Brothers and Sisters- an episode I didnt love

for the first time ever I was disappointed with this week's Brothers & Sisters. First of all where was Sarah? she was only in one small scene then disappeared. It seemed almost as if Rachel Griffiths was shooting a movie or something and could only spend a couple hours on set for the week. I hope she's in more in the next couple weeks, she's so immensely talented.
I'm tired of Justin and Nora's pity party. I want the old fun Justin from last year who had more troubles than imaginable but smiled through everything- I don't like him in pain and I don't like him on his meds either. I need him better so that he can be wonderful and Nora can be funny and opinionated and busy-bodyish (like she was in relation to the radio host in last week's wonderful episode).
I was really glad to see Scotty again- I always liked him. Any storyline with Kevin and I'm in- I haven't disliked one yet. Kevin's definitely the best character (and the show is very good about responsibly portraying gay men realistically). I love Scotty's smile and how it seems to brighten when Kevin's around, he just seems like someone you could really open up to and I love that he's making something of his life.
and McCalister- he cant possibly win the election and stay on the show but there is no way that guy loses. He's a republican who liberals love- he's a win win. and those baby blues...
I like that they're taking their time with Sol's bisexual story-line. The show tends to burn plot really quickly so its nice to see them pace themselves with something that could be so fascinating to see unfold.
The making sundaes bit at the end with Nora and the boys was nice but we really need more Walker family together-ness- that's the heart of the show and when it's a its best.

overall a bit of a let down but there were some lovely moments (all Kevin related in some way) and every other episode ever aired has been close to perfect so they're allowed a weak point every now and then.

TV Podcasts

A true TV aholic doesn't just watch television. They read blogs, they subscribe to TV magazines and most importantly they listen to podcasts. Here's the breakdown of what I listen to.

1) The TV Addict: Daniel Malen's website and accompanying podcast is great. The new co-host Renessa is wonderful and brings the podcast up to a whole new level. It's less off topic banter and more TV analysis. They're in Toronto and not TV professionals, just big fans so its very personal, like talking to your friends about your favourite TV shows.

2) The TV Guide Podcast: THE place for TV news and a bit of analysis. Michael Ausiello is the TV scoop king even if I don't always agree with him. It's really suffering since they lost Dan and Angel but so long as Maitland is still there it's still worth a listen. They also do a brief overview of the new movies in theatres.

3) The Official Scrubs Podcast: Every episode two members of the cast, crew or production team do an audio commentary of that week's episode. They're fun and insightful into the world of the Scrubs set. If you tape the episode it works to watch the show on low volume while you listen to the podcast so you know what part they're referencing.

4+5) The Official Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice Podcasts: executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers talk about the show. They provide great insight and it's fun to get a sense of what the people behind such hit shows are like. This is also the place for interviews with cast members.

6) Big Brother On The House: if you're addicted to Big Brother, these 3 friends from different corners of America record together live after every episode (3 a week). listeners can call in live or record a voice mail. They can also chat live or email in comments. The three of them are a great balance: Joey is funny and lighthearted, Mike is analytical and cynical, Amanda keeps them both in line and they all sympathize with different players in the game and have different views on their strategies. Definitely the best of all the Big Brother podcasts.

Last but not least...

My TV podcast!!!!!!!!: my very own podcast where I talk about my favourite shows and what I think isn't worth watching. You can download my podcast from iTunes at the following link:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=266597391

What to Watch

We're far enough into the new television season at this point for me to provide my picks for what you should be watching this season. They are as follows (in order of scheduling):

Brothers & Sisters (Sun, 10, ABC)
How I Met Your Mother (Mon, 8, CBS)
Prison Break (Mon, 8, FOX)
Pushing Daisies (Wed, 8, ABC)
Kid Nation (Wed, 8, CBS)
Private Practice (Wed, 9, ABC)
Gossip Girl (Wed, 9, CW)
Ugly Betty (Thurs, 8, ABC)
30 Rock (Thurs, 8:30, NBC)
The Office (Thurs, 9, NBC)
Grey's Anatomy (Thurs, 9, ABC)
Big Shots (Thurs, 10, ABC)
Friday Night Lights (Fri, 9, NBC)

and if you have the time, also worth a watch are (in order of Merit)...

