently, I need a weekly talent fix with some sort of interactive voting process otherwise my life feels incomplete.

With the exception of a few brilliant moments – Jeanine and Philip’s performance of Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown” and Melissa and Ade’s heartbreaking interpretation of Maxwell’s “This Woman’s Work” from last season immediately spring to mind – I’ve found it hard to really become engaged with the show. I appreciate the talent to an incredible degree, but I personally don’t find dancing as mind-blowing and exciting as singing. Give me Adam Lambert belting out “A Change is Gonna Come” over a beautifully choreographed number any day. Plus, the end result seems somewhat anti-climactic. SYTYCD crowns America’s favorite dancer, which most likely will lead to a career as a bit player in a Broadway show or a movie musical if they’re lucky. The pop cultural impact remains minimal at best. With Idol, part of the excitement is having a hand in selecting the future players of the music industry – these are going to be the artists whose singles you’ll hear on the radio, see on MTV, and purchase on iTunes. But, like I said, it’s just a personal preference and I can totally see how others are completely entranced with all SYTYCD has to offer.

Season 6 of So You Think You Can Dance kicks in to full gear next week, and I’ll be on the couch recapping all the drama, talent, and hot tamale madness every Tuesday and Wednesday night. Maybe I’ll finally be amazed this year and become a SYTYCD convert? Stranger things have happened!

Random observation...

2009-10-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

I can truthfully say that I have never seen an entire episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in my life. I have nothing personal against it, it’s just not my thing. However, it happened to be on in my house this week and I just had to comment on something I couldn't help but notice. Maybe it’s just me (or maybe it was the 3 beers I had that night!), but when star Ty Pennington launches into his hysterics, does he not sound remarkably like Daffy Duck? I could have sworn at one point he even said “you’re dithhhpicable!” Okay, well maybe not, but he does seem to be channeling the manic mallard.

Can we have class OUTSIDE?!

2009-10-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

Now call me a skeptic, but I’ve never quite bought the whole Barney/Robin thing. Plus, in the short time they’ve been “together”, Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) has gotten a little less funny and Robin (Cobie Smulders) has become a tad whiny. It pains me to even TYPE those words, given the fact that How I Met Your Mother is one of my favorite shows and Barney and Robin are my two favorite characters. I’ve LOL’d many a time at Barney’s legen-wait-for-it-dary antics and I’ve always enjoyed the boldness of Robin’s character and her refusal to conform to most stereotypical “girl” traits. As Lily put it best in this week’s episode, “Robin Sherbatsky is many things… but she is no crazy, jealous stalker bitch!” I’d just hate to see the writers trade in that great comedy for something with a little less punch. Hooking up two seemingly random cast members for some added spice is a move straight out of the Friends playbook (Chandler and Monica, then briefly Joey and Rachel), and while it worked there I’m still not 100% convinced it’ll work on HIMYM.

However, the naysayer in me was silenced (temporarily) after watching Monday’s hilarious episode, “Robin 101.” Robin is worried that Barney is not attentive enough as a boyfriend and Barney begins secretly taking night classes with Ted (Josh Radnor) to learn the, err, ins and outs of dating Robin Sherbatsky. Convinced that Barney is cheating on her, since he goes missing after work to go to this secret class, Robin breaks into his briefcase to find clues as to his whereabouts only discover his notebook and thus everything Ted is teaching him. Suffice it to say, hilarity ensues.

The episode plays heavily on Robin’s unique (and uniquely Canadian) personality, and any time the writers venture into that territory, they hit the comedy jackpot (two words for you: Robin. Sparkles.) Ted teaches Barney everything he learned while dating Robin, from deciphering her many faces, distracting her when she’s upset and – my personal favorite – that butterscotch is to Canadian women, what chocolate is to American women. Can I also say, that I am LOVING Ted as a college professor?? It’s yielding some great moments (how do you spell PROFESSOR again?) and it's temporarily giving him a much needed break from his quest of finding the love of his life.

As brilliant as Ted and Robin are in “Robin 101” (and as delightful as Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) are as the sidekicks that get stuck with the B-is-for-barrel storyline), it is Barney that actually shines the most. When he perfectly answers Ted’s rapid-fire pop quiz, and most importantly in the show’s closing moments where he opens up to Robin, I totally jumped on board the Barney-Robin express. I think I may even sit down, get comfy and see where this goes.

Mercy Mercy Me

2009-10-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

- Lauren

I’ve come to the realization that Grey’s Anatomy is like a bad relationship you can’t get out of. No matter how many times I’ve tried to break up with this show, I still find myself getting sucked back in even though I know things aren’t going to get any better. This week’s episode, which had the distinct odor of FILLER emanating from it, was mediocre at best—yet I find myself addicted and ready for more. This is definitely TV crack.

