King of the Hill
By Joe Humphrey (Guest Writer)
 
There are few shows currently in production that I love more than King of the Hill. Sure, there are funnier prime time animated shows. I laugh out loud more often at Family Guy and South Park and The Simpsons, but there's a major difference between King of the Hill and those programs. King of the Hill is, at it's core, a human drama with humor laced through it. It's funny enough to keep you entertained on a base level, but then when you're finished laughing, there's a meat to it that none of the other animated shows can touch. Hell, other shows period.

I guess, technically, it's a sitcom. It's weird because King of the Hill could easily be a live action show. It's not reliant on the animation for it's humor. In fact, I can't think of a single episode that wouldn't have worked just as well with live actors. Not that I think it should be live action. The characters are perfect just as they are.

The only show I can think to compare it to is Rosanne (before Tom Arnold left the show and Rosanne went insane) as far as the mixture of human drama and comedy. Like Rosanne, the characters in King of the Hill start off as almost classic sitcom cliches. The well meaning (but often misguided) father, the over confident mother, the dopey friends, ditzy teenage girl, awkward young son and annoying neighbor. But what King of the Hill does is take those cliched characters and explore them as people. They don't stay 2 dimensional for long, which is ironic considering that it's a cartoon. More so than any other show I can think of, these seemingly typical comedy archetypes become not only relatable and sympathetic, but genuinely flawed and dealing with their problems like real people. What was initially simply a standard comedy character becomes a human being, and it's the very things that make them funny that haunt them. 

Take the annoying Laotian next door neighbor, Kahn Souphanousinphone and his family. In what starts as a seemingly borderline racist portrayal of the typical overachieving Asian family, we find these unexplored layers. We find out WHY Kahn is so arrogant and judgement. We find out why they push their teenage daughter Connie so hard. We come to understand this family with a depth that I've never seen given to a secondary character on a sitcom before. Entire episodes are devoted to exploring this stereotype.

In fact, I'd say that maybe half of the episodes of King of the Hill are actually devoted to the Hill family specifically. It seems that every other episode is devoted to exploring what's behind the comedy that makes up the American sitcom.
 
Take for instance Joseph, the son of Nancy and Dale Gribble, Hank's neighbors on the other side. There was a long running gag that Nancy was having an affair with John Redcorn, a Native American "licensed new age healer" and that Joseph was actually John Redcorn's biological son. This is something that was alluded (rather blatantly given Joseph's darker skin and resemblance to Redcorn) to for years and played simply for comedy. Then, out of no where, it became an issue. It got serious. We delved into the morality play that has been building for twelve years (the length of the affair, according to the show) and finally peeked in this episode. John Redcorn desperately wants to be involved in his son's life, but he knows the consequences of coming forward as his father. He's not looking to destroy a family, but he still knows that he has a son that he can never really know. It brings a plethora of moral dilemmas to the surface of what was once simply a joke.

In fact, the entire ongoing storyline of Nancy's affair with John Redcorn is treated with such an unjudgemental, respectful air. It's highly unexpected. Rather than looking at the relationship as scandalous and sleazy, it's simply treated as a fact of life. Everyone is aware of it (except, of course, Dale) and have accepted it as none of their business. Hank could tell his friend what's going on (as could anyone else... except Peggy, who was also unaware until a few seasons later and then tried to convince Nancy to break it off) but he holds back. He doesn't want to get mixed up in someone else's family life and understands that it's not his place to bring that drama to the surface. That's a very bold stance for a TV show to make. Typically, sitcoms try to take the most obvious moral high ground. The first reaction most characters (and people) would have to a situation like this is to let their friend know what's going on, believing that that's what their friend would want. It's what the average person would feel when they see their friend being taken advantage of. But Hank sees that telling Dale this would destroy the Gribble family and crush his friend. Besides, it's easier to let things play out as they will rather than being the instigator of someone else's family drama.

Hank thrives on normality and consistency. This is one of the cornerstones of his character. Take, for instance, his love of propane (and propane accessories.) Hank sells propane and treats it almost like a religion. He has to. He would do that with anything he sold. He has to believe that what he's doing is important, even when the average person couldn't care less. Even more so, he has to have something that he can be proud of. It's what he bases his self esteem on. Not just propane but everything around him. Hank has to believe that what he's doing is bettering the world around him. It falls into that need to maintain the status quo. It's his job, and it sustains his family. If he's able to put food on the table and keep his life in order, then he's going to take it extremely seriously. Selling propane is what keeps his life "normal" so it becomes more than just a job. It becomes his reason for being. It keeps him sane.

Most stories about Hank start in a foundation of his need for things to stay exactly the same. It makes for a fairly easy launching point for many King of the Hill storylines. They can throw changes in Hank's perception of his "normal" life and show Hank trying to deal with it. The tricky part is coming up with a way to resolve it while being able to return that reality to something relatively close to what it was. For instance, the episode where Bobby joins up with a skateboarding rock and roll Christian youth group. It throws Hank's world into turmoil because it directly conflicts with the way he perceives religion. Even though Bobby is embracing the same principals and beliefs that Hank himself has, it's in such a radically different way that Hank rejects it. In the end, Hank wins. Not because he's right, but because he convinces Bobby that he's going through a fad and that he doesn't want Bobby's love of God to fall the way of his Beanie Babies and Karate uniform. This resolution seems to have a lot more to do with Hank's desire to stick with the status quo than a genuine concern for Bobby's relationship with God.

One of my favorite King of the Hill quotes comes from that episode by the way. Hank says this about Christian Rock: "Can't you see you're not making Christianity better, you're just making rock and roll worse?" 

Another good example of the humanity of the characters on King of the Hill is my favorite character, Bill Dauterive, Hank's neighbor from across the ally. Initially, Bill is a fairly classic example of the sitcom loser. He's a sad, overweight, balding man who's the butt most of the physical comedy gags on the show. A pathetic example of middle age at it's worst. Everything we know about Bill screams emasculation. He's highly depressed and extremely lonely. He borderline stalks Hank's wife Peggy and sits in his house, drinking alone at nights. He has no social life outside of the beers he shares with his neighbors in the ally separating their houses.

But as the show progresses, we learn more and more about Bill. We learn that as a young man, Bill was the polar opposite of what he is today. He was confident, strong and popular, with a mane of flowing curly brown hair. At first this seems like a stab at ironic humor, but as we learn more, it becomes simply a tragedy. After highschool, Bill enlisted with the US Army, possibly serving in Vietnam, though I don't think it's ever been implicitly said if he went to Nam or not... one would have to assume so given that he enlisted in the early 70s. We learn that his marriage to Lenore was extremely volatile and dysfunctional, eventually prompting her to leave. The implication (as told by Hank) is that the dysfunction in their relationship was entirely mutual. Bill and Lenore had constant screaming fights, loud enough that Hank and Peggy had to turn up their TVs across the ally to tune them out. By the time Lenore left, there was so little of Bill left that what remained was the pathetic lump that exists today.

What the Army started in emasculating Bill and taking away his faith in himself was finished when his marriage fell apart. He's been trained to rely entirely on the instructions and will of others and is completely incapable of functioning on his own power. Living by himself, all he knows how to do now is go to work (he is still in the Army, working as the base barber) and come home and drink.

It's assumed in the beginning that the friendship the guys share with Bill has more to do with location than a genuine interest in his company. But over the course of the show we come to learn that they've watched Bill's decline from the beginning, and even though he's a bumbling, pathetic fool now, they've seen him at his best, and they respect the man he was. Their relationship with Bill now is almost like the relationship one shares with a person weak and dying from an illness. It's not pity... it's a desire to do what you can to keep that person afloat. It's a respect for that person when they were at their best. Even though Bill is almost intolerable now, they still love the former alpha male of their group of friends, and they do their best to look out for him.

In my favorite episode of King of the Hill, Bill has a complete nervous breakdown. It's a Christmas episode. We learn that Lenore left Bill at Christmas, and that every year for the past seven years since she left, Bill sets up the tree and brings out the presents he was never able to give her and puts them under the tree. Bill eventually snaps entirely and his personality splits. Bill starts dressing up in Lenore's clothes and believes that Lenore has come back, all the while his brain is convinced that the second personality is, in fact, Lenore. Hank does his best to ignore this fact, because it goes against his perception of "normal" and he finds it easier to pretend it's not a problem (as he does with Nancy's relationship with John Redcorn) than to actually deal with it. It all comes to a head when Bill shows up at Hank's Christmas party in a dress and is almost lynched by some of the guests. Hank defuses the situation by putting on one of Peggy's dresses and pretending that it's "that kind of party." What comes next is a scene that I never would have expected to see on a sitcom. Hank goes out to the street, still wearing the dress, and finds Bill broken and confused. He then takes on the role of Lenore and firmly tells Bill that he/she isn't coming back, and will never come back and that he/she doesn't love him anymore, forcing Bill to confront the reality of his situation. It's an extremely dramatic and well delivered scene, and it solidified my view that King of the Hill is one of the best shows on TV.

The characters on King of the Hill aren't particularly bright. Hank included. While Hank has a certain degree of wisdom, the majority of the characters are only passably intelligent. Take Peggy for instance. She starts off as another sitcom cliche... the confident wife and mother who always has the right answer for everything... except in Peggy's case, she rarely has the right answer. She falsely confident. She says that she has an IQ of over 160, but that's only her own estimation. She prides herself on her ability to speak Spanish (even teaching it at times as a substitute teacher) but it turns out that she can barely speak it at all. This is another example of deconstructing sitcom archetypes, and I love it.

King of the Hill is the only TV series I'd ever want to adapt into a movie. The only thing that even comes close would be an Andy Griffith show movie (and that would be only because I want to see Steve Buscemi play Barney Fife) but I'd never actually DO that. I want to do a King of the Hill movie because, well, it has everything I love in a story. It has flawed people trying desperately hold onto some semblance of their own perceived normality. It has humor, but with an edge of desperation and darkness lurking beneath. Best of all, it holds a mirror up to America and asks us to look at ourselves and to question why we are the way we are. Not just all of the "bad" things that America is known for, but the things that we hold sacred and the lifestyle we so desperately try to maintain. And it does this without judgement or critique.

It seems that any more, I spend most of my prime time (as in the prime of my life) waiting for my prime time shows to come back on the air.  Part of my malady is my overall disinterest in reality shows, which seem to have hit their peak and are hanging out there for a bit before sliding down into the Next New Fad.  They just don't grab me.  If I liked them more, I'd have plenty to watch.  I watched the second season of "Dancing With the Stars" and enjoyed that.  In the show's absence, I formed an attachment to "House," which ran opposite of DWTS, so I did not watch the third season.  Scratch off one of my few moves on reality TV.  I watched the first run of Joe Schmo, which I found to be an interesting concept, but that was years ago.  I was interested in "WifeSwap" and "Trading Spouses" for a while until it became clear that very, very few of the participants were really open to the experience they were being afforded and had little interest in learning anything.  Mostly, the other family was ridiculed for being different and the moms went back sobbing to the sanctity of their own homes and their own way of doing things rather than actually treating it as any kind of evolutionary process.  One day, I just stopped watching.

I still watch three reality shows when they are on, which is rarely.  They are "Supernanny," "Nanny 911" and "The Biggest Loser," which I can never, ever find when it does air.

I checked in on some of the shows, thinking I might catch the buzz.  Joe, my son, is quite a fan of "Little People, Big World," but little or not, I found that I don't particularly like the people, so it quickly lost my interest.  I tried "Survivor" and found most of the people again, to be a distasteful lot, so I gave up.  Seeing a bunch of bitchy women who are way too full of themselves snipe at each other never appealed to me, so "The Bachelor" or "Joe Millionaire" did not catch my vote at all.  I've watched enough episodes of "Surreal Life" to figure out that Hollywood is a place I ought not be living because I don't deal well with crazy people.  So I quickly found that only the 3 shows out of however many (big triple digits, definitely) cause me to sit down and watch.

I was never a "Sex In the City," "Desperate Housewives" type of person.  The whole "aren't we chic and clever" thing always bugged me.  I do notice a theme running through most of the shows I watch (and you may see it too once I start listing and discussing them).  Let's catch that at the end, shall we?

