All Time Low?

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?

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.