Aliens in America (Mon, 8:30, CW)
Journeyman (Mon, 10, NBC)
Boston Legal (Tues, 10, ABC)
House (Tues, 9, FOX)
Back to You (Wed, 8, FOX)

please don't take offense. I gave up on Desperate Housewives 2 seasons ago, The Simpsons and Family Guy are best if watched in syndication when bored, I found Chuck underwhelming, Bionic Woman horrifying, The Big Bang Theory and Rules of Engagement boring, Bones is too procedural, Men in Trees was formulaic, Smallville bored me after 2 seasons, Two and a Half Men is simply not funny, I gave up on Heroes but have every intention of returning if only for Kristen Bell and I simply never tuned in to K-Ville, Everybody Hates Chris, Reaper, Bones, Cane, Dirty Sexy Money, Life, Supernatural, Moonlight or anything else not aforementioned.

Friday Night Lights Episode 202

I love this show but I fear its not what it once was.
There were some lovely Landry-Tyra moments but their storyline is far more One Tree Hill than this truthful character drama ever was in the first season.
Why has Jason not accepted his condition yet?
What is Julie's problem and why can't she appreciate Matt? Why doesn't she help her mother more? she just doesn't seem like the same girl who compared her father to captain Ahab in the pilot episode. Her love for her parents, Matt, learning and culture seems to have faded as the series progresses.
I hate Lyla Garitty- That had nothing to do with the second season since Ive always hated her but I just thought it should be known.
I love Tim Riggins- see above. always loved him, always will.
Coach Taylor needs to move home. I'm sure he will soon but it needs to be soonER.
Tammi needs to pull it together, she used to be so much stronger and more fun than her circumstances are allowing her to be right now.
Even the opening titles aren't as good as they used to be.

Now this isn't to say its not still wonderful. FNL is still quality TV and I still strongly urge you to watch it but I'm just saying that this sophomore seasons is looking to be a bumpy one.

You Know You Love THEM: Gossip Girl XOXO

I am LOVING Gossip Girl. I wish they would post the episodes online faster so I didn't have to wait until Saturday to watch but the show is sooo great. Its one of those shows that leaves you feeling good by the end, and we all need a little of that in our lives. Besides, as of yet its not sot crazy plot-wise to make it un-relatable like The OC. Its a heightened reality but one to which we can relate at least on some level.

This was an especially important episode (Bad News Blair) for characters that we as of yet were not supposed to like. Serena and Dan have been set up as sympathetic- they're the heroes, well already love them and probably always will. But Blair and Chuck have been the antagonists of the story until now. While it was really Serena that pulled out all the friendship stops in regards to the Waldorf photo shoot, the audience got a better glimpse into Blair's insecurities and the reasons behind her behaviour. We got to see a bit of what used to be there between her and Serena and the knowledge that as much as she hates Serena, she really loves her.

Similarly, Chuck is a jack-ass. He's a jerk. He's a philandering, doped up, drunkard who sees women as objects and wealth as a descriptor of merit. But his friendship with Nate clearly parallels that of Serena and Blair. They've been together forever and will not be splitting up any time soon. They hate each other and disagree on most things but it wasn't that baseball that Chuck went to the poker game to get back- it was Nate.

Gossip girl is pulling out all the stops in trying to be more than just a teen soap. Like Seth and Ryan's was, the 2 central friendships in Gossip Girl are the heart and soul of the show and give it a legitimacy that extends beyond its frolicking teenagery ways.

It seems that even the most villainous of villains can be redeemed when you see them with their best friend.

Grey's Anatomy's worst decision EVER: Gizzie

poor Callie. I love Callie. Trouble is I love Izzie too. I like George but he's not one of my favourites so Ive decided to throw all the blame his way so that the characters I like are simply victims of circumstance.
Whoever's idea it was to throw Izzie and George together needs to not work in television (yes, even if it was the almighty Shondra who's right about soo many other things in this world). First of all, the precedent set at the beginning of their relationship was that Izzie would never even look at George in that way- she asked him to buy tampons. Secondly, she's a wonderful character but is coming off flighty: she only took half a season to get over Denny and decide that George was all of a sudden the love of her life. She only wanted him once he was unavailable which isn't true love so much as a character flaw. and its not true to her character in the first place. Izzie isn't flighty at all; she's committed and idealistic and caring and loyal; she wouldn't fall in and out of love nearly as fast as the writers have her doing. and Callie, yes I understand that it creates much more conflict to have the decision be between two good women (more Casablanca than Titanic) but that's only fair if the women are more equally matched. Callie is insecure about not being the belle of the ball type girl. She's strong and independent and Izzie even said herself that "George is [Callie's] McDreamy". George choosing Izzie doesn't just mean that Callie looses the love of her life, its exactly her worst nightmare from high school- the pretty blond model stealing her boyfriend (and though Izzie is more than that, its still too cruel). It was exactly the right Casablanca dynamic when McDreamy was choosing between Meredith and Addy, both were good women but it didn't have the same tone as a high school popularity contest (though why anyone would EVER choose Meredith over Addison I will never know). Besides, Izzie was never George's ideal. He never inclined towards her, I would have accepted him leaving for the girl of his dreams (Meredith- who I hate so am glad they didn't pursue that further, but still, in theory...) but Izzie wasn't that. She was his best friend. Izzie and George have wonderful chemistry together, their dialogue sparkles and they play off each other beautifully, or at least they used to before all the drama began. Which brings me to the root of my disapproval...