As I said, most of the time, I am waiting for the shows I like to come back.  Does anyone else remember a certain predictability to prime time and its "seasons?" Wasn't there just one?  We didn't have mid-season switches, as I recall unless a show was really, really awful and was canceled after only a few episodes.  Then we would get some Brady Bunch or Andy Griffith reruns instead.  Without fail, the new season of shows started in September.  That was it and that was all there was.  The new line up would be announced with great fanfare, "Meet us in Septemmm-emmmmm-emmmber!"  The shows would start that Fall... no sooner and no later and would (get ready to spit your koolaid, young'un) run all the way through until the summer.  That's right.  We'd get months and months and months of new episodes.  Then along about May, the shows would go on hiatus and we would get to see the reruns of the previous season, which we didn't mind at all because we didn't have things like VCRs or DVRs or DVD series and if you missed a show, you just effin missed it and it was your tough luck until Summer came and you got another go at it.  It was a system that worked and we liked it. 

Pink Floyd once lamented, "I've got 13 channels of shit on my TV to choose from."  I now have more than 300 channels of shit on my TV to choose from and I swear to Ted Turner, I can't find anything I want to watch half the time.  If I have to watch one more 100th rerun of "The Dog Whisperer" or "Mythbusters" or "Dirty Jobs" or "I Lost It" just to have something to entertain me, I'm likely going to throw myself off a bridge.  I swear, they order up 5 new episodes of these shows and air them over and over and over.  If I EVER saw an episode I hadn't seen before it would be about the same as walking into my living room and finding David Cassidy just hanging out there.

So for all of my bitching and complaining, what do I watch?

RESCUE ME:  It is definitely not for the faint of heart and pulls no punches with language, sexuality, violence or any of the other objectionables.  Hot firemen.  Denis Leary.  What's not to love (other than Janet?).  Problem is that like so many of my shows, here it is November and what am I watching.  Big Fat Nothing.  Supposedly, it starts airing again in Spring 2007.

THE SOPRANOS:  There was a cartoon I saw once of a very frail looking old man sitting up in bed.  People were standing all around him looking bored, checking their watches, sighing and he was saying, "These are my last words.  No, these are my last words.  These are most definitely my last words.  These are absolutely my last words."  That is how The Sopranos is lately.  I love the show, truly I do.  The characters are so complex and well defined, but David Chase (creator) has been saying for the last three season that the show was done, then decides halfway through that OK, it's not actually done yet.  Now we are on the edge of what is supposedly the last 8 episodes and truly, we are nowhere near any kind of peak or climax.  Mind you, on this show, you can be cruising along on what you think is an episode of filler material that is simply moving the story along only to find in the last few minutes of the episode that something so dramatic happens that you've got your hand over your mouth, your eyes bugged out and you're making little squeaky noises from down deep in your throat, so hey, who knows.  (David Chase, I guess).  The Sopranos evidently is going to begin airing new shows on March 12, 2007.

BIG LOVE:  I honestly did not expect to like this show but wow, it sucked me right in.  The acting is incredible.  The writing is inspired and courageous and the pace is almost a challenge to match.  In retrospect, I guess a show about polygamy would be the best place to explore high family drama and relationship issues, but I didn't really think so at the time.  Shows what I know.  Tom Hanks is the Executive Producer of the show and he's a pretty busy guy, which is probably why I have to wait until freakin June of 2007 for a new episode.  They left us on one hell of a cliff-hanger, so you'd think they'd take less time than, I dunno, THE INFAMOUS LONG-ASS BREAK TAKING SOPRANOS to let us find out what happened.

SUPERNANNY:  My aforementioned continued foray into reality TV, will begin airing news hows (supposedly) December 4th and that is just around the corner. I love Supernanny and Nanny 911 (although to a lesser extent) because I really do believe in and employ the parenting skills she teaches and I am grateful that it is being put out there in clear examples to show what works and what doesn't.  Overall, she gives really great advice and demonstrates positive modeling of good child management and you just can't get enough of that.  Nanny 911 is supposed to air sometime in 2007 and interestingly enough, is in the top 20 shows among the teenage demographic.  What are the chances that kids are actually learning how to be better parents than, well, their parents. I hope they are taking notes because some really good information is coming out to them.

HOUSE:  House is one of the two shows that I enjoy that is currently airing new shows.  I got frustrated with the show at first because it is very "formula."  "The Event" happens to the patent that illustrates their illness.  Their case is then forwarded to a grumbling Dr Gregory House who gets his team busy on differential diagnoses to figure out what's wrong.  They will inevitably come up with 4-5 definitive diagnoses that are completely wrong and then, by some bizarre quirk, what is actually wrong because completely obvious.  Every show goes like that.  Those are the bones and the meat that is on those bones is what brings me back every time.  The stories are fascinating.  The acting is tremendous.  The continuing threads of long-term storytelling is well done and delicately interesting.  I love it.  I just learned that the "MD" is no longer on the end of the show's title.  Weird.

MY NAME IS EARL:  This is the other show currently airing new episodes and I just want to cry at the thought of Earl going off season.  All of the characters are fun and feel like family.  There is so much more the audience wants to know about each of them and so far, there seems to be no limit to the things Earl has on his list.  Each episode brings a new story, new layer to Earl's life and this season, a new guest star.  The writing is quick and funny and the delivery of this rapid paced comedy is dead on. 

Lastly, one of my ongoing favorite shows (which was a little duller than usual last season) is SCRUBS, which will begin airing again RIGHT AFTER EARL starting this week.  I look forward to see where they are going with the announcement that JD is going to be a father and the birth of Turk and Carla's baby.  Jordan and Dr Cox are also expecting again, so it is going to be a babycentric season, at least for a little while.  As long as they can keep the writing snappy and the characters true to their nature, I'm there.

So that's my relatively slim prime time line up.  I think I am going to have to pump up my Netflix list to keep myself entertained!

Just a little favor...

I am here to beg, borrow and steal one hour of your time. As you know by now, I watch way too much television. I haven’t even touched on some of the shows I’m watching on here yet, so it is probably much worse than you even imagine. So given that I’ve peeked at quite a few new shows this season, more than I ever have before in fact, my plea for any particular one over all the others should have at least a little bit of weight! I need you to watch Friday Night Lights. If you prefer to go the route of assuming that I’m obviously half nuts, and that prompts you to consider whether you want to hear me rant and rail if one of my absolute favorite shows gets cancelled so maybe you better watch? That’s fine too. I know a few weeks ago, I was lamenting the loss of Smith, but this is a much more serious occasion we’ve arrived at here. I really love this show, but there’s also the fact that it will be a serious loss for those of you that don’t even know yet what you’re missing! There is so much crap out there on television these days, and even though I will gladly watch most of it, I am aware of what I’m giving up when I do. Since watching this show, I’m even more aware.   

I hate football, let’s just be clear on that. I’ve never willingly watched a football game in my life. I went to a high school game once, but I was seventeen and there to watch things other than the game, I assure you. I don’t have one clue as to how the game works, nor do I have a clue why any team receives points when they do. I also have no desire to learn. If you like football, I can’t imagine you’ll have any problem with the show…if you don’t, well, I’m proof that it doesn’t much matter. Sometimes there’s a game in an episode, sometimes not. While football is obviously the center of this town, the town is more the center of this show. Rather maybe it’s the living, breathing need these residents have for something to grasp on to. In the town of Dillon, that something is football and has been for many, many years. Many of these adults are past players, living it all again through their children. If you’re not involved in football, you might as well grab a seat in the back of whatever room you enter, because you’re so far from relevant it’s not even funny. I’ve read and been told that the writers have true football towns nailed, and I have no doubt it’s true. You watch and you can absolutely *feel* how probable the whole thing is, it’s like that proverbial snowball rolling downhill wiping up everything in its path…there just isn’t really any escape from it for these kids nor most of the adults surrounding them. I’m sure it’s also true that there are people in such towns that don’t have a care for football and of course in reality that doesn’t make them irrelevant. I’m pretty sure though that if you get inside those that consider football the be all and end all, those outsiders don’t even exist. Inside that world, everything past the stadium bleachers is irrelevant.

The peek inside the mechanics, politics, and hypocrisy of the high school game is astounding for someone like me, who didn’t grow up with it. It’s fascinating, emotional, and sometimes frightening to say the least. I’ve long had mixed feelings about how society handles children in sports…kids that for the most part just want to play a game, in the same way they’d painstakingly build a sand castle only to dump a bucket of water on it or stomp up and down over it and look equally as happy doing either. It’s one of those things that every parent has to find their own peace with, and I wouldn’t even consider that my feelings on the subject are more correct than anyone else’s. Viewing this show though, is a really interesting expedition into your own thoughts on it. They have done a fantastic job of showing all sides. There are boys that will benefit greatly from the discipline, camaraderie, and responsibility of being involved. There are boys who are already so burdened that you wonder how any added pressure can be advisable. Some are there because they love it, others because their daddy was a star in his day, and still others because they’re just searching for something that means something. Then of course we have the females in their lives, which are by the very nature of the game relegated to a sidekick position – maybe for life. They cook for their boys, the cheer them on, and they respect that the number one position in that boy’s life has already been filled.

The key to this show stealing your heart is its unique ability to straddle the line between comfort and discomfort. Comfort because it gets back to a version of values, family, faith, loyalty, and friendship like we haven’t seen on television in awhile. Popular shows of late trend toward criminal justice, forensics, disaster, etc., or toward over-the-top soap plot lines. I’m not knocking it; I love several of those shows. Watching them makes me all the more ready though, to step back for an hour a week to watch something that makes me laugh, cry, wince, and just *think* about something that actually does go on in the real world. The discomfort comes in with that fact - this does actually happen in the real world. Does the coach push them to hard? Do their parents create an environment where there are not enough choices when it comes to a definition of success? Are almost impossible expectations a way to keep kids out of trouble or a way to pressure them into it? What are the adults around the game teaching these kids by their actions?

Lest this sound too heavy, let me assure you that all that I’ve gone on and on about so far is but a part of the big picture. This is a high school show, with all the predictable players (and for me, that predictability is part of that whole comfort thing). If you went to high school, you’ll recognize these kids. You may not like them all, but you’ll know them. Younger audiences will relate, the rest of us will watch and shake our heads at what these kids have yet to learn. It’s something of a trip down memory lane: there are the kids you couldn’t stand, the ones you thought misunderstood, and the ones you may have wished you could be part of. The rebel, the girl that seems satisfied to sleep her way around, the good girl that you know is going to fall so hard off that pedestal one day (step one was cheating on her freshly paralyzed boyfriend with his best friend), the coach’s daughter (which I suspect is a category unto itself in a town like this), the star quarterback, and the kid who has to step into his shoes after an unexpected injury. A young man whose only parental figure is in Iraq leaving him the caretaker of a grandmother with Alzheimer’s. This kid already has the weight of the world on his shoulders, and now he’s faced with an entire town reluctantly placing what they seem to think is all their hopes and dreams on him as well. I can hardly look at him, a bundle of nerves and uncertainty, without wanting to hug him and these people are broadcasting their surety of his inability to pull off being their hero over radio waves.

That brings me to their coach, Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler). The guy that has to balance it all out: winning, losing, pushing, expecting, demanding, and encouraging. Football is business in this town, and his job is on the line with every move he makes, all the while he’s depending on kids – sixteen and seventeen years old - to play out the moves that will hopefully make everyone happy every Friday night. Of course, every time someone is happy, there is another team at a low point; another town in a fury over a loss, and another coach wondering if he has a job come Monday. The show portrays a realistic marriage in a realistic setting, these people worry about money, worry about their jobs, fight over him expecting her to entertain half the town at a football party at a days notice, struggle with how to parent in this environment, and struggle with how to handle a town that will turn on them on a dime. It doesn’t shy away from the inescapable two-facedness that exists…maybe on all sides. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that while we’d all like to think everyone makes decisions based on what’s best for the kids, there’s no way they actually can every time; not in this environment. That is the catalyst for this show, and it’s a very powerful one. At surface it’s the perfect blend of sports and soap, something she can enjoy relishing and he can pretend to watch only for the mud and hard hits. Underneath, it’s a lot more.

Give it one hour; I really don’t think you’ll be sorry. After that you can catch up on every episode on NBC.com . Actually, go catch up first, that would be all the better. That way you can give that hour at your leisure. Friday Night Lights airs on Tuesdays at 8PM, eastern. Watch! Tell everyone you know to watch! Take pity, I’m still in shock that I just spent an hour “fan girling” a football show! 

-Sherry
SherryEOS@comcast.net

Studio 60 hands Monday night over to Friday Night Lights?

