A Thoroughly Entertaining Read

One of Entertainment Weekly's newest photo galleries is a run down of what they consider to be the 25 greatest episodes in the Whedonverse. And while I don't agree with every choice (how are "Waiting in the Wings", "Tabula Rasa" and "Spin the Bottle" not on this list?), they get it almost exactly right.

So, in honour of Dollhouse's 2nd season premiere this week, click here to read all about the best of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog and Dollhouse, you'll be amazed at the fact that you let yourself forget just how much of a genius the man really is.

A New and Intriguing Hollywood Couple

So the age difference is a little startling and I wouldn't have set them up in a million years but it seems that two of my favourite TV actors are a couple, and even Ausiello didn't know about it.

Adrianne Palicki (age 26) aka one of the best things about the spectacular and sadly underrated series Friday Night Lights and Alan "Wash/Alpha" Tudyk (age 38) shocked EW's Michael Ausiello (and, subsequently, My TV) last night when they showed up at a party as a couple (something they have apparently been for quite a while).

Both amazing supporting actors have everyone waiting to hear when they will be returning to FNL and Dollhouse this season, but in the meantime they're keeping fans of quality TV happy with their unexpected matchup. Who knew Firefly and Friday Night Lights fit together so nicely?!

Shonda Picks Up Joss' Leftovers Once Again

With the recent guest appearance of Amber Benson on Private Practice, the total number of Buffyverse supporting players to appear on a Shonda Rhimes show has been pushed to 6 (that I can think of). 

Between Grey's Anatomy and it's spinoff Private Practice, Shonda fans have been treated to the best of the supporting casts of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and it's spinoff Angel, including Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Seth Green, Emma Caulfield and D.B. Woodside.

The connection is most likely due to the influence of Marti Noxon, a former writer and executive producer on both Whedon shows who now lives in Shondaland (in addition to working on a million other shows at once, not the least of which is Mad Men, which stars multiple Firefly alum). 

Here's how they fared on my ever-so-scientific ranking system:

1. Seth Green (lovable Oz was funny and charming as usual as a guy who could die at any minute who then sprayed blood all over an annoying Lexi in a 2 part Grey's episode last season)

2. D.B. Woodside (as Bailey's high school crush on Grey's Anatomy, Principal Wood was perfect casting)

3. Amy Acker (nobody else could inspire pathos towards a morally questionable mother on Private Practice the way the woman behind Fred/Illyria did)

4. Amber Benson (the PP writers gave Benson an emotional role with none of the subtlety that the Buffy writers gave Tara, but she did the best she could with what she had)

5. Emma Caulfield (though she gave life to one of the Buffyverse's most dynamic characters, Anya, her role on PP was far from memorable)

6. Alexis Denisof (with the worst role of the lot, my favourite actor on this list somehow manages to come in last. His thankless role as an un-BigLove-like polygamist on PP would have made my beloved Wesley cringe)

Post in the comments section which Whedon actor you'd like to see next in Shondaland. I'm thinking Nicholas Brendon. 

My Tv Crushes (and my Triumphant Debut on My TV)

Howdy blogland! My name's Rachael, and I'm pretty obsessed with movies. I even have a whole blog about it (http://rn4-8-7.livejournal.com/). But I'm also pretty obsessed with it's small-screened cousin, television, and am incredibly excited to be invited by Kelly to start blogging here on My TV about all things TV-related.

I've decided to do my first blog post as an addendum to Kelly's earlier Crush list, because there's some tv-shows that even the great Ms. Kelly hasn't gotten into and I think there are certainly dream-worthy boys deserve some crushing-love.

So without further ado, my TV Crushes (in no particular order):



First and foremost, one of the most glaring and sad-making holes in Kelly's TV repertoire: Chuck. When Chuck started last year, it was a by the numbers tv action-comedy with a strange-sounding premise. But this season, it has advanced into full-fledged must see tv goodness. And most of the reason for that is the eponymous Chuck, Zachary Levi. Not only is he consistently funny, goofy, and noble, he manages all this while in Buy More uniform and without any notable demonstrations of physical dominance of any kind. He's an unrepentant geek who'd get along with the stunted boys over on Big Bang Theory better than he gets along with his hottie super-spy love interest, Sarah. And he's 100% dreamboat.


There's really no excuse for my love for Mac (Rob McElhenney), one of the four truly awful human beings that run Paddy's pub over on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Here's a guy whose closest friends think that it's likely he's a serial killer, and who once banged his best friends Mom. But something about his earnest evilness wins me over every episode. Add in a real life romance with show costar Kaitlin Olson, and you'll have to forgive me for this truly deplorable TV crush. Plus, as my ongoing Logan Echolls fascination can attest, I have a bad boy problem.


Special Agent Seeley Booth is every girl's dream, whether or not she knows it. He's a devoted dad who thinks sex should be reserved for those you love, who's witty and sexy and reads comic books in the tub. He spends his days catching murderers and practicing chemistry with his sexy, in a nerdy brilliant kind of way, partner, Temperance Brennan. And he's got just enough of a dark past and troubled soul that he's got that extra spark without being an actual badboy. Plus, he's played by David Boreanaz.