Why Can't Men and Women EVER be friends on TV????
Someone got it into their head that unless there is romantic drama men and women are boring to watch together. The network even fought Seinfeld for years to get Jerry and Elaine together (and even though they were never together on the show, they still had dated). Joey and Dawson had one of the greatest dynamics on TV before they made it about unrequited love. Xander and Willow were wonderful, then they hooked up. Andy and Nina, Jack and Becky, Joey and Rachel, Dawson and Jen (for that matter- every pair they could come up with on DC), Donna and Josh, Kat and Ethan, THE LIST GOES ON...Even Sports Night's Dana and Casey flirted with the possibility of a relationship. Men and women CAN be friends. They can be best friends. they can be lean on each other, call at 4am, finish each others' sentences BEST FRIENDS and not fall in love. Now mind you sometimes its wonderful when they do (aka Jim and Pam, Monica and Chandler, Hannah and Bright) but more often than not TV shows throw them together because there's nothing better to do. It then ruins them forever when what they had was wonderful. There are shows who attempt do try and preserve this rare but awesome male-female dynamic. One Tree Hill's Hailey and Lucas share a badly written close friendship but the writers never spoiled it with a relationship, Veronica Mars and her best friend Wallace were amazing, Ted's close friendship with his best friend Marshall's wife Lily on How I Met Your Mother is one of my favourite relationships on TV.
SO WHY COULDN'T GEORGE AND IZZIE BE LEFT ALONE? Their catch you when you fall, can talk to you about anything-ness was superb and they will never have that openness again (not to mention poor Callie will be devastated).

BOO I say BOO.

I REALLY hope that Private Practice holds true to the wonderful dynamic they've set up between violet and cooper and doesn't ruin it with a relationship- it's looking like they might go the right way on that one. fingers crossed.

end of rant.

Building a Better Nation- Kid Nation

There has got to be something wrong with me because I just cried like a baby while watching Kid Nation. The friendships that have developed are truly touching and the emotions are more real than any other reality show could hope to be. When Cody left it was just like the last day of camp when you're leaving your friends who live far away and you wont see them again. The way Campbell cried and Morgan took care of him was so touching. and while I'm on the topic... Morgan is amazing!! the way she handled the issue of faith and the prayer service was truly impressive.

Some of these kids clearly were raised with very rigid values and not much exposure to anything else but the way some of them reached out to learning other religions was amazing. When Zach was teaching the other kids the similarities and differences between the bible and the Torah I couldn't help but be overcome with hope knowing that there are kids like that out in the world. When the little Christian girl started to take part in Anjay's Hindu ritual when earlier she'd had no idea what Hinduism even was- oh, beautiful. And while some (aka Mallory's ignorant older sister) are clearly single minded (um hello, cross section of the American population- they cant all be amazing), most of these kids are awesome. That prayer service was unbelievable- and I'm not even at all religious.

Alex is clearly a prodigy child- he's absolutely BRILLIANT!!!! Mallory's got some game too. Zach is unbelievably inspirational and I have no doubt in my mind that he'll be leading the yellow team very soon. Morgan is clearly an extraordinarily beautiful and nurturing person. Sophia is spunky, intelligent and independent. Michael is a white knight with a sparkling intellect and an incredibly noble sense of right and wrong. Jerrod is a creepy little kid (had to let that be known even though this is a list of good things in general). Mike is clearly a together and capable guy with a solid head for leadership and Anjay is a strong and positive influence while keeping calm and collected even under scrutiny. WHERE DID THEY FIND THESE KIDS? AND CAN THEY PLEASE RULE THE WORLD SOME DAY? just keep Greg, Emilie and TAYLOR out of the way.