Things are not looking sunny on the sunset strip, unfortunately for Studio 60. How to stop the steady stream of viewers seeking refuge elsewhere? Two things. Lighten up with the heavy-handed lecturing. Just because you can write smart dialogue doesn’t mean you should cloak every single line in irony, dress it in a black robe, hand it a gavel, and tell it to whack everyone it sees over the head. There is such a thing as too much. I also really cannot believe that anyone who is trying to find the time to put out a television show, live, every week, spends that much time uttering the words “Christian” and “right” over and over and over and over again. Secondly, and this one is a deal breaker, I swear, you have to stop already with showing us so much of the “Studio 60” skits. We can believe that this show is the flagship, we can believe that these actors are talented, we can believe that these writers are dying to write pertinent, trend-setting, comical skits, we can believe that the ratings are through the roof since Matt and Danny took over…we can believe all of this because you’ve told us so and because we *want* these people to succeed because mostly, we like them! However, when you show us the fruit of their labors and it’s just not funny…well, that’s a problem. It’s not funny. The skits range from mildly annoying to mildly amusing, but funny has so far not occurred to me as I watch. Go ahead and have the actors do their thing in the background, show us Matt or Danny’s reaction – we’ll believe them when they think it’s funny! Truthfully, it’s not that interesting to watch Studio 60 characters acting out Saturday Night Live rip-off skits. I’d rather watch the characters on the show I tuned in to watch rather than on *their* show. There was a bit about a bear a few weeks ago, and everyone insisted that Harriet would make it funny – she can make anything funny – and then they showed it on air and apparently forgot to show us the FUNNY part. Talk about the skits, run through the skits in dry practice tones, show us reactions to the finished product…but stop all the rest. It’s ruining the point of the show.

I’ve actually really been enjoying the last couple weeks, I think the show has gotten a lot better than the pilot and I think it has potential. In fact, there are moments of sheer brilliance. I enjoy the interpersonal relationships, I enjoy seeing the behind the scenes stuff, and I enjoy the witty one-liners. It could be a great show! There are just too many moments where I find myself thinking, “you’ve got to be kidding me”…it’s like a twilight zone where the show thinks I need to be the smartest viewer ever to “get it” one second, and then the next it treats me as though I’m incredibly gullible and maybe even borderline stupid. There’s also an air of condescension about the whole thing. I may be entertained enough to tune in next week (the acting is pretty great all-around) but I never fail to leave feeling like sooner or later they’ll want to come and install a light-up “LAUGH” sign on the wall over my TV.

Studio 60 will be giving up it’s Monday time slot to Friday Night Lights, for one week, on October 30th. This was a planned repeat episode of Studio 60, so things aren’t quite as bad as it would seem from the headlines. However, I’ve seen both shows, and this is cannot be good news for Studio 60. Friday Night Lights is well-worth checking out, if you haven’t yet. Past episodes (at least the most current past one) can be viewed on www.nbc.com with limited commercial interruption. The acting is superb, the writing is tight and touching, and Kyle Chandler is dreamy. (Yes, I said dreamy) It’s a sports story, a family story, and a high school story. The young actors are really, really convincing. It’s good-old fashioned drama, and for those of us with no football background – living somewhere other than Texas and the like – it’s amazing to see how a sport can transform an entire town. If I were told right now that I can only see one of the two shows from here on out, I choose Friday Night Lights, hands down. I hope Studio 60 finds its footing, and its audience, before it’s too late. Personally I think it’s going to depend on big egos taking a backseat and allowing the actors to play it out as characters instead of “presenting it” to viewers. 

-Sherry

Season three started off with a bombshell, and has been stealthily dropping more ever since. I’m really impressed with how things are shaping up so far! While there has been very little in the way of answers, only more questions, I find myself being intrigued with what is on screen – enough so that I am doing a lot less speculating and am instead just enjoying the ride. It might partly be a mindset, I definitely tend toward having to “figure it out”; even though I know it’s really not possible. So far this season though, there’s just SO much new information coming in that I’ve completely stopped trying. I love the new sets! Tropical islands are great, but really, I was kind of tired of looking at sand, water, and lush greenery. The hatch helped a bit last year, but it felt so cramped and dark…the Others’ village is a welcome view. Love the bear cages! Sawyer playing with the toys in his cage has been priceless. I’m enjoying the Sawyer and Kate interaction as well. The back-stories have been chock full of interesting information, and no moment has felt wasted to me.

I think the others know exactly what they’re doing with Jack, Kate, and Sawyer. Misery will bring Kate and Sawyer together (not to mention chemical attraction) and I suspect they’ll work on befriending Jack. Since they’ve let him in on the “current contact” info, I really see them working on getting him to the point that he somewhat trusts them, or at least it will look that way. Once they have him looking like just one of the gang, they’ll make sure Sawyer and Kate see him eating well, sitting around watching a baseball game with his new buddies! I like the new blonde, but I don’t believe for a second there was any actual danger when Jack escaped. The mental manipulation aspect of the whole thing is kind of priceless. Of course, I could be completely off base, but that’s my current theory. Sayid, Jun, and Sun should’ve wondered about the sign claiming that was a ferry dock. Don’t ferry’s usually go from one place to another? There must be something else close! Jack should also wonder about the availability of the cheese - wasn't that a grilled cheese sandwich? Hey Jack, haven't you watched any prison movies? You just have to wait for the weekly delivery truck/boat/plane and grab an axle/rudder/wing!

Sayid apologizing (as well he should have) to Jin and Sun was also a great moment. I was very pleased that Sun shot that lady, frankly by this point, they should all be freaked out enough to find the cajones to do just about anything. What does Sun know about lying? Apparently she wrote the book on it – or maybe is still in process of writing the book on it. Speaking of writing, it has been really great and the acting has been stellar. Henry Gale, or Ben, or whatever his name is, was just chilling in his scene last week with Kate. If he’s telling the truth about living there his whole life, then things just got very interesting. I’m not sure he is though, unless most of them are newer to the island, because I don’t get the impression they’re unused to normal society. Maybe his parent’s were involved in whatever the zoo thing was about and they all moved to the island when he was a child? Speaking of children, if the village is long-term, where are all the kids? Does that explain the interest in Walt and Claire’s baby? Oh and what the heck are they doing with the blood draws? Sending them to the lab? Maybe they just gave them all flu shots? Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to see in the previews that next week will focus on the rest of the cast; they are some of my favorites. I was also pleasantly surprised though that I was okay with the slow pacing of the first two shows, it was nice to have a more leisurely focus and more time with each character than usually is allowed with such a huge cast. All in all, a great start to the season and you have to give Lost credit for managing to completely change the direction of things with each new season. So far it never feels like a bait and switch to me. Someone should recall that the jungle held more dangers than just the others though; I am bothered that man-eating smoke slips their minds! Speaking of that, I really think Jurassic Park with some of this. I glimpsed sound mixing equipment and there’s no doubt there could be speakers anywhere since the whole “deserted island” thing is obviously out the window. There’s your monster, right there. Not dinosaurs in this case, but you know…leftover haunted jungle ride or something.

Are you watching Jericho or Six Degrees?  Join Sherry and Dianna and give voice to your praise of, or frustration with, two of the big new network offerings!  Click the add comment button at the bottom to join the discussion.

Jericho

Dianna: 

 

Here is a show that I think I may be watching solely because I am trying to figure out whether or not I really think Skeet Ulrich is hot.  Seriously, I just can’t decide.  I love TiVo, with it I miss very little of what is out there.  So far I find myself ending each episode thinking well now what?  I have not formed an attachment to any character, nor am I particularly enthralled by the story premise.  Perhaps it may have to do with my limited knowledge of any and all thing scientific but I just don’t get it.  Last week everyone in town buckled down and took their butts indoors to await the fall of acid (I think) rain.  So what do they do next week?  Is any of this based on true fact?  Can they go outside once it stops raining?  Won’t the air and water and natural food sources be forever contaminated?  I dunno.  Maybe you have to be smart to watch this.  For now, I have the time…so as long as it records, I’ll probably still watch.

 

Sherry:

 

I hate to say it, but I’m pretty sure I’ve figured out whether he’s hot or not and he might not appreciate my findings.  I really thought he was, until I saw this show.  I don’t know if it’s him or the writing or the character or what, but it’s really not working for me.  He needs some new expressions, I swear, his face never changes!  As for the concept, I agree with you completely, I simply don’t get it.  It would seem that everything outside should be contaminated.  Why wasn’t the air itself contaminated if the rain was?  They holed up and then piped in air from outside…don’t get it.  Did all the birds die because they’re a little higher up than humans, or what?  It feels very much as though this is an attempt to capitalize on the success of “Lost”, so instead of stranded on an island we have stranded in small town America.  There are plenty of highly intelligent people in small towns all over this land, but – and this may be fortunate for the rest of the surviving society in this tale - most of them don’t reside in Jericho.  Last week, the pretty blonde who met up with the fake police officers didn’t bat an eye when they sat in a car marked “Jericho Sheriff” (or something similar) and asked her if there was a gas station nearby.  Police officers, lost in their own small town jurisdiction?  Really?  The only thing that has hooked me at all is the ex-cop dude who keeps coming up with all the answers – there is something suspicious about him and if there’s more to that story I would be mildly impressed.  Otherwise, it’s just kind of disheartening to watch this town lumber about while the world is maybe ending.  Even the people in charge seem clueless.  I wanted to like it, I really did. 

 

 

Six Degrees

 

Dianna:

 

This is a show that after 2 episodes I am growing fonder of.  I like the characters involved.  The ones that we have met are much more than just one-dimensional figures.  We have the Public attorney infatuated with a girl who so obviously has some serious skeletons in her closet.  There is the driver with a checkered past of violence, a brother on the wrong side of law and a new crime that he has committed in the name of family.  He wears his guilt on his sleeve and you see his true desire to better than this.  Than we have the photographer desperately trying to reclaim his life after years of alcohol abuse and form a new connection with his son.  There is the big shot executive who desperately wants to get married, but is fully unaware of her fiance’s secrets.  One by one, each week, each one of these characters lives intersects in New York City.  The threads are being sewn together and it is a very interesting concept to watch.  At this point I am definitely going to keep tuning in.

 

 

Sherry:

 

I’m really enjoying this one too!  I’ve always been really intrigued with the idea of how little things you do can affect someone you don’t even know (I’m sure there must be a fancy word for that concept?), and this plays on that very nicely.  One character is having a bad day and drops some change, leaving behind a penny.  Another finds it, considers it good luck and places a bet that pays off big just when he needs it.  The acting is solid, Jay Hernandez as Carlos is just so sweet and kind of naïve – you just want to hug him.  The Damien (the driver with the checkered past) story really intrigues me, now that he personally knows the guy defending the man falsely accused of committing the crime that he himself committed, how long can he keep out of trouble?  His brother is sufficiently creepy.  Whitney’s clueless persona is a teeny bit tough for me to swallow – if she’s that successful in the business world it would seem like she should have a few more street smarts than she obviously does…but I suppose love is blind and all.  I’m really intrigued by the idea of more back stories and to see whether they can continue to make New York City feel like it encompasses all of two blocks without it becoming eye-roll inducing.  It might not be the best new show ever, but after the second episode things really started coming together and I felt the same way – I’ll definitely keep tuning in.  I’m a bit concerned about it’s Thursday designation though – that’s a tough night.  I hope it hangs in there!

 

 

 

Despite plans to the contrary, it appears the networks have once again duped me into trying a few new shows during this premiere season.  They’re tricky, I’m telling you.  They get you all psyched up for all your favorite shows to return, the air turns cooler, the kids are back in school, it’s time to sit down and pick up where we left off a few months ago.  Problem is, when we settled in to start watching, we found not our old favorites (of which many are apparently “delayed” for a week or two) but instead a barrage of familiar faces in new roles.  So since I had the time and couch space available, I figure I can spare a glance.  Just this once, of course!  Regardless of how many episodes have aired by the time I finish this column, these thoughts are after viewing the first episode only.