Our second ep of the season (or third, technically, since the premiere was really two episodes) deals primarily with the anxiety over the impending merger of Seattle Grace and Mercy West—and the subsequent firing of many yet-to-be-determined employees in order to accommodate this change. Everyone is on their best behavior, working 48-hour shifts to prove their worth to the Powers That Be and pouncing on any trauma that comes rolling in the emergency room doors. Not surprisingly, the biggest suck-up in this scenario is Cristina, who goes so far as to beg to put on Arizona’s pediatric service—working on children pretty much involves everything, Cristina figures, and besides, who can fire someone who puts little kids back together?

Izzie, also fearful for her job, is back at work three weeks ahead of schedule and sporting the most hideous wig I’ve ever seen—though I must say Meredith and Cristina’s expressions as they try to hide their horror may have made my having to lay my own eyes on that monstrosity totally worth it. Alex worries that Izzie is taking on too much too soon and spends the entire day hovering over her like an overprotective mother hen to make sure she takes her medication on time. I know there’s no realistic way out of it, but can we just drop this cancer storyline already? Izzie is going to be a very exhausting character to follow if she is defined in some way or another by having cancer for the rest of her existence.

Lexie is probably the most panicked about her future at Seattle Grace, and her storyline gets the most focus in this week’s episode as the show continues transitioning into Lexie Grey’s Anatomy with Meredith’s screentime now reduced to virtually nil. Lexie is a good character, but I prefer her in small doses and kept somewhat on the sidelines. Having her shoved down our throats only reinforces the fact that she is better suited to fulfilling the sidekick or comic relief element, as she is just too cartoonish and overdramatic to be taken seriously as the central character who carries the storyline. I truly dread the upcoming block of episodes when Meredith becomes really marginalized, because if this episode is any indication, I can honestly say that I’d have no problem breaking up with Lexie’s Anatomy.

Webber continues to be utterly pointless and increasingly ridiculous. Holed up in his office again—honestly, what is he doing all day?—he totally ignores the state of panic that the hospital is in as all of his employees are in full-on panic mode over the merger. Derek tries to break through to him and get him to take some action to regain control over his staff, but Webber blows him off and asserts that he owes Derek absolutely nothing. Why am I feeling like the wrong character got hit by a bus?

The first round of job cuts is finally announced at the end of the day—via e-mail, for crying out loud. Seriously, I know this is a computer age and everything is done e-style, but how can you fire someone in an e-mail? Olivia, aka Syph Nurse, is among those who gets the ax, along with three-fourths of Lexie’s resident class including Intern Steve’s now-wife Megan. Not surprisingly, all of our main characters survive the cut. For now.

Next week: Meredith and Lexie’s dad arrives at the hospital for a medical emergency. Here’s hoping he slaps Meredith in the face again. You know, just because it’s funny.

Bye George

2009-10-05T19:13:00.000-07:00

-Lauren

Can Grey’s get its groove back? On the heels of a season marred by preposterous storylines (ghost sex?!!), I went into the season 6 premiere with more than a little skepticism. I can’t say definitively whether or not my fears were unfounded, but there are certainly signs of promise.

The two-part season opener, titled “Good Mourning” and “Goodbye,” picks up immediately where the finale left off, with both Izzie and George flatlining, Izzie from complications of her melanoma and George from his injuries after being struck by a bus. To the surprise of no one who kept up with T.R. Knight’s much-publicized career announcement made over the summer, Izzie survives while George sadly winds up brain dead.

As expected, the main focus of the premiere surrounds George’s death and the remaining characters’ attempts to deal with the shocking loss of one of their own. Ordinarily, the death of a main character, and a much-loved one at that, inspires an episode with the emotional equivalent of a category 5 hurricane. Many shows pull this off effortlessly; however, I feel that Shonda Rhimes missed the mark somewhat with her farewell to Dr. O’Malley. Some may blame this on the fact that we knew all along that George would be the one to die. The problem, in my opinion, actually lay in the fact that many scenes that should have been ripe for potential drama ended up falling flat. The needless debate over whether or not to donate his organs and the oddly brief funeral scene are two moments that come to mind as wasted opportunities to truly explore the heartache of George’s death and, save for Callie and Bailey, few of the characters’ reactions held any real resonance. As was pointed out during the aforementioned badly-written funeral scene, there’s something off about the fact that the girl whose life he saved and who never even actually met him acted more devastated by his death than those who called him friend. That’s not to say that the storyline did not have any good moments: George’s mother, the always-wonderful Debra Monk, had a beautiful and tender scene with Kevin McKidd, as Owen told her about the great doctor and even greater man her son was; Bailey’s grief was palpable as the loss of one of her “babies” left her barely able to function. All things considered, though, George’s sendoff just didn’t do it for me and in the end he wound up being treated more like a Patient of the Week rather than a beloved character whom we have followed since the series inception. George, and T.R. Knight deserved better. Shonda Rhimes did, indeed, throw him under the bus.