Taylor needs to be thrown off this show- NOW. She represents so much of what's wrong with the world.

Big Shots

not nearly as bad as its bad press would let on.
certainly better than chuck and big bang theory and miles ahead of bionic woman.
Id put Big Shots on par with Journeyman this season. Now that doesn't mean I think they'll make it- in fact I think both will be cancelled fairly soon- but they are both worth the watch (if after you've finished with Brothers & Sisters, Prison Break, How I Met Your Mother, Boston Legal, Pushing Daisies, Private Practice, Gossip Girl, Aliens in America, The Office, 30 Rock, Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Kid Nation and Friday Night Lights you still have time).

Dylan McDermott and Michael Vartan get more attractive every day and Ive loved Josh Malina since his 2 lines in A Few Good Men. The characters are amusing (particularly the 4th guy whose name I don't know) and while some of the dialogue is cliched its still fun to watch (although I would watch grass grow if there was a picture of Michael Vartan superimposed onto it). and (unlike the unlikeable hit Entourage) the male friendships ring true. Its a much harder dynamic to establish on screen than female friendships in because they tend to be more physically distant (the exception being Scrubs, lol). The creative team behind Big Shots seem to have successfully established a believable male dynamic that combines a bit of Alan and Denny with a bit of Marshall,Ted and Barney and a bit of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte.

Id love to see this show stay on the air not only for its eye candy but just so that Josh Malina can say he's had a job that wasn't given to him by Aaron Sorkin.

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.

HIMYM episode 303

really really funny. nice turnaround of classic trapped in a room episodes like Marshall and Lily in the bathroom waiting for Ted and Victoria to move to the bedroom in season 1 and four of the FRIENDS trapped in the bedroom while Ross and Rachel have their massive "we were on a break" breakup fight.

it was great to see Trudy again (a season 1 favourite as well as a welcome face from The West Wing) and its always fun to see Dawson's Creek alum back on TV (Busy Phillips).

I still don't like Lily's evolving style, she doesn't seem down to earth, friendly, and independent enough anymore.

Robin's storyline was unfunny and dumb.

but overall the episode made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions. The Wii stuff was hilarious.

How I Met Your Mother man... best sitcom perhaps ever.

Kid Nation part 3

this show is soooo entertaining!!!

#1) Taylor desperately needs to be impeached and replaced with Zach. I feel like they purposely put her on the council to contrast the other 3 who are all outstanding leaders so there would be a revolt.

#2) Greg is so flipfloppy. He often deserves the star but why cant he figure out how to work the politics of it? he needs some of the brains of these other kids

which brings me to...

#3) THESE KIDS ARE SPECTACULAR!!! Mallory and Zach and Colton... even the little ones are really impressive (I particularly like Zach) not to mention, yes I'm going to say it again, MICHAEL- genius!!!

and Mike and Anjay are pretty great too (Laurel is usually pretty good but gets on my nerves sometimes)

The Lovliest Show Ever- Pushing Daisies

I've just finished watching the pilot and have concluded that while it doesn't move at quite the pace of some other shows, Pushing Daisies is pure delight. Its got the lightness and sweetness of a sitcom with the romance and longing of a drama and the mysteries of a procedural. The visual effects, score and narration give it the feel of a fantasy film (think Stardust or Nanny McPhee). The cast is lovely (I tuned in partly for Kristin Chenoweth alone). Ned is the most adorable guy on TV (yes that includes both John Krasinski and Wentworth), Chuck (Charlotte) is lovely and sweet- their love story is amazing! (they can never touch or she will die so its full of the most spectacular longing). Chi McBride is back on the screen which is nice to see and you can NEVER go wrong with Kristin Chenoweth. This show is simply WONDERFUL. Its all the happiness you need wrapped up and package nicely in a little 42 minute box.

TV on DVD last season releases

Today I went to Best Buy and bough Season 2 of How I Met Your Mother, Season 3 of The Office, Season 3 of Arrested Development and Season 1 of Friday Night Lights.

I love TV on DVD. if I was patient enough to wait until everything was released on DVD I would watch everything like that. Cliffhangers mean nothing, there are no commercials and everything takes either 22 or 43 minutes instead of hour and half hour blocks.

I'm in the middle of season 2 of How I Met Your Mother and have to say that its just as good the second time around- totally worth the $35, even if you watched it all when it aired.