 

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip – The West Wing, it’s not.  I’m not complaining about that, since I quit watching The West Wing years ago.  This pilot was interesting, but for a Sorkin pilot I was a bit surprised by how uninvolved I felt.  It felt like a good viewing experience, but I didn’t feel pulled in like I might have expected.  The show holds you at arms length somehow.  Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry were excellent; friendship chemistry abounds.  Steven Weber threatens to steal the show.  Amanda Peet does steal her scenes, sometimes in a good way and sometimes I’m not so sure.  I’m really on the fence about this one, I love the “’behind the scenes” aspect of a Saturday Night Live type show, it’s a great premise.  The acting is solid, the dialogue is sharp and witty, and the sets provide maybe the most interesting places ever to watch two people converse.  I’m completely unclear about who Steven Weber’s character is, but I’m certainly glad that he’s there.  I guess the problem is that it all felt like an interesting peek into a world I’m usually not privy to, but there was little to relate to or root for as of yet.  I’m certain I can always enjoy watching the characters, but in order for me to remember to tune in every week (no kidding) I’ll need to *feel* something and so far, I don’t.  It’s definitely worth another look though, and I expect it will pick up in the coming weeks.

 

Smith – Fast moving, armed and dangerous kind of hour.  The first episode sported a museum heist, several casualties and the set up for more complications to come.  All that aside though, it had me at Ray Liotta and he did not disappoint.  The acting is by far the most solid leg this show has to stand on.  Virginia Madsen is excellent as Hope (Bobby’s wife), beginning as the seemingly complacent wife who manages to make us see with merely a look that she knows exactly what is going on around her.  Next thing we know, we stop wondering why she doesn’t ask more questions and start wondering why her husband doesn’t.  There was definitely an inference to a past affair with her boss, but when she walks in to report to her parole officer, we realize there is obviously a whole lot more going on than meets the eye.  Does Bobby (Ray Liotta) know she’s on parole?  Does he know she’s been sleeping around while he’s out putting in a hard days work stealing treasures for Charlie (Shoreh Aghdashloo, the wife in House of Sand and Fog – fabulous as well) who I’m thinking may be the mother of an ex-love of Bobby’s?  Clichés abound, first and foremost this is, of course, almost Bobby’s last job.  He’s getting out, as so many have successfully done before him, *snort*.  I’m unclear as to how an ongoing series can be made when the previews for episode two seem to have the FBI hot on the trail of the gang of thieves, helped immensely by Amy Smart’s Annie who was not only spotted during the heist, she was spotted by an old classmate.  She also didn’t volunteer that information when things went quite wrong with the job, so I’m going to have to be suspicious of her right from the start.  Smith brings the pretty with Simon Baker, who plays gunman Jeff.  Jeff can apparently turn on the charm one minute and shoot you in the back the next.  He entered the show with a scene involving his shooting of two annoying but otherwise seemingly innocent men on the beach.  They’re not tricking me any with that though, I’m sure he’s a hired hit man on the side and those two somehow deserved bullets to the head and back.  At least they died on a beach, doing what they loved – repeat after me, “Simon is just misunderstood, Simon is just misunderstood”.  Let’s hope anyway, because he’s too pretty to have to dislike!  Franky G is also no slouch in that department, and he’s a much more sympathetic character having lost his brother in the heist last week.  It would appear he’ll have to step in with his brother’s wife and baby, something she insinuated would be fine with her before her husband died – we’ll see if that has changed any.  This episode worked for me on several levels, but the cast and the fact that it managed to leave me with more questions than answers clinched the deal.  I’ll be watching again tonight (CBS), and I’ll expect a few answers and more questions.  Most intriguing is the marital relationship between Liotta and Madsen’s characters, and I expect it won’t be long before we learn that Annie slept with Jeff while Tom (Jonny Lee Miller) was in jail.  So far there is attention to detail, a few slick little tricks (the museum guard that lived “happened” to notice a tattoo just under the sleeve of one of the robbers, turns out it was fake – an easy way to throw the trail off), and it really felt as though I was watching a movie rather than serial television.  It’s the only new show I’ve watched this season that hooked me immediately.  I suggest you all start watching it because if it gets cancelled (and the smart ones always do – “Eyes” anyone?) I’ll probably get mighty cranky.  Yes, that is a threat!

 

 

 

Kidnapped – Timothy Hutton, Dana Delany, Delroy Lindo …sounds great, right?  Well, there’s this really rich family who has secrets.  One of which must have to do with why of their three children, only the son has a bodyguard.  The bodyguard is shot and the son is taken.  Enter Knapp, a specialized kidnap recovery guy who has great success at retrieving kidnap victims without police help.  It’s good they called him, because he was the only interesting part of the show.  Knapp, played by Jeremy Sisto of Six Feet Under fame, seems like a good choice and his chemistry with Delroy Lindo (FBI) is great.  I suppose I’m supposed to be intrigued by what secrets lie beneath the cool, calm exterior of Delany and Hutton’s characters.  Did one of them somehow cause the kidnapping?  Are there affairs?  Political subterfuge?  *Sigh* Probably.  Probably I don’t really care though.  Sisto and Lindo were by far the high points, and for a moment I seriously hoped that the Delany/Hutton characters were transitory, and that the show would solve this kidnapping and move on to the next, possibly also starring guest actors.  It appears though, that *this* is the story and sadly, I just didn’t feel one thing for the family throughout the whole episode.  I don’t really care if they get their kid back.  Plus, I cannot believe they let the bodyguard’s family wonder where the heck he was for so long!  They obviously didn’t have any grand plan to keep him quiet since he spilled the moment he awoke, so why didn’t they tell his family he’d been shot immediately?  Cold and selfish much are we?  With the variety of new offerings out there, I really can’t see this making it.  I’m personally not bothering – if it turns out to be the best thing ever I trust you all will let me know and I’ll promptly rent the DVD’s.  I hope Sisto finds a better vehicle though; he’s well worth watching.

 

  The Class – Eh.  The problem is I’m pretty hooked on my Monday night CBS comedies.  Everybody needs a laugh by Monday night, right?  I enjoy vegging out after making it through stupid Monday, and I really don’t require a lot.  Last year, I thought the promo spots for How I Met Your Mother looked ridiculous.  I watched because they wisely sandwiched it between other things I already watched and I was hooked almost immediately.  It fits my Monday night needs perfectly.  As did Out of Practice, before those CBS idiots dumped it.  Pfft.  You don’t dump Stockard Channing and Henry Winkler!  So, maybe I’m still bitter, but whatever.  I would never let that color my review of The Class…probably.  Anyway, I watched because it was better than commercials.  The two oddballs hooked up, never saw that coming.  A pretty blonde went home with an old flame, apparently because she couldn’t resist seeing his room (in his mother’s house) one more time after years of dating men that have rooms outside of their mother’s house.  There were a few funny moments, and I’d like to give Jason Ritter a chance, because I think he has potential (though somehow they’ve made him look like terrible).  Overall though, it just tries too hard.  At this point, I don’t really want to bother wasting time talking about it.  If you watch the CBS comedies, and can’t find something else to do for that first half hour, then it’s possible that if nothing else it will make How I Met Your Mother even funnier by comparison.  As for me, I’m just grateful that it’s up first, it makes the pressure to get the kids through their bedtime routine a little less.  

I have several more on the DVR to try, and at least one second episode to attempt.  I'll be back!

- Sherry Mercurio

I heard the primetime Emmy nominations came out this morning, so I decided to look up the list and sit down to go over it with you.  I haven’t seen it yet, so these will be first comments, subject to change and definitely subject to addendums!  I’m still on my first cup of coffee, but even still, I felt it important to share this auspicious moment.  It’s no fun reading through the list by myself and swearing at my computer when I can sit and swear *with* you, now is it?  Nominees are in regular type, my thoughts in italics.

 

Drama Series: “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC; “House,” Fox; “The Sopranos,” HBO; “24,” Fox; “The West Wing,” NBC

 

Wow.  No Lost and no Housewives?  Lost wasn’t as good as last year, so I can accept this.  I don’t watch Housewives and am beyond sick of all of them except Felicity Huffman, so I’m thrilled with that decision, plus I visit enough message boards to see that it wasn’t as good this year either, judging by fan reaction.  Actually, I don’t watch any of these except The Sopranos, and I haven’t finished this season of that yet.  So probably that’s my cue to let this category ride, lol. 

 

Comedy Series: “Arrested Development,” Fox; “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” HBO; “The Office,” NBC; “Scrubs,” NBC; “Two and a Half Men,” CBS.

 

What?  Where the hell is My Name is Earl?  WHERE?  Come ON!  The Office is okay, but how anyone can nominate it if they’ve seen the original version, I really don’t know.  Scrubs I love, but I think it’s had better seasons.  Two and a Half Men *is* funny and from what I’ve seen of the other two, they’re good as well.  So obviously this was a tough category.  I’d give Earl Scrubs’ spot, if it were up to me.  If that didn’t work then I’d give it Men’s spot.  I have a certain affection for Two and a Half Men, and it always makes me laugh without having to work at it.  Earl deserves a place on that list though; they should’ve submitted the Y2K episode.  The nominators (nominatees?) better watch their karma.

 

Variety, Music or Comedy Series: “The Colbert Report,” Comedy Central; “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” Comedy Central; “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC; “Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS; “Real Time With Bill Maher,” HBO.

 

The Daily Show will probably win, and probably should.  Really the only thing I have to say here is bwahaha on Jay Leno.  Sorry, NBC is just always bragging about late night ratings and all, it warms my heart to see him snubbed (again).  Leno has good writers, and if he gets the chance to rehearse, he’s funny.  Letterman just *is* funny, and can come up with witty off-the-cuff that would leave Leno looking confused (and looking for a cue card). 

 

Actor, Drama Series: Denis Leary, “Rescue Me,” FX Network; Peter Krause, “Six Feet Under,” HBO; Kiefer Sutherland, “24,” Fox; Martin Sheen, “The West Wing,” NBC.

 

I’ve been told that Rescue me is awesome.  I’ll agree also with Peter Krause.  I don’t watch 24, but wouldn’t object to Keifer either.  I was over The West Wing several years ago, so no comment there.  Where is Hugh Laurie though?  I don’t even watch House, but even *I* know enough to know he should be there!   

 

Actress, Drama Series: Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer,” TNT; Geena Davis, “Commander in Chief,” ABC; Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” NBC; Frances Conroy, “Six Feet Under,” HBO; Allison Janney, “The West Wing,” NBC.

 

Okay.  I’m starting to feel that I shouldn’t have undertaken this endeavor.  Except for Six Feet Under, which is dead and buried, I don’t watch any of these either.  Can The West Wing just leave already though?  Pretty please?  Maybe every last TWW actor deserves a nomination every year, I don’t know, but when a show you have no desire to see sucks up a nomination in every category…?  It’s disheartening.  I’m pretty sure they’re already planning a reunion movie for later this year so they can steal all the TV movie categories.  Bitches.

 

Supporting Actor, Drama Series: William Shatner, “Boston Legal,” ABC; Oliver Platt, “Huff,” Showtime; Michael Imperioli, “The Sopranos,” HBO; Gregory Itzin, “24,” Fox; Alan Alda, “The West Wing,” NBC.

 

Ahh!  William Shatner.  I vote for him.  I recently started watching Boston Legal and I’ve no idea why I waited this long.  In the interest of full disclosure, I’d vote for him if I’d never watched it.  As for the rest of them, they’re all good actors.  Mostly on shows I don’t watch.  Terry O’Quinn should be nominated for Lost. 

 

Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Candice Bergen, “Boston Legal,” ABC; Sandra Oh, “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC; Chandra Wilson, “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC; Blythe Danner, “Huff,” Showtime; Jean Smart, “24,” Fox

 

I vote for Murphy Brown.  Blythe Danner is on a series? 

 

Actor, Comedy Series: Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” HBO; Kevin James, “The King of Queens,” CBS; Tony Shalhoub, “Monk,” USA; Steve Carell, “The Office,” NBC; Charlie Sheen, “Two and a Half Men,” CBS.

 

Wow.  Kevin James, huh?  He’s the only reason I can stand to watch that show anymore, so I’ll allow this.  If it shows back up I hope the writers can dial back the vitriol just a bit, those two (in character) seem better suited to killing each other than being married.  Jason Lee should have Charlie Sheen’s spot.  As I mentioned earlier, I like Men, but it’s definitely for ensemble reasons.