Amidst their grief (which was arguable), the rest of our docs continued about their lives as several plot threads carried over from the previous season and were addressed as the episode as a whole chronicled a period of 40 days following George’s death. Meredith and Derek’s Post-It “wedding” still stands and the couple has yet to show signs of having a legal union conducted anytime soon. Well, to each their own. But, as several characters pointed out in an echo of the sentiments expressed by the majority of viewers, marriage via a yellow sticky note is not a marriage. Nor is it a viable or even reasonably interesting plotline, but I digress. Legally binding or not, our central couple seems to have no qualms about consummating their marriage—wherever and whenever. Of course, all of this off-screen nookie was just an excuse to have Ellen Pompeo away from the cameras to hide her then-pregnant belly (she and husband Chris Ivery welcomed a baby girl a week before the premiere aired), and Meredith’s lack of screentime was definitely noticed. Izzie, meanwhile, is discharged from the hospital as she is no longer in imminent danger with her cancer, but she still has cancer. It’s obvious she did not anticipate this—she figured she would either lose her battle with the disease or be cured. She did not expect to be a person who lives with cancer, and it’ll be interesting to see how she and Alex handle this new challenge. Izzie’s first challenge, though, will be getting her husband to open up to her. Alex is completely shaken by the fact that Izzie, for all intents and purposes, died in his arms in the finale and is still so terrified by the very real possibility of losing her that he now can’t bear to touch her. Love hurts.

Cristina and Owen, whose relationship was one of the few redeeming aspects of the fifth season, are working out their problems and addressing Owen’s PTSD and the choking incident in therapy sessions with Dr. Wyatt (Amy Madigan). Dr. Wyatt theorizes that Owen cannot make progress with his issues unless he can address them openly, and so she recommends the couple remain abstinent until such time as his relationship with Cristina distracts him from having to make an effort to do so. In other news, Mark moves into a new apartment, conveniently located directly across the hall from Cristina and Callie’s place—much to the dismay of Lexie, who is not particularly comfortable with her boyfriend in such close proximity to his “hot ex-sex friend.” Callie, when not inadvertently undermining Lexie’s confidence, is so infuriated by the Chief’s passing her over for an attending position that she opts to bid adieu to Seattle Grace and transfers to Mercy West—where the Chief winds up when he gets into a minor car accident. Chief Webber’s a little distracted these days. The Seattle Grace board of directors, led by Mitch Pileggi in a return appearance, has plans for Webber to step down as chief of surgery, seeing as the hospital’s ranking of number 12 has not improved and Webber is nothing more than an ineffectual boob in a corner office. Okay, I added that second part, but let’s call a spade a spade: Webber has become utterly useless. Someone really needs to tell him that sitting in his office and pouting about needing to make changes is not the same as actually changing anything. But he’s about to do something now—after assessing the apparent well-oiled machine of Mercy West, he comes up with a “plan” to save Seattle Grace. Namely, having the two hospitals merge, which means some people are going to be handed their walking papers in order to make room. Ineffectual boob no more, eh?

In all, I’d give the season premiere a B-minus. Considering this was supposed to be the Big George Episode, I actually enjoyed all of the scenes and the storylines that didn’t involve his death more. Will Alex and Izzie’s marriage actually work out? For that matter, will Derek and Meredith even get married for real? Given this show’s track record for marriage, it’s probably for the best that they don’t.

Knowledge is Power!

2009-10-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I am a giant nerd. I love spending my weekends watching episodes of The Universe, American Experience, Planet Earth, or pretty much anything about dinosaurs (the little boy in me still gets ridiculously excited anytime I see a T-Rex) or sharks("Live every week, like it's shark week!"). There’s something extremely satisfying about curling up on the couch and immersing myself in documentaries on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Today, I happened to catch The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, Ken Burns’ new film series on PBS. Burns is a master of the format and this project is just as fascinating and beautiful as any of his other works. So, if you're a dork like me and enjoy learning that doesn't really feel like learning then definitely add National Parks to your DVR list.