Also great for catching up on other series that you've missed (its how I watched all of Greys and intend to catch up on Lost and Heroes, its also how I watched the entirety of Buffy, Kitchen Confidential, Sports Night, Arrested Development, Slings and Arrows, the beginnings of Six Feet Under and Prison Break as well as much of Veronica Mars and The West Wing)

TV on DVD- my favourite thing EVER to buy. also: if you think about it, for a single season of the average sitcom you get 22 episodes of 22 minutes each that's like 8 hours of straight material plus bonus features and commentaries. for an hour show you get 23 episodes of 43 minutes a piece (sometimes 13 episodes of hour long shows, depending on the network) which gives you more than 16 hours of brilliant programming. All for somewhere between $25 (your average sitcom price, ie: HIMYM, FRIENDS) to $45 (the average hour long action-adventure price, ie: Prison Break) to $65 (the average bit hit price, ie: Grey's Anatomy) to $85 (your average high income target demographic price, ie: West Wing, Six Feet Under). And that's at HMV the most overpriced of stores available. And second hand you can get them for almost half. If you buy a film newly released on DVD it'll set you back about $40 for about 2 hours plus special features- ladies and gentleman if this isn't hard proof that TV is an under appreciated (though I'm glad to keep it that way to support my budget) medium than I don't know what is.

Kid Nation episode 2

Firstly: no one is as great a kid as Michael. He's spectacular: hardworking, vastly intelligent, analytical, fair, kind, he has his priorities straight, he's fond of the young kids, he knows when to speak and when to stay silent, he's got an extraordinary gift of communication and leadership. I'm waiting for his flaw. he's also clearly very well off judging by the way both he and his mother reacted to the gold star win (and the camera was very careful not to show much of his house unlike Sophia's).
Secondly: the green team has the two best kids in town (Michael and Sophia) so why do they suck so much?
Thirdly: Taylor should be exiled for being an idiot. Zach should usurp power over her team. There had better be a rule stating she can be overthrown.
Fourthly: how rocking a leader is Mike? he's got amazing leadership potential. He's organized, competitive, driven and strategic but was the first to tell the green team that their loss was alright.
Fifthly: why doesn't Anjay get any screen time?
Sixthly: DK seems pretty cool- we need more of him.
Seventhly: Emilie is a lunatic
Eighthly: so is Jerod
Ninethly: I understand where Greg is coming from but he screwed himself over by messing with Mike the first week and now he has to work harder for the recognition than other kids do. There's still time for him to win if he keeps up his new behaviour but next week he's sure to throw a tantrum that will ruin his chances for good. Also: he's a weirdly skilled boy, first he's a butcher, now he's a plumber? that's skill. They would have been lost without him on that chicken thing. But being a jerk will kill you every time. I liked that he still worked after winning the challenge (even if for the wrong reasons). He and Sophia seem to get on really well and they're both past puberty and within a year of each other... showmance anyone?
Tenthly: they have got to leave those kids to their own devices more and stop pretending that that book was left for them by an old pioneer.

This show is SO much fun. but they have GOT to get rid of Taylor- she's an example of a whole lotta stupid and lazy and lies.

BEAUTIFUL BETTY!

and for that matter. beautiful Hilda, beautiful Daniel, beautiful Justin, beautiful Mark, Christina, Claire, Alexis, Amanda, Wilhemina, Bradford, Santos and beautiful Henry. This show is just beautiful.

The revelation of Alexis' memory lapse made me gasp out loud (I'm sure my floor mates think I'm nuts), I almost started to cry when it was revealed that all of Hilda's scenes had been imagined (I thought he was dead at the end of last season but fell for the trick in this premier). I knew Henry would come back (if you have Christopher Gorham you USE Christopher Gorham. Ive loved him ever since he was Harrison on Popular and it simply is not an option to see him as little as we saw him this episode. He'll be given a lot more screen time in upcoming episodes Im sure. He's prince charming). Whilhemina I don't think will marry Bradford- something will get in the way, Claire perhaps.

I adore this show. its happy and sweet and not devoid of artistic or comedic merit which so many things that are hailed as "happy and sweet" are. Its simply wonderful. And while American Ferrera is perhaps one of the actual most beautiful people in the world, may I just ask: "when is Betty getting those braces off?" though already she looks less dumpy than she did in the beginning- I say get it off Amanda and give Betty back her fat suit. Also: I adore the Betty-Daniel dynamic and Hilda is one of the most underrated characters on TV- her material in the second season premier was almost as good as Sandra Oh's in the season 3 finale of Greys. And let us not forget when the entire continent descended into tears in last year's finale when Hilda collapsed on the floor while a little girl sang "Somewhere" to her son who was pretending to die onstage. SPECTACULAR.