 

 Actress, Comedy Series: Lisa Kudrow, “The Comeback,” HBO; Jane Kaczmarek, “Malcolm in the Middle,” Fox; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” CBS; Stockard Channing, “Out of Practice,” CBS; Debra Messing, “Will & Grace,” NBC

 

Okay.  So Will & Grace should also just go away already.  I recently started watching The New Adventures of Old Christine on reruns, and I’ll admit, JLD is good in it.  I’m not a particular fan of hers usually, but I found myself appreciating her in this.  Emmy worthy?  Questionable.  Bwahaha that Stockard Channing is nominated.  I loved Out of Practice and I hope CBS regrets canceling it.  Stockard Channing and Henry Winkler?  For goodness sakes!  It deserved a chance, a chance that didn’t have it moving time/day every two weeks.  I needed GPS to find the damn show every week.  I hope Stockard wins. 

 

Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Will Arnett, “Arrested Development,” Fox; Jeremy Piven, “Entourage,” HBO; Bryan Cranston, “Malcolm in the Middle,” Fox; Jon Cryer, “Two and a Half Men,” CBS; Sean Hayes, “Will & Grace,” NBC

 

Yaaaay!  Sean Hayes from Will & Grace is finally nominated!  W&G is so fresh and new and innovative!  Thank goodness they’re being recognized in some way, finally.  Oh look, Jeremy Piven.  On some show I’ve never seen.  Malcolm in the Middle still exists?  Jon Cryer, move over for Earl’s brother or Earl’s Crab Man or Earl’s car.  Can you tell my mood is deteriorating rather quickly?  You all might want to take a few steps back, just in case.

 

Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Cheryl Hines, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” HBO; Alfre Woodard, “Desperate Housewives,” ABC; Jaime Pressly, “My Name Is Earl,” ABC; Elizabeth Perkins, “Weeds,” Showtime; Megan Mullally, “Will & Grace,” NBC.

 

Jamie Pressly should win.  Period.  While I love Jason Lee, Joy steals every scene she’s in.  I love Joy.  Plus, she got to kick Juliette Lewis’ ass and there’s nothing I enjoy more than that.  When Will & Grace and The West Wing finally leave us (which I’ll believe when I see), maybe we should just leave those spots empty in their honor.  Nobody else has had a chance for the last fifteen years (a guess – I don’t really watch either anymore so I’ve no remembrance of how long they’ve really been monopolizing) why start now?

 

Actor, Miniseries or a Movie: Charles Dance, “Bleak House (Masterpiece Theatre),” PBS; Donald Sutherland, “Human Trafficking,” Lifetime; Ben Kingsley, “Mrs. Harris,” HBO; Jon Voight, “Pope John Paul II,” CBS; Andre Braugher, “Thief,” FX Network

 

I hope Jon Voight wins so he can regale us with stories of his grandkids, say something seemingly benign but actually biting, about his daughter:  “Angelina seems to be a really great mother, I mean, I’ve only seen her with her kids once, but they seemed well-dressed”, mention in passing that he’d like to maybe do a movie with Jennifer Aniston sometime, and then “thank Johnny Lee, I mean Billy Bob, I mean Brad, for taking such good care of my baby.  In fact, you’re doing such a great job, do you mind if her brother moves in too?”. 

 

Okay, so there are more categories, but I’ve seen even less of those if that’s possible.  I did see that Henry Ian Cusick was nominated as Guest Actor for playing Desmond on Lost.  That should’ve gone to Michael Emerson as “Henry Gale” on Lost. 

 

Apparently I need to watch more television.  Or, the Academy needs to broaden its horizons and start offering categories like “Best TV Plastic Boob Job Surgeon”, “Most messed up Celebreality Parent”, “Fittest Non-Fit Celebrity”, or the like.  I could comment voraciously on those.

 

Sherry

 

 

 

The past few weeks have offered up a whirl of openings and closing and endings and beginnings.  The shows I watch are not really plentiful and some are not even all that popular, but they have served up a fairly decent and satisfying buffet of goodies on which to chew, so without further ruminating, let's wade in on what I've watched and how I felt it played out.

THAT 70'S SHOW - I loved this show when it first came on the air and followed it faithfully until just before Eric went off to Africa.  Around that time, my attention started to drift and by the time he left, Fonzi was metaphorically up on the ramp ready to jump that shark.  Still, I never stopped caring about the characters, especially Red and Kitty who, along with Stephen Hyde, were my very favorites, and when I heard that the series was ending, I had to step in for the wrap up.  I was grateful I did not have to deal with any of the fairly lame characters that were introduced to take the place of Kelso and Eric when they left.  I caught a glimpse of them here and there and was not impressed.  Sadly, by the time the series finale was half over, I was not impressed with the rest of the show either.  Overall, although it was great to see everyone again, I found to to be lacking any kind of substance that one would think the culmination of eight seasons would provide.  Definitely a whimper and not a bang.

RESCUE ME - I watched the final episodes of the second season on DVD and I was extremely impressed by the nonstop action.  It was heart-breaking that absolutely every character was put through the ringer in the most personally devastating ways possible and by the time last Tuesday rolled around and the third season was ready to debut, I was eager to see if the momentum would be maintained.  I was blessed in having only recently discovered the show, so I watched the end of the second season only a couple of days before the new season debuted.  Still, I was breathless.  The new season has yet to disappoint me.  The acting and writing is still razor sharp, although I am not excited about the direction some of the characters are heading.  Kenny Shea especially is a disappointment.  I really wanted more from him than to fall this far into the dark side because of what he experienced with the hooker (who, along with Sheila's abusive girlfriend, seem to have gotten the best ends of the deal from last season).  Eric, my husband, claims to not get into the show, yet he watches almost every episode with me.  He was thrilled by Tommy's beat down of Johnny at the end of the second episode of this season.  My heart breaks for Jerry and his lovely wife, Jeanie.  I only recently learned that Tommy's psycho sister is actually played by Tatum O'Neal.  My favorite moment?  So far, it has been the implied duct taping of Alexis Havins' pretty little mouth.  After a fairly benign third episode of the season, we were left with a riveting final 5 seconds or so when our probie nestled comfortably onto the couch to watch the game with a beer in his hand and his head cuddled up to ... another guy.  This show never, ever fails to keep me riveted.  That almost assures its cancellation along with jewels like "Dead Like Me" and "Firefly."

ER - Just... wow.  I lost several seasons of the show.  I never really watched it in prime time, having gotten my ER education through TNT airings during the day.  I watched up from the first episode through Mark Green's death probably 4-5 times.  I never fail to cry when Mark dies or when Nurse Carol Hathaway left the hospital and went to meet Dr Doug Ross, surprising him at his home.  They way he looked up, saw her, then came to her and swept her up in an embrace melts my heart every time.  At one point, TNT aired all the way through to the current season, so I mostly got caught up, but then seldom watched it in prime time.  Honestly, the Africa stuff makes my eyes glaze over and my interest wane.  The season finale included Michael Gallant's death in a military accident.  Luka was strapped to a gurney and injected with a medication to arrest breathing while a main line is inserted, only without a main line.  Sam managed, while under gun point, to insert a mainline before being abducted by her ex-husband and his prison-mates, along with her son.  Luke regained consciousness in time to look out the window of the treatment room in which he was still restrained to the gurney and see Abby, many months pregnant with his child, collapse with her hands covered with her own blood.  Jerry was critically injured in the hospital shoot out instigated by Sam's ex and his convict buddies and was on his way to surgery.  To close out a season in which John Liguizamo goes crazy and Kerry loses her crutch and is able to walk normally, it was quite fitting.  I approve.

WIFESWAP - True to Jerry Springer tradition, they left the crazy people for last.  Bringing together two fairly volatile families (in different ways), the "sit down" ended up being a knockdown drag out as the two dads started beating on each other after one of the wives told the other one she dressed like a whore... or was it a slut?  The season finale of this one was a while back, so my memory is a little fuzzy.  Hell, I could even be talking about Trading Spouses for all I know.  What I have learned from these two shows is A) There are only about 6 different archetypal families in the whole USA  and B) The men will never, ever, ever follow the rules the new wife sets up, ever, even if she followed the family's rules when it was her turn to do so.  Why these guys even bother to play the game, I can't imagine.

MY NAME IS EARL - This is another show that has earned my undying affection.  It's original, it's cute and it's tremendously funny.  The acting is superb and as with the show, "Firefly," you get the impression that the ensemble cast really does enjoy being together.  It stays fresh and entertaining with every episode.  The season finale centered around Earl learning that the man who checked out before him at the convenience store where he purchased his winning lottery ticket ($100,000) also intended to buy a lottery ticket, but could not do so because Earl had, a few moments before, lifted his last $10 from his pocket.  This told Earl that the winning lottery ticket belonged not to him, but to the man from whom he'd stolen the $10.  With the help of security camera videos from the convenience store, Earl is able to locate the man and gives the remainder of his winnings to him, promising to repay the rest.  Through a series of explanations and flashbacks, it turns out that fate really did mean for the money to go to Earl and all is well again, but in the meantime, the usual hilarity ensues.  It was a fitting ending to the season and I eagerly look forward to the next episodes of Earl.

THE SOPRANOS - This is a long one - I am such a sucker.  I wait with baited breath for each new episode.  We were all told this was the last season, but now it has come out that this is good-bye... for now... until the final episodes, which will air starting in March.  Hell, I don't care if it never ends.  I love my wise guys, warts and all.  This season, oddly enough, has been very invested in character development, which is strange considering that this is now pretty much a veteran show.  We know the characters that are being developed, yet David Chase is showing us aspects of each character that we may not have noticed before.  Story has also been very important and Chase has done a fine job of interweaving character evolution with good story telling.  There have been some dud episodes (sadly, the finale was one of them), but even as we were getting through those kind of blah episodes, it was obvious that the story was being furthered with information we would need later on. 

About halfway through the season, I was fairly certain that the story was moving toward a strong revelation about Tony.  I considered that the series opened with Tony, a hard core mob boss by anyone's standards, was not only getting therapy, but also going on Prozac.  Throughout the series, we learned about his panic attacks and how they had affected his life over the years.  This season began with Uncle Junior, through his dementia (or not?) shooting Tony in the chest.  Over the next couple of episodes before Tony regained consciousness from his coma, he hallucinated that he was Tony Soprano, but was being constantly mistaken by a man named Kevin Finnerty, whose briefcase he accidentally picked up instead of his own.  His only contact with his "real" life was with phone calls to and from Carmella.  Throughout his couple of episodes of coma-dream, he met and interacted with other people, all of which led up to a critical health moment for Tony in real life.  In his dreams, his cousin Little Tony, who Tony Soprano killed in a previous season, is his guide to an opulent building which could have been a hotel, a banquet hall or country club.  It was lit up from within and looked inviting.  Little Tony, who our Tony did not seem to recognize, encouraged Tony to go inside, saying, "They're waiting for you."  Tony looked eager to go, but became hesitant when Little Tony told him he could not take his briefcase (Kevin Finnerty's briefcase) inside.  As they were starting to argue over the disposition of the briefcase, with Little Tony intersplicing the encouragement of "They're waiting for you... go on...," Tony heard a child calling him from the nearby bushes.  In actuality, it was Meadow begging Tony not to die as the doctors worked on him. 

Tony goes back, lives and has a longish recovery time.  During which, we see several examples of Tony not being Tony.  In one instance, he is making out hot and heavy with a gorgeous real estate broker, then (very out of character) puts a stop to it and leaves.  In another, Tony senses that the guys in his crew are not taking him seriously since his shooting, so he brutally beats a studly young man who has been hired as his driver for no particular reason.  He then goes into the bathroom and vomits profusely.  When Vito, one of Tony's captains, is revealed to be a closet gay, Tony hesitates in putting a hit out on him, despite pressure from the family to do so.  When Tony's son, AJ, tries to kill Uncle Junior with a hunting knife (and doesn't even get close to him with it), Tony holds his so desperately and sobs, begging AJ not to go that direction, saying, "You're a good boy.  You're a good boy."  The impression is that Tony is saying that to his younger self.

What  I am getting at here is that it seems evidence is piling up that just like in his coma dream, Tony is not who he seems to be.  I felt they were heading toward a reveal, tying in all of the therapy from the previous seasons, that Tony realizes he's just not cut out to be a mob boss and for the final episode, flips and turns everyone in.  My impression was that the place Little Tony was encouraging him to enter was his own hell, populated by all of the people he'd ever killed or whose death he'd caused.  That's why he did not recognize his own cousin, who he'd shot in the head.  The briefcase, which he could not take with him, represented the last chance he had of being someone other than Tony Soprano. 