Conrad Shephard (Romany Malco) is probably the closest thing to a good person on Weeds. And he's still a drug dealer who carries a gun and occasionally sleeps with married women. But his (somewhat undeserved) devotion to Nancy Botwin (Mary Louise Parker) and the fact that he is smoking hot earns him his place on this list.





Cappie (Scott Michael Foster, from Greek) is another guy in the bad boy mode, but what college girl doesn't dream of that elusive frat guy prankster who's basically a character from Animal House but who's also smart enough to pass, dare I say ace, all his classes while still hung over from last night's kegger AND have series of monogamous relationships with interesting and intelligent female protagonists? Sure he stole Zac Effron's haircut, and for the first couple episodes was little more than a one note cool guy, but as the show has progressed (as far as a TV-show about fraternity and sorority dealings on ABC Family can progress), Cappie is the rock, both morally and comically. And his kindness to uncool Rusty is as much as an advertisement for awesomeness as I've ever seen.


Captain, General, Attorney Lee Adama (Jaime Baumber, Battlestar Gallactica) on top of looking super dreamy is often the heart of the series constant moral dilemmas. He sticks by his guns, even when that means laying his guns down and going into politics. In his personal life, he's rarely so stalwart, but his romantic entanglements with Starbuck (only the all time coolest and most badassiest female in cable TV history) are probably the sexiest thing I've ever seen. Although in the past season we didn't get the intense privilege of seeing our boy in his flight suit as often, he rocked the suit and tie lawyer look just as hard as any of those boys over on the Practice.


My ultimate TV crush is also the only one I took from a show Kelly also gave crush'ed love to. But Malcolm Reynolds is the TV crush that defines all the others. Sure, I love me some Seth Cohen, but would I take him over Malcolm Reynolds? Not if you paid me. Malcolm Reynolds is and will remain my semi-silent, often-nude, pistol carrying space cowboy love, and the romantic saga (made only more romantic by the fact that it never comes to anything resembling fruition) between him and Inara will remain one of my favorite all time epic love sagas.


Looking forward to future blogging goodness, and for all things movie related, check out I Watch Movies and Then Talk About Them.

What About Firefly?

Some of the you (of the millions who I know read this) may be wondering where my Firefly review is. It is true, I have finally finished the series and I, of course, loved it. But I have been seriously lacking on the podcast front lately so I've decided to express my opinions on the show in that medium. Hesitant to record on my own when I could be providing you with interesting banter instead of my boring and long winded ramblings, I'm putting off spilling my points on Firefly. Instead, look for a podcast sometime in January featuring myself and fellow Joss-aficionado Rachael (of "I Watch Movies and Then Talk About Them") debating the finer points of the series. 

Also to come: Rachael has officially joined the site as a writer! So look for the occasional column or review from her in the future. 

Late Obsessions: Firefly edition

So I've only just realized that I completely forgot to post my obsessions of the week. Sorry. 

Tonight I'm watching a Firefly marathon, finally finishing the series. So, a little late, here are my Firefly-themed obsessions. 

Simon Tam

How is it possible NOT to be in love with this guy? He's smart and noble and funny (unintentionally perhaps), he's awkward and endearingly proper and the way he takes care of his sister- downright heroic. 

Summer Glau

River's a cool character but Summer Glau's performance in the role is what really impresses me here. She's intense and odd and sometimes even a little scary but she also has these incredibly tender moments of sweetness or silliness or innocence and sometimes all of it at once. The girl is a revelation. 

Mal Reynolds

Hands down, no questions asked the coolest of all Whedon's heroes, possibly even the coolest TV hero ever. Mal is a fascinating combination of... no wait, he's too complicated to use adjectives. Let's just say he's freaking cool. 

and, last but most certainly not least, 

Nathan Fillion

It takes serious chops to play a character with as many levels as Mal Reynolds and Fillion hits it out of the park every time. Not to mention, he seems like a really awesome dude in interviews and commentaries. And then there's Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog (the DVD of which is coming out soon),  in which he plays a narcissistic hero/antagonist. He sings, he swaggers, he's fantastically self deprecating- what could be better?

Obsessions: Nov 26-Dec 3

Nico Archambault and Natalli Reznik

My 2 favourite So You Think You Can Dance Canada contestants. Both beautiful technicians with spunk, drive and lots of fire and heart. Nico I've loved since his very first audition. Natalli, on the other hand, was the surprise of the season for me. She was originally my least favourite of all the Top 20 dancers but she proved to be more than I thought she was and she quickly changed my mind (not an easy thing to do). 

and

Firefly

It's been on the list for years but I've never actually gotten around to watching Firefly. My friend Tim bought me the DVD for my birthday last year and it sat on the shelf. Until last week. And now that I've started I can't figure out what was keeping me from diving into another masterpiece from the genius that is Joss Whedon. I'm about half way through and apart from expressing my love for every character I would especially like to say: I LOVE SIMON! That is all.