The Betty people do burn story very quickly but their episodes are so well crafted that I have every belief that they will always find something more to explore.

My Ode to Brothers & Sisters

To the best cast ever: the best of Everwood, Alias, The West Wing, Ali McBeal, Prison Break, Six Feet Under, Reunion and an Oscar winning matriarch to tie them all together. Its lightning in a bottle when these people get together in front of a camera.

To wonderful characters and relationships: no show has ever achieved a family dynamic as wonderful and as truthful as the Walkers. Every single character is unique, fascinating, flawed and wonderful and they relate to each other in beautifully intricate ways. Watching the Walkers is like a symphony of personalities and connections. Each individual instrument plays on its own and is spectacular and unique in what it is but then when it joins with something else it becomes so complicated and is all the more beautiful for it. But its only when you hear all the instruments together that perhaps the solo makes sense.

To perfect and relevant story lines: Justin in Iraq, Kitty's world of politics, Kevin's boyfriend troubles, Sarah's striving to hold on to her family and her business, Nora's desperation to move on and stay connected, Rebecca's desire to be a part of the family, Sol's struggles with his sexuality and the lies hes told those he loves.... spectacular, fascinating, socially and politically relevant and true to the characters. My only fear is that they may run out of story they go so fast.

And finally, to the writers: every single character on this large ensemble drama has a distinct voice. They speak differently, distinctly and yet you can still tell by the way certain ones communicate which are Walkers. Brilliant voice development in conjunction with brilliantly plotting and relationship arc= the writers of this show are my gods (second only to Aaron Sorkin and Joss Whedon)

To the entire cast, crew and creative team of Brothers and Sisters and to the ABC execs who put it on the air and kept it there... I LOVE YOU and both this year and last year's television seasons owe you for making up for some of their mediocrity.

A Big Pile of Bionic Waste

I must confess that I got only half way through the pilot episode of Bionic Woman before turning it off in repulsion- and I had to force myself to get that far. I start of every new TV season with every intention of watching absolutely everything, at least giving it a couple episodes to win me over (after all, I hated the Grey's pilot and subsequent couple episodes but now it's one of my favourites currently on the air). This is just too bad though, there's too much on this year to waste my time on something that's so un-enjoyable I would rather be writing my term paper that's due next week than watching it. If it becomes a huge hit I might someday return (like I plan to with heroes and with lost) but as of now I refuse to watch any more Bionic Woman.

Firstly there is nothing more annoying on TV (or any medium for that matter) than an actress who seems like every line she's saying is being read from a script. This is partly the fault of the writers since the other characters do it a bit as well but it's really evident in the lead. Memo to TV producers: just because she's pretty it doesn't mean that she's an actress. God I miss Buffy, back when actresses could dress like supermodels, be witty and engaging, hit the high emotional moments and kick serious vampire ass all at the same time. See Grey's for more examples of both extraordinarily beautiful and more normal looking people with serious acting chops. (and writing ones too- go Shonda!).

Also: I know they tried to justify this but since when do genius professors (who happen to be young and hot by the way) date drop out bartenders... can you say "this TV, we can do anything". THINGS PEOPLE CAN BELIEVE IN AND RELATE TO WORK BETTER!!!!! these producers are idiots. and let us not forget the wonky editing (why does the color composition keep changing in the hospital?

This show is an example of everything that's wrong with TV. When people finally decide they're going to switch the channel from drivel like Deal or No Deal and Survivor and tune into something scripted and find this (an unoriginal, badly scripted, badly acted, badly edited play for viewership off false novelty), they simply tune back into the reality shows.

is this show does really well Ill be sooo pissed.
and to think no one is watching Friday Night Lights- may I present to you the idiocy of North America!