In the last 2-3 episode, everything turned around and to all appearances, the old Tony is back as though nothing happened and all of that lead up was for nothing at all and ended with the entire family having Christmas after Tony gave Janice poor Jeanie Sack's mansion.  It was as though we were building all of this momentum and then the train just stopped.

There were a lot of isolated stories that were very interesting.  One was Vito's foray into living the homosexual lifestyle with his very attractive and rugged johnnycake making lover.  Another was Christopher's pursuit of backing for his movie, which involved a fervent stalking of actor, Ben Kingsley (who turned in a wonderful performance as a very gracious, but increasingly frustrated version of himself) and a mugging of Lauren Bacall for her bag of loot from a swag room, complete with punching her in the face.  Still another was Paulie learning that the woman who raised him from infancy and who he adored is not his mother, but his aunt and that the woman who he thought was his aunt (a nun) is actually his mother.  Not long after this, Paulie is diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Where are the Sopranos characters headed next?  David Chase has 8 episodes, beginning in March of 2007, to let us know.

Tonight was quite possibly the most bizarre episode yet, at least for this season.  First off, I think that Bocelli’s sidekick might have been sabotaging them all!  He actually nodded encouragingly at Kellie’s ear-splitting falsetto (she unchained it alright).  He told Katharine to add that gritty growling thing that was really the only fault I found with the vocals of the song because it made her expression really hard to follow and relate to the song.  *Angry, serious, I mean business look* …“Don’t walk away from me…” *Big toothy smile*  Yikes.  He apparently arranged Elliott’s song poorly (I didn’t notice), and I’m beginning to think he might’ve been behind Paris’ hair!  I’ve no squabble with making Chris take it to the floor though, no siree.  Even the judges seemed annoyed by him, commenting multiple times on contestants getting bad advice and terrible arrangements.  Methinks the claws were out and the fur was flying this week.

 

Okay, so Katharine is up first and she sings Whitney and throughout I’m thinking that it’s pretty good, though I didn’t hear any reason to skip the original for her version.  I worried her boobs would pop out, learned she has a mole near her left nipple (or she forgot to use a bib for her pre-show snack), and just generally felt she was over-acting it all a bit.  Les Miserables called and they want their theatrics back.  I was also feeling bad about the panty lines, right up until she popped the dress buttons and flashed her under-roos.  Good grief.  All in all I can’t say the performance didn’t stress me out a bit.  Right down to the required shot of her father’s tears which may or may not have been about the underwear fiasco, hard to tell.  I guess it got to the judges too because they were even harsher than called for, meandering on about not singing the greats if you can’t sing them and such.  It wasn’t as good as last week, but it wasn’t as bad as they said.  It’s quite possible they know she’ll drop after last week’s rebound and they’re setting us up to feel bad for her and vote, vote, vote.  Then Ryan comes out and tops it off with saying something about it being great if the sound was off, and seriously …I’m kind of agog.  She does need to work on not looking so completely astounded at criticism though; it doesn’t play in her favor.  The boobs and underwear?  Might.

 

Elliott comes out next and that David Foster chewed him up and spit him out all over the place.  The only thing he didn’t complain about was the fact that Elliott gets himself drowned out every damn week and sure enough, he ended a perfectly superb performance by allowing himself not to be heard for the last few bars.  It was good - really, really good but I wish he’d ended stronger.  I felt like he ran out of steam.  Mostly, it was good though.  Then, THEN, we get the funniest moment ever when Paula is streaming tears, draping herself across the desk and reaching out for poor Elliott like *he* can somehow save her and in the corner of the screen, over her writhing back we see Simon laughing his ass off!  Oh my gosh, I seriously have never experienced a more beautiful television moment than that.  He didn’t even ruin it by taking a cheap shot; he just suppressed his giggles enough to give Elliott some praise.  It was pure perfection.

 

I also truly hope you did not miss Foster’s face when Kellie started singing?  After his comments on the first two, I couldn’t have been the only one who couldn’t wait to see what he thought of Kellie!  It was classic, his look of horror/amazement/fear.  The fear when he realized he was supposed to coach her!  I actually kind of like Kellie, I can’t help it, but goodness it was bad from the start.  Rehearsal was bad; his advice was horrible …I was covering my ears while he was egging on that high note.  Thank God Ace is gone, I shudder to think of what I’d have sat through from him on their advice.  Anyway, bad song choice, boring as dirt due to her complete disconnect from the song.  It was terrible.  Just like last week, she started okay and I thought maybe she’d pull it off, but no dice.  She should go home, but I don't see it happening yet. 

 

Paris sang Streisand, apparently better than Streisand since no one mentioned to her that you shouldn't sing the greats unless you can do it better; guess they used that all up on Katharine.  She looked ridiculous again this week if you ask me.  Then again, I was sort of stuck on her pre-song comments about being young and having to be careful when choosing a love song and for a second I thought, “she’s finally getting the disconnect between her song choices and her persona” …then she said she doesn’t so much have romantic feelings but just memories …?  Memories?  The way we were at 12?  Bwah.  Then go ahead, and sure, why not sing a poignant song about loss with a cheeky little smile the whole way through?  You go girl.  Wasn’t her best week.  I did appreciate that they were in a hurry by then and didn’t dwell on her usual after-performance self-induced glow.

 

Taylor picked a song I like a lot (Just Once) and did okay with it but I really expected more.  He seemed very tempered and almost as though he wasn’t all there tonight.  It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either.

 

Then the Heavens opened again this week during the last spot of the show, but this time for Chris.  We even really had the harpists, I mean guitarists, and the sun was shining again on American Idol.  Look, I love Chris and I enjoyed the song and I *think* Simon said it was sexy to which I’d agree, but even I can recognize attempts to rebound him from the bottom three when I see them.  It was good, but not quite as astounding as it was set up to be I don’t think.  By then it kind of appeared the judges were just tired of following the script anyway and they just went off on the “we love you, that coat is da bomb” thing and waved it on through.  The look was good, it was a solid performance and it certainly didn’t diminish the hotness factor one little bit.   

 

My bottom three:  Kellie, Paris, Taylor

 

Actual bottom three:  Kellie, Paris, Katharine

 

Paris goes home.  I think Paris has a lot of potential, but it’s just not there yet.  Give her ten years, and I’d be interested to see what she can do.  Can’t honestly say I’ll miss her though.

 

Pretty much I hated the theme this week, and frankly, I fear to hear who’s coming to visit next.  Not for a moment do I think these themes are chosen for their ability to show diversity and chops (from 50’s to standards to love songs …?  Yeah, keep stretching.).  Scared I tell ya.

 

~Sherry

This week our remaining seven tackled “The Standards”, since Rod Stewart happened to be free this week.  I must give a little credit to Rod; he did put forth an effort (either that or the editing team went above and beyond; could be either one).  He didn’t have an overabundance of advice for most of them, but he was encouraging and once again since they weren’t his songs there wasn’t that whole territorial growling thing going on.  He’s no Barry, but he could certainly teach Shakira a thing or two about public relations and probably give her a few hair styling tips as well, if he were so inclined.

 

The judges raved about how well “The Standards” suited the contestants, which was nice for us for last night but maybe not so promising given that most of the songs were written over fifty years ago.  Classics they are, but relevant?  I’m not so sure.  If I’m gonna listen to the Standards I’m probably going for the singer that made it something I’ll never forget to begin with.  Then next I’ll probably go with oh, I dunno…Rod’s recently made album involving all these songs?  I can see one of these making it as an extra track on the AI winner’s album, but an entire album of it, doubtful.  Also doubtful that an entire album of new songs in this vein would be a big hit these days, so really, we can all just admit it was all about the fact that Rod was free last week and leave it at that.  I’m not sure exactly when the “theme” nights became dictated solely by the schedules of people that are already famous, but whatever.  At least the losers can go home having met some cool people!

 

Simon acted as if he just returned from a long weekend spent in a hammock an arm's reach from a tropical bar.  Mellow, complimentary, smiling …did anyone notice if Paula’s drink had two straws?  It was bizarre. 

 

Chris – Dude!  It’s about time.  I don’t think you had one more week out of the bottom three coming had you stayed on the track you were on.  In fact, you might just be brilliant and I might just have been wrong thinking that you needed to do this sooner.  It was the perfect theme to switch up on, and it came when even some of your biggest fans (me) were feeling fed up.  Somehow it felt like something we’ve waited forever for and therefore garnered even bigger satisfaction than it maybe should have.  It was a great job.

 

Paris - *Sigh*  (Do I sigh every week when I start talking Paris?  It feels familiar…) It was good.  The outfit was a bit …bank president on the first day of spring, but the hair was nice.  I think Paris suffers from an identity crisis of the highest magnitude.  It makes sense really, given her famous roots.  She’s also been deciding between a singing career and a gynecological career, which could also explain the wildly swinging pendulum of clothing choices.  She’s seventeen; I don’t care if she knows who she wants to be yet.  It would, however, be nice if she could figure out who she is for this little five-month microcosm of her life.  It was a very good vocal performance.  She still feels like she’s “acting” when she sings, as does Katharine a lot of the time.  While I agree that this was her best by far since the auditions, I think we’ve yet to see an authentic Paris performance.

 

Taylor – I didn’t much care about the beginning, I think I could’ve sung that just as well with a karaoke machine and some back up.  The end was MUCH better, though I’d stop short of magical.  I didn’t get any of that special pixie dust Simon’s been inhaling though, so it’s no surprise. 

 

Elliott – Look.  I really think Elliott is a nice guy and his home video last week definitely did a little to endear him to me.  He’s obviously overcome some things to get here and I’m impressed with him.  He’s just boring though.  I listen and I don’t think he sucks, but neither do I remember much about it five minutes later.  I could see he was trying to look less nervous and be personable …but I don’t know.  Something is just missing in the star quality department.  I think he really needed a break out performance this week and he didn’t give one.  The other thing is, the music ALWAYS drowns him out.  I have no idea whose fault that is, but someone should do something about it or he should dump the band and go it alone.

 

Kellie – The beginning was really, really good.  Then it just fell apart.  She seemed to be rushing and obviously didn’t think she was going to pull it off or something.  Kellie’s confidence in the face of everything is what sells her.  She has (fake or not) a way of being unassuming, yet confident and that’s fairly rare in these competitions.  She *always* takes the judges criticism well – without fail.  She doesn’t talk back, shake her head in superiority, or sniff at their comments.  People like that.  People always root for someone who is trying to pull herself up by her boot straps, so to speak, and I think that’s exactly what Kellie portrays with the help of carefully edited home tapes and her own propensity for carefully placed blonde moments.  It wasn’t a good performance, but I doubt it’s going to matter.  She should be in the bottom three, but I don’t think she will be.  Her supporters know she won’t be singing this kind of music and don’t much care if she slaughtered that song or not.  Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your view.

 

Ace – Good golly.  That miniature ponytail frightened me.  First I thought it was a bun back there (seriously!), and then I had scary flashes of Ace as a Sumo wrestler and mostly I just spent the entire song trying to figure out what that really *was* on the back of his head.  I disagree with Randy that his “money” is in the “fals”.  I HATE the falsetto!  I can’t help it.  So anyway, apparently it wasn’t a breathtaking enough performance for me to stop craning my neck at the back of his head.

 

Katharine – It undoubtedly was her night.  Last spot, special lighting, and a camera threatening to disappear right up her nose.  Anybody else keep inching back on the couch a bit just to be safe?  She certainly proved herself as capable of camera licking as Ace is.  Great vocals, she looked beautiful, and it all would’ve had a bigger impact if AI hadn’t decided to overdo it.  She was in a different league entirely all right.  They might as well have announced her name and opened the floodgates of Heaven complete with angels on harps.  Obvious much?  IT”S KATHARINE’S SPECIAL MOMENT EVERYONE!  Except no.  It was manufactured.  Those special moments happen when we least expect them, when the voice and the person come together and you just can’t stop watching.  It probably could’ve been her special moment; she should thank AI for usurping it.

 

It was an enjoyable week, MUCH better than last week.  I look forward to Rod singing tonight.  I also look forward to a week when the contestants can just choose a song they want to sing, that’d be so novel.

 

My bottom three:  Kellie, Ace, Elliott

 

Actual bottom three prediction:  Ace, Elliott, Paris (or Katharine if I wasn’t the only one rebelling against the overt “THE BEST” treatment she got last night – it wouldn’t be right but it wouldn’t surprise me)

 

God help us if Snoop Dogg has a light schedule this week.

