My Current Actor Obsession

25-year-old South African actor Adhir Kalyan was the best thing about the best new (and cancelled) show of the 2007-2008 TV season, Aliens in America. As Raja, the Pakistani exchange student who turns the Tolchuk family's life upside down, Kalyan was consistently charming and unparalleledly engaging. Now, as David Spade's deadpan and ambitious assistant Timmy on CBS's Rules of Engagement, Kalyan is once again a joy to watch. Rules is a sweet but unremarkable show as a whole, but the introduction of Timmy has brought it to a new level. With his adorable accent and perfect comic timing, Kalyan is a gem of an actor. Here's hoping Timmy sticks around and there's much more of my beloved Adhir Kalyan to come; this kid should be a superstar.

Aliens in America: love, love, love

Ongoing tensions between American and Islamic culture came to a head in yet another lovely episode of Aliens in America this week on The CW. With fewer laugh-out-loud moments than one has come to expect from this show and a bit more corn, this episode was sweet and clearly important but was not one of the strongest the show's ever had. That said, it was still wonderful and really spoke to the message of the show. The B story with Justin and his dad was very sweet as well. It's always nice to see a little more Luke Danes. Amy Pietz is an amazing comedic talent and Adhir Kalyan plays Raja so endearingly that I wish he were my best friend. I love this show. 

Check out the most recent episode online at cwtv.com

Aliens in America- Community Theatre

I've officially decided that Aliens in America is the sweetest show on the air. It has more heart packed into its 22 comedy-filled minutes a week than most shows have in an entire season. This week's episode was perhaps the best one yet.

Desperate for time with her son, Mrs. Tolcuk (the hilarious Amy Pietz of Caroline in the City

familiarity) convinces Justin to sign up to work on the community theatre's production of Rent. Justin takes on the part of Roger when a cute college girl (Zoe) introduces herself as the actress playing Mimi. When Zoe quits at the last minute, Justin ends up playing the part opposite his mother. It was incomparably awkward and very very sweet. 

 

Meanwhile, Claire has signed up for the school hot-line but isn't receiving any actual calls and her family believes she can't really help people. Raja (the greatest character of all time), who cares very much about Claire, calls in pretending to be someone named Doug who needs her help. They talk for hours over a couple 

of weeks and really start to bond until Raja is caught in the lie. Claire is hurt, she told him things she has never told anyone else and feels exposed. She eventually forgives him when she realizes why he did it and that most of the things 

they'd talked about had been real. He tells her that she's more than she seems and that her family was wrong. This story line may sound cheesy when I recount it but this show manages somehow to be sweet, sentimental and touching without ever being actually cheesy; this storyline is a perfect example of that. The way Claire almost cried and how wonderfully innocent and caring Raja is is just so lovely. I'm glad they're exploring that relationship a little bit more and seeing the influence Raja can have outside of his friendship with Justin. 

This show is truly remarkable. 

New Sitcom Episodes- YAY!!!

feeling the strike blues?

The CW has a new episode of "Aliens in America" posted entitled "Church". It's the Christmas episode that's only just been posted but it's HILARIOUS. Check out the episode on www.cwtv.com and get into the show if you haven't already, the Tolchuk's are the funniest family on TV and Raja is my favourite new character of the season.

Also, Fox.com has 2 new episodes of "Back to You". They're both pretty good. Ty Burrell shines as Gary, hands down the funniest cast member, and gets featured heavily in both episodes. Check out my podcast review of the episodes, downloadbable on iTunes (search My TV).

Get excited for the return of other sitcom favourites, coming up this month.

Aliens in America

the funniest, most self aware, sweetest thing in a long time.
Raja is my new favourite person in the whole world (yes I know he's fictional, but he's soo sweet)

Since becoming the CW, the WB has lost much of its former glory. The very glory that brought us such wonderful teen and/or family based entertainment as Buffy, Angel, Popular, Dawson's Creek, Felicity, Charmed, Everwood, Jack & Bobby and Gilmore girls.

Their new season doesn't promise a return to what it once was but Gossip Girl offers up some fluffy entertainment on average with the early years of One Tree Hill (something I used to be addicted to and now watch out of loyalty to what it once was) and Aliens in America promises to be a wonderful sitcom (one of the top 5 on air easily).

Love seeing Luke from Gilmore girls back on the screen alongside Annie from Caroline in the City (an old favourite of mine) and the young cast is wonderful as well. Hopefully the show will keep up what the pilot established as wonderful characters in a satirical but achingly honest world.