I love Adison Montgomery

She's the best. Kate Walsh brought to life a character that was set up to be hated by an entire continent rooting for her husband to be with another woman. She turned Addison into one of the most complex and compelling characters on Grey's and I would watch her in anything. That said, private practice wasn't as great as expected but its sure to improve and I love soo many of the people involved. Its a blast to see Paul Adelstein play someone so completely different than how we've seen him on Prison Break for the last 2 years, he's so bumbly cute and his character's friendship with the adorably dysfunctional Violet is wonderful (I really hope the producers dont throw them together and instead leave them as truly best friends. I'm also so glad to see the Piz has a job since Veronica Mars didn't come back. I really liked Dell's speech demanding respect from Addison. and Taye Diggs has a smile that could light up the dark side of the moon (and he's a Broadway guy married to Idina Menzel which just adds to the awesome). So far I love the cast and under the leadership of the people who brought us such dynamic and intricate characters as Preston Burke, Miranda Bailey, Christina Yang and Addison Montgomery herself, Private Practice promises to be a crowd favourite. (PS: though I'm glad Addi didn't last with Derek I don't understand who would ever chose Meridith over her).

Boston Legal

there are typically, in Boston Legal, moments when you just think to yourself "what is this?" it's completely ridiculous and they take it too far and it's kind of strange that it gets the Emmy attention it seems to... but... there there are moments when you realize that it's so much more than the farce it sometimes succumbs to and there are moments of pure joy.

This season's premier of Boston Legal was in every sense a classic Boston Legal episode with every feature that I mentioned above. They somehow managed to fire half their cast and hire an entirely new one whilst maintaining not only interest but plot that the audience has come to expect. I didn't miss Constance Zimmer at all (and I'm a really big fan of hers). It was the smoothest cast transition since the world forgot that Hawkeye ever shared a tent with anyone other than BJ and Charles.

The Denny and Shirley moment when he sang "You are my sunshine" almost made me cry- it was absolutely beautiful, one of the best moments on television ever (from 2 characters I don't usually enjoy watching), Jerry berating John Larroquette's character for being mean was spectacular "even if I was serious you never head butt" and Clarence's performance at the end was pure happy (Big Hairspray fan so it was predetermined that I would love that). I'm glad they're onto another big murder trial that will last a couple episodes (last year's was fascinating) and as of yet I don't hate the new girl (though the one that will be hired next week promises to be hatred worthy).

This season will probably a lot of fun with a couple of moments of "that's why it keeps getting best drama Emmy nominations"

Season so Far recommendations

Of what I've seen of this year's premiers these are my recommendations for what to watch if you're running low on TV time:

How I Met Your Mother
Gossip Girl
Prison Break
Back to You
Friday Night Lights

more premiers to come this week, will add to the list once Ive seen them- get excited!

NBC Monday's New Shows: Chuck and Journeyman

OK, not amazing, kind of average but again, like most TV shows out there, worth the watch.
Chuck is adorable and fun (though very badly edited), I liked seeing Sarah Lancaster (Everwood) back on screen and some elements are really cute (like Chuck's affectionate nickname for his sister's boyfriend 'captain awesome') but Journeyman is actually better.
I actually quite liked it. Kevin McKidd is really engaging in the lead role (though when they show him with his old fiancee I can't help but contemplate why it is that TV and film always couples men with women who are much younger than them. His present day wife is played by someone much more age appropriate. Actually the most compelling dynamic in the show is when he goes back in time to when he was engaged to a woman who is now dead and his now-wife was with his brother. It's fascinating to watch him struggle with his feelings of infidelity as he slips his wedding ring off in order to be with the person who in the time period he's currently in he's supposed to be with in front of the woman he eventually marries and his brother who he stole her from. He feels disloyal to his marriage, his current (or previous-depending) fiancee and his brother all at the same time. It's also fun to see Kate (his future wife)'s feelings for him being desperately hidden while she's with his brother. I also enjoy the time period references they throw in (old sports games, news feed, pictures of NY skyline with the World Trade Center, etc...). Overall its very good- but nothing to warrant many seasons and a DVD purchase- God I miss the West Wing; now that was a show that every episode was a revolution of quality television.

Monday on NBC- worth a watch but nothing necessary if you don't have a lot of TV time.