 

 

~ SHERRY

Queen Mum

Let it be known far and wide that I do not like most of the music of Queen.  I find it all very theatrical and campy, and mostly not in an entertaining type way.  Musically, it just doesn’t do it for me.  So feel free to treat me like I treated Simon last week.  That said, it wasn’t as painful as I expected.  Of course my expectations were really low, so take what you will from *that*! 

 

The best part was watching Queen declare before every singer’s appearance that, once again, they didn’t have a shot at meeting Queen fans’ expectations but hey, nice try.  Never has it been more apparent that the band is there for self-promotional purposes (I’m not blaming them either) than it was this week.  Poor Ace was struck down at attempts to make the song his own (pfft, as if) at every turn.  “Nuh uh, not to *our* song you won’t!”  Wow.  This only upholds my belief that they should utilize artists interested in helping (as in, when they balk at meeting the contestants they are NOT interested in helping) and then use them to help with other artists’ songs, not their own!  Barry Manilow week is the perfect example and the only time thus far that I really felt the guest artist was of assistance to the contestants, as in they actually learned something.  I don’t blame the bands a bit, if they can get that kind of television exposure before a tour, release, whatever…who can blame them?  The producers need to get a handle on it though, or it’s going to become very trying, very fast.

 

Bucky -  The dreaded opening spot is not a good sign.  (I mistyped and put “not a good sing” to start with, which is also not a good sign)  Honestly, while Bucky will not, nor should he, win this contest…it really wasn’t bad tonight.  In fact, I thought he was pretty decent.  He has a knack for choosing songs that make him appear better than he is, vocally.  He also puts a bit of heart into his performances.  I really can’t knock it. 

 

Ace -  Two points for the semi-coherent conversation with Ryan.  I think you put more words together than you have all season and most of them even kind of fit together.  I would, however, pay good, hard-earned money to watch you and Paula have an in-depth discussion about…oh, anything.  The wind maybe?

 

Ace:  “Something is making the leaves move in the trees!”  *hair shake*, *sexy encouraging smile*

 

Paula:  It’s like…Ace!  It’s like…you’re so…there’s this pink in your cheeks from maybe  something…something makes you look…you just have this pinkness about you!  It’s bedazzling.  Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

 

Ace:  “Don’t you feel it?”  *Holds finger up next to ear*  “It’s really strong!  It’s as though it really is still my turn to feel it, ya know?  The breeze is blowing through me, flushing out my talents!  Oh my God, all this time it’s been that stupid hat keeping it all locked inside!  I feel it!”

 

Paula:  “Ace!  It just doesn’t…matter…hat, no hat, wind blowing through …your head …or not.  You have it!  I …you should make a …I’d buy it right now!  Just stand there with your hat head and in … your gloriousness and America loves you!”

 

Just ugh.  I didn’t think it was as bad as everyone else apparently did though, so go figure.  It wasn’t anything special, but I thought the judges were unusually hard on Ace this week.

 

Kellie – You lucky little mink.  ;)  When I heard your song choice, I pictured every hound dog south of the Mason Dixon howling along merrily for a few moments before even they ran to hide their ears.  But no.  It wasn’t good exactly, but are definitely this weeks benefittor of the “We Thought You’d Totally Blow It” award.  Therefore, you’re more than safe.  The judges apparently had really low expectations for you, given the praise they heaped on whoever’s head of hair that was you were wearing.  Nobody but nobody fresh off the farm can leap around in heels like that either, so America has their answer to the great “is she or isn’t she” question.  Tarantulas on your eyes and daddy’s fishin’ hip waders on stilts for your feets, right Kellie?  Frightening outfit, someone take Paula’s crack from the stylists, stat.

 

Chris – Alright.  Time for a reality check.  If you’re not intending to win this contest but are instead using this time to audition for any bands out there looking for a lead, then keep on keeping on.  Otherwise, cut it already.  I love ya man, but it’s really gotten old.  This week’s song choice defies explanation entirely.  Even great vocals couldn’t have saved that (not that I could count on you to prove that this week, apparently) mess of a song that almost NO ONE knows.  It was like one lyric, screamed over and over and over.  You’re quite a performer and you can sing and somehow it wasn’t as horrible as it should have been, but still, I don’t know what you’re thinking.  Much as I love you, I think you maybe need to see the bottom three for a wake-up call.  At this point, song choice is critical and that was a huge miscalculation.  Randy and Paula heaping praise honestly didn’t help either, those that love you will think you’re always safe and everyone else won’t vote for you purely because Simon was right, it was indulgent.  Not to mention loud.  I’ve loved you since the audition…don’t fail me now!  *sniff*

 

Katharine – Another song choice issue, in my opinion.  That’d be because I didn’t like the song, lol.  Not that I can remember what it was, which is the whole point.  Plus, sometimes, it was screechy.  It had moments, but it was really kind of all over.  You’re gorgeous, you have the look but you and Paris both suffer from not connecting enough with your songs.  It’s just pretty clear to me that you’ve no idea what you’re singing about and even if you did know, you couldn’t relate.  That becomes a problem at this point in the game.

 

Elliott – Eh.  I don’t know, I pretty much feel the same every week about you any more.  It’s just kind of there, not great, not terrible.  That’s the kiss of death if you ask me.  You should thank the stylists profusely though, it’s almost as though your ears have magically retracted into your head.  I’m impressed.  Hey, like Paula said, you gave an “Elliott Yamin performance”, so whatever the hell that means.  At least she didn’t say you “aced” it, right?  

 

Taylor – Absolutely the best of the night.  Picked a memorable song that the crowd could get into AND didn’t misstep with it.  You either have to stop traffic with something wonderful and original OR you have to involve the people and not let them forget that you did.  Either works, and Taylor was the smartest this week.  It was over the top, yes, but it was fun and he was by far the most comfortable and after everyone else, I for one needed someone to just get up there and sing it like they meant it.

 

Paris – I really didn’t like it, but what do I know?  Vocally it was probably somewhere in the middle of the pack for me, but sheesh, that outfit and the whole “show” of it was just icky.  She’s just too young, they need to tone it down a bit.  Yes, I’m completely reaching and I’ll admit it.  I want her gone.  She’s not growing in the least, in fact may be one of the only ones who has made NO effort to grow or learn, because she thinks she’s got it down already.  I beg to differ.  Drives me nuts.

 

Nice to see the judges play a bit nicer this week because with all the drama in the lyrics we might all have pulled our triggers if Simon and Paula started caterwauling at each other. 

 

My choice for bottom three:  Paris, Elliott, Chris (I still love you, I swear!)

 

Actual bottom three prediction:  Katharine, Ace, Bucky  - Ace leaves.  If Bucky leaves this week, I’ll be ticked.  This was one of his better performances.  He’ll mess it all up sooner or later and then we can send him home fair and square.  Bucky has improved over time, Ace, on the other hand has not.  It’s time, a GQ spread and Orbitz gum commercials await.

 

~SHERRY     

Lost?

Why yes I am. Goodness, never has a show been able to mess with my mind like Lost. I won’t bore you with too much background; suffice it to say that I love the show and am completely hooked. While the premise is interesting and different, what I’m most impressed with is the character development. When I think of what I thought about each character after the first few weeks of the show compared to what I think of them now, it’s amazing. I also appreciate that the writers are not afraid to show different sides to each character. Locke for example has in turn made me feel fear, pity, sadness, empathy, happiness and hope. Given the amount of time spent on each character, I’d say that’s an incredible feat really.

I cannot believe the show gets away with having so many things only visible if you have TIVO! If you were not on the Internet, you’d seriously be missing a LOT of interesting information. The show would still stand without those things, which is also quite a feat. I never dreamed I’d be watching a show that I had to do post-episode research on every week though. You can’t really just *watch* Lost, it’s a truly different television experience. You become immersed, like it or not.

This week was Hurley centric and frankly, not one of the best episodes they’ve put together. The moment Hurley told Libby in the laundry room that she seemed familiar; I knew she was from the asylum. Since she claimed to be a doctor it seemed likely that she was a patient. That’s just Lost for you, lol. We start with Hurley admitting to his secret stash, which was touching but I couldn’t have been the only one wondering why in the hell they were dumping Cheetos and Cereal on the ground? Seriously, that was the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen! You two stand there and bond over your little psychological victory while everyone eats yet another coconut for breakfast and then spends the next four hours trying to stab a fish for lunch. When the rest of them came running through to get to the drop site, I was seriously fearful for what would happen if one of them tripped on an errant Corn Flake! That’s a hanging crime on a deserted island!

Then he gets his turn to “see” someone on the island that shouldn’t be there. This time we’re dealing with a guy who is obviously wearing last fall’s mental institution fashion line. Which in theory, is about right so kudos to wardrobe. As we’ve grown accustomed to, the “not there” guy showed up in the weeds and kind of just stood and stared, giving us time to remember Jack’s dad and Kate’s horse and…oh, Sawyer’s boar! Familiarity is great but next time I hope the freaky “not there” guy is found in the armory, cleaning a rifle or something. Just to mix it up! I actually didn’t see the “he was never a real guy” thing coming although I was wondering what the chances were you’d find the perfect enabler in such a limited environment.

The crux of the episode was, of course, the talk about none of it being real and all in Hurley’s head. I was left with a rather bad feeling from all that. I’ve accepted that it’s possible none of this is happening, but I will be unhappy if it’s all in just one of their heads. That means the other characters you’ve come to know aren’t real and that just bugs me. I could accept that it’s a big experiment, I could accept that they’re all dead already, etc…I just don’t feel good about it all being Hurley’s delusion. Were we supposed to be left with the feeling that since Libby was in the institution, it still *could* be all in his head and she just took over for Dave when Dave jumped off the cliff? Were we supposed to think that yes it is all real because “look, she was really at the institution”? Was she really there? Or was she just in the sidelines of Hurley’s imagination? Will we sooner or later see that they were all in the institution, in Hurley’s mind or they really were there but he’s just using them in his delusions? In theory, if Hurley was in the institution and did get better and go home, he’d probably have been on medication. If he had some with him, it probably has run out and we would be at about the time for it to be leaving his system; which could explain his experiences this week.

All of it being in Hurley’s mind really would not explain other people’s flashbacks. It would all be about Hurley, relate to Hurley if it were in his mind, right? Why would we be watching Walt’s early life and learn of his “gift” (which should come back into play just about any time now) and see his polar bear, etc? I’m choosing at this point to thing that if this relates to what Dave told Hurley this week it’s more like they’re all patients in an institution somewhere and we’re taking a trip through all of their delusions about their lives. I still hope it’s more like a big experiment though. I think there are just too many details that wouldn’t make sense (if paranoid delusions and such make sense, lol) and this show BETTER NOT DO THAT TO ME. It will ALL need to make sense, darn it. You don’t put that much work into weaving and such to just say, oh…it was in his head! (Unless you’re St. Elsewhere and c’mon, that’s been DONE.) Yikes though, it would explain the dumb things that seem inexplicable like the sign behind Kate in the “she visits her mom at the hospital” episode that said “Magnetic Resonance Imagining” instead of “Magnetic Resonance Imaging”. Hurley just can’t spell! Crap, that was even mentioned last night; he made spelling errors in his letter! Gah. We should stop talking about this now. 

~Sherry

           Queen next week? I’m so busy that night. Ugh.   

            - Sherry

So I've been chewing on this episode for a few days now.  I've also been waiting for Television Without Pity to update their detailed episode recap so I can determine if I missed something that actually meant something within this episode.  I really need to stop being lazy and just go pick up a DVR from my local Comcast office.  Then you'll  never be able to escape my Primetime commentary - ha ha HA!  But yeah, back to Grey's.  I thought it was the lamest eppy in a while, stockpiled with filler and more of the same, "Aww, maybe Derek still loves his wife too" stuff that I'm getting a little bored with.  As you may (or may not, depending on your level of McObsession) know, the show's writers post a blog every week after the episode airs.  You can visit it here.  Creator Shonda Rhimes talks about how the characters are real people to her... she doesn't know what's going to happen until she writes it and it just flows forth from the part of her brain where the real Meredith, Derek, Cristina, etc. all live.  Or something.  The point is that she wants Grey's to come off like real drama, without the trappings of typical sitcom or light dramatic fare.  Except that I sometimes enjoy typical if it's done in a smart or quirky or flirty way.  Wouldn't it just be a gas if no one ever found out about Addison's continued relationship with McSteamy after she drove McDreamy away?  Wouldn't it?  NO! Romance novels are formulaic for a reason.  That formula should not include being skeeved out by the guy who is realizing his underappreciation for a smart and beautiful wife at the same time that he's enjoying walks and heart-to-heart chats with his mistress that we've seen cast as his true love.  It's one or the other, folks.  Team Mer or Team Addy.  There's no Team Derek Who May Just Love Both of These Chicks.  That show is reserved for Playboy or HBO's new series, Big Love.   I guess I just can't see where the writers are going with this show, as far as Meredith and Derek are concerned.  The first season was a buildup to loving all that was McDreamy.  Trust me, I have the DVD's to prove it.  Watch it and luuuuv him.  Enter the wife, who was initially billed as Satan herself.  I fell for that characterization and pfft'd every attempt she made to win Derek over.  I loved when he told her that he'd been in love with Meredith.  I didn't mind that he was trying to reconcile his marriage, provided he found out that it was all for naught... afterall, she'd cheated and lied and lied some more. OK, so there were some moments where she wasn't all Satan-ish.. when she told the expectant mother that she was the one who'd deserted her marriage - not to take out her frustration on intern Meredith.  But now we're seeing a completely different side of Addison.  Addison who latches on to a patient's husband because he acknowledges her beauty.  Addison who shares an intimate moment with Derek, laughing over her unfortunate case of poison oak.  I'm not convinced I *want* to like her, want to see her insecurities or share in her intimacies with Derek.  Because I'm supposed to want him to love Meredith.  And I'm feeling a little dirty for him as he sneaks off into the woods with Meredith.  Dishonesty is not dreamy.  And yes, yes... I realize he's never been completely honest, but suddenly there's a difference.  At first he was confused and torn apart by the cheating and he didn't know what was going to happen and there was an element of tragedy in his courtship with Meredith.  She was breathing life into him and he knew it - Seattle and this plucky young intern were just what the doctor ordered.  Now though, the cards are on the table, the wife is in the trailer and he's just playing both sides of the court a little too much for my liking.  McSkeeve Me.  : \  I'm hoping that the next few weeks are revealing.. either they disassemble the Mer/Der connection altogether or the lid is blown off the marriage with Addison.  I can't see continuing this pattern for too much longer, but then I was saying that a month or two ago.  *sigh*  

In everything that I ever chatter about Grey's, I focus on Meredith and Derek.  That's the part that bugs me or delights me most, depending, so it's my primary focus for commentary.  The other parts of the show are always good - how cool is it that George is hanging out and jazzing it up with Dr. Burke?  The man has issues, says Burke.  The least of which is not the bad self-haircut, says Dayna.    I'm thinking that Miranda is completely crazy for leaving the baby with Cristina - sure, I realize it was in the name of comedy.. but seriously?  Seriously??  I wouldn't leave my puppy with Cristina for a day.  She'd have been better off leaving him with Alex!  I have the bad feeling that Izzy's patient Denny is going to die, which is a shame but don't we want to see Alex and Izzy get a little cozier anyway?  They're just too pretty for words.  I don't know about the Orthopedic doctor who has her eye on George - she seems a little scary.  He might get hurt, and not even close to the same way that Meredith shredded him up.  Finally.. what was the point of Natalie Cole in that episode?  Yes, yes.. I know it was to relay to Derek that he might want to appreciate his wife (can we put a fork in her neck?) but Ms. Cole as a guest star who didn't even sing seemed weird.  Extraneous, even.  I mean, she's not an actress, is she?  They should have just gone for the gold and had her singing Unforgettable in a club at the end while Derek took Addison out to dance.  I SO did not just write that.. well, I did.  Sucker for the typical, I am.

So what did y'all think?  

Ohhh boy, how I want for no one to call and vote for that smug little Paris.  I don't give a hoot if she sang like a Stevie Wonder flavored nightengale.. she has no humility or sense of graciousness and I just can't stand her little self.  Singing her answers back to Ryan.  WTF?  I laughed right out loud when the camera panned to the judges' panel and Simon looked so intensely bored.  She did a fine job with the song but her performance afterward overshadowed that by a mile.  

Katharine had a spectacular performance.  Taylor did a fantastic job.  Lisa, who bores me, sang really well.  Mandisa, who is usually my favorite, was just a'ight.  I was completely surprised by Bucky, who actually became comfortable with "Superstitious", one of my favorite Stevie songs of all time.  I laughed one of those embarrassing snorting laughs when Simon questioned Bucky's Jessica Simpson hair.  Sometimes a stylist can really steer a person wrong... 

The rest of the performances were pretty forgettable except for Chris who just completely blew me away with his rendition of Higher Ground.  I'm a big Chili Peppers fan and I did know that the song was originally performed by Stevie, but I didn't even think of it when I was trying to envision what each contestant might sing.  I had Chris all pegged for Part Time Lover.  And with that thought, I'm reminded of Kevin Covais lisping through the song and I'm starting that embarrassing snort again.  But wow..  Randy was completely right about Chris finding a way to own each of his performances.  And Simon was completely right about his performance standing up in the real world.  And even Paula was right when she said everything about him was cool.  I'm really digging his squiggly sideburns - that's pretty artistic and you just gotta wonder if he can shave that himself or if it takes a stylist.  

So here we go with the real start of the new AI season.  My 7 year old has called the finale as a showdown between Mandisa and Chris.  My husband has exhibited some interest in Katharine.  He's trying to avoid interest altogether, so let down he was by last year's Underwood win.  But I guess Katharine has that effect... the bitch. ;) 

Las Vegas
Episodes 11/21/05 and 11/28/05

I swear I could have written the Las Vegas episodes that aired on 11/21/05 and 11/28/05. I am going to get smacked when my very close friend who I lub very very much reads this, but I must pat myself on the back one more time. (I swear, than I won’t do the La La La, I am so smart dance anymore.)

It all started with, believe it or not, soap opera rumors. With Robin Scorpio returning to the General Hospital canvas it once again sparked rumors with a Vanessa Marcil return. Add this into the highly publicized death of a “major player” on Las Vegas and the jump was logical.

In a discussion with my friend she threw it around that it would be the character of Sam to die, especially since the coming attractions that showed Dean Cain returning as her husband. Why else would he return if not for a funeral?

As I have learned with Nip/Tuck and Las Vegas and many other shows over the years these previews show everything out of context and they can never ever be taken to heart. Armed with that knowledge I knew exactly what would occur on Las Vegas and how we would get there.

It had to be Monica who died or else there was no way we were going to get Ed Deline back in the Montecito. The woman was insane and as we learned after her death, no one liked her. They flushed her down a toilet for goodness sake. I will admit though that I had no idea they would have the Wicked Witch blow off a building. The whole thing was just humorous.

Naturally, once Monica was gone someone needed to buy the casino and it needed to be someone who did not have to be hands on and who would relinquish control back to Ed. We knew from last season that Ed could not buy the casino himself (and I am not sure why he can’t) so it made sense we bring back Casey Manning who we already knew was interested and was also tied to the casino by Sam.

They did though throw me one surprise. I knew Sam would never take Casey up on his offer to run the Montecito side by side; it just isn’t how she operates. I did not however, foresee her marching in with the divorce papers and calmly informing Casey (after he signed) that half of everything he owned was now here, but she just wanted half the Montecito. You go girl!

My newest prediction is that Mary may be pregnant and that is what is up with all the bossiness.

I got hooked on this show with the very first episode and it never disappoints. The cast is talented and they actually appear to enjoy what they are doing. I like that they always stand up for one another and in the end really are a family.
The truth is I only watched because of Vanessa Marcil as I will follow her anywhere but everyone has just grown on me. Delinda is delightful and it is impossible to hate her. You never know what she is going to say and even though they have been dumbing her up a little lately, she really is a smart woman. Sam says exactly what is on her mind always and has no tolerance for stupidity, which is a very interesting quality for a woman who makes her money pleasing others. Danny can just stand there, not speak and take off his shirt every once in awhile and I’m happy. (I am so shallow).

Las Vegas manages to combine humor and drama and keep it fresh each week and it is never over done.

They also manage to get some kick ass guest stars. The 11/14/05 episode definitely made me want to catch a Criss Angel show.

I know this was last week, but I've been a bit preoccupied. Gotta love sweeps. Especially when it sends me to the moon by pairing Horatio Cane and Mac Taylor for two episodes. I love Horatio, and Mac is just sublime. *a brief moment as I contemplate the wonder that is Gary Sinise* Too bad they didn't throw in Gil Grissom for a nice foursome...I mean threesome. The plot was mediocre, the bad guy a yawn. But, oh the tingle I got when Horatio requested that Mac join him in Miami. Oh oh oh....Deep breaths....

I was also giggling like a school girl when Horatio and Stella were working together. He does have a history of loving those women with the long curly hair. Yelina is out of his reach now... Actually, since a Horatio and Stella pairing is unlikely, I am holding out hope that he will spark with the voluptuous Natalia Boa Vista, played by our very own Eva La Rue.

Since I love shipping, how about I tell you who I think should be paired together, using the three shows as a pool. Feel free to add or change according to your opinion:

Horatio and Stella
Mac and Calleigh
Catherine and a newly divorced Warrick (some things are meant to be)
Sarah and Danny
Nick and Montana (Lindsay)
Gil and Natalia
Delko and Aiden
Greg and Ryan (as long lost fraternal twins)
Emeraldax and Horatio, Mac and Gil

Since the very first episode of Nip/Tuck I have been hooked. Beyond any show I have ever watched this show pushed every imaginable boundary. At times the stories and the graphics were flat out obscene. They have touched on issues virtually unspeakable in every day life. In spite of this, or because of, I am transfixed; incapable of changing the channel and eagerly anticipating each new episode.
The acting and the emotions put forth by this mostly unknown (to me) cast is stellar. One is never disappointed in the delivery or the nuances of each individual actor. You actually feel for the incorrigible, root for the underdog and feel betrayed by the wrongs each character faces. Never mind that in most cases these characters are the essence of dysfunction.
In the subsequent two and a half seasons we have witnessed everything from a covered up killing, drug trafficking via silicone breasts, a physically altered priest that enable him to escape being caught as a child pervert, the separation of conjoined twins, twosomes, threesomes and everything in between, sex changes, a serial killer and that is just to name a few. That list hardly even touches on the things that you see each week on Nip/Tuck. Just writing about it makes me want to watch it again.
Minus the glamour and the deprecation this show is really to me about two men; Christian Troy and Sean McNamara who are the unlikely twosome in their forties still trying to figure out just where they fit in life. Christian and Sean have been friends more than half their lives and are more like brothers and suddenly they find all their secrets and fears coming to crash before them. Christian is the playboy who lives to make money and lay women at any cost. He is toted as the amoral, cold hearted partner to his goody-two-shoe friend Sean. Only problem is, Christian has very good reason for being the man he is and as we learn about these two men we get a true understanding of just how they got here and why they are now stumbling along an unknown path.
Christian and Sean are two men who were once very different but come to find parts of them coveted the life the other has led and when these conflicting worlds collide, there is just no telling where the pieces will fly.
Sean has led a nice life with his wife and two kids, his lovely home, his partner and his financial stability, but what happens when you find out your best friend slept with your wife?
Christian has led no easy life and it takes until the third season to really grasp just how damaged this man really is, but just a hint – how do you feel when you realize because of you a guilty man will get away with molesting a young boy, much like what was done to you as an orphan?
Julian McMahon as Christian makes me want to take him home and “fix” him, a classic trap for the woman he beds on a regular basis. I suppose of everyone on this show he touches me the most. He is so broken, yet he is so not what he appears to be and in every episode there is one look or one gesture or one word that makes you remember, this man is still human and is still capable of love.
Watching Dylan Walsh struggle as Sean between who he is, who he was and what he thought he should be is amazing. He can portray such anguish in every simple action and you root for this man to find what he is searching for.
Joely Richardson as Sean’s wife Julia has been such a find. I have watched this woman be knocked down, spread around and dropped like yesterday’s underwear and then get up start over and make something of herself. She shows courage and strength and is proof that life doesn’t end when your husband lies and cheats. If she would just let her tormented son stop degrading her I would have so much more respect for this woman.
Nip/Tuck is a show that makes me think (sometimes it is just a simple thought like, Can you really have sex in that position?), it makes me feel and it always leaves me saying Wow!