You Know You Love Her: Gossip Girl XOXO

How great is it to hear Kristin Bell's voice on TV again? GREAT.
Now I refused to read the books, they were a little too chick lit trashy for me but all my snobbish sensibilities could not keep me away from the series premier of Gossip Girl on The CW. And I have to admit- I loved it. I'm completely hooked and seriously looking forward to next episode. I went to an elite private school in Toronto and while I never ran in that circle and the show is clearly hyperbolic I have to say that some of it rings entirely too true for comfort. There really are boys that pretty with trust funds that big. There really are girls that stylish and that catty. At the same time there are also girls that privileged who, like Serena, are really fundamentally good people who don't look down on those less privileged. What's true about the real world upon which the show is based is that most of those kids may have trust funds on which they can ride but they're also really smart, really well read, hard workers, determined and most show an active interest in something other than their social lives (whether it be theatre, sports, debate, journalism, etc...). Here's hoping Gossip Girl shows that side of them along with their defiance of the unfair stereotype that privileged kids are snobs who can't see beyond a checkbook and designer jeans. Acting-wise, the boys are a tad TOO pretty for my taste but the relationship between Dan and Jenny seems like its shaping up to be a favourite to watch and Blake Lively as Serena exudes great kindness and trustworthiness whilst being the most beautiful and stylish person on TV these days. And then there's always Kristen's voice over as the unseen Gossip Girl to remind us all that perhaps what we're watching could be better than a synopsis would suggest- it could be among the intelligent elite of teen-based dramas like her Alma mater.

Kid Nation!!!!!!!!

I really like Kid Nation!!!
These kids are amazing. Even the ones you're really not supposed to like (ie: Greg) have moments where they're awesome (helping out the kid with the muscle spasm, offering to be Jimmy's wing man, helping the younger kids on his team during the challenge, his pride in Sophia when she won the gold star). Soo many of the kids are really smart and some are really hard workers. Sophie is awesome and I totally understand exactly where she's coming from whenever she's bossy or confrontational.
I adore Michael (his speech and when he said he really likes the kids), he kind of an awesome kid. It seems as if the council is made up of really random people. I understand Mike (even if he is only 11 he's a pretty good and very dedicated leader) and I think Anjay has real leadership potential. Even Taylor had some truly inspirational moments and Laurel is showing great strength in leading her team through friendship (a trait Michael criticized in other leaders) but Laurel is clearly going to get preachy down the road and Taylor flat out lied about why the dishes weren't getting done "I'm a beauty queen I don't do dishes" but "we're doing our best but there are a lot" was the official word. Michael and Sophia should be the other 2 leaders. I wish the show would leave them alone a bit more to create their own social structure instead of "the council" and survivor-like challenges determining their fate. People like Michael, Mike and Sophia would have set themselves apart as natural leaders in a Jack-like way (lord of the flies- the early pre-savagery chapters) which would have been fascinating to watch. I'll miss Jimmy (who's adorable but has gone home) but am really looking forward to the next episode.

Back to You: a return to the classic sitcom

The series premier of Back to You was this week and I have to say.... thank god. This show was lovely. It wasn't innovative, it wasn't memorable, and it wasn't brilliant but it was good and it was familiar. The sitcom King (Kelsey Grammar- Cheers/Frasier) and Queen (Patricia Heaton- Everybody Loves Raymond) together with legendary sitcom director Jimmy Burrows (FRIENDS/Will & Grace/everything else ever) made a show that made me laugh. It was like having FRIENDS back, or Will & Grace or Frasier or Mad About You or any of the other gems from the forgotten 3 camera sitcom genre. I grew up with FRIENDS (it rand from when I was 4 years old until I was 14) and Will & Grace. They were my first favourite shows, the shows that got me into television. Marta Kauffman, David Crane and Kevin Bright were the names of the first executive producers I could recognize. Now I can name dozens and that's what I want to do with my life. I love sitcoms. I love classic sitcoms- everything from All in the Family to Who's the Boss? to Golden Girls to MASH. I grew up in a time when they were everywhere (both first and second generation of the reign of sitcoms) and while in recent years there have been many hilarious new takes on the sitcom (Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, Extras, The Class, Scrubs, etc...) there hasn't been anything reminiscent of the old days since we lost Frasier, FRIENDS, Will & Grace and Everybody Loves Raymond in the span of a couple years. Back to You fills that gap. It's not spectacular but it gets in some great laughs and its nostalgic as hell and completely worth the 22 minutes.

Friday Night Lights Season 2 premier

I've just finished previewing the second season premier of Friday Night Lights (airing on NBC on Friday, Oct 5 @9pm). Its not as great as the first season but still wonderful. The complex characters and relationships are still there. Julie faces a dilemma in her relationship with Matt that Ive seen happen to real-life couples more than once. We don't get to see enough of Riggins, Street or Smash but Tyra and Landry get some much deserved screen time. There is a distinct danger with their storyline of becoming over dramatic along the lines of more of an OC or One Tree Hill kind of show as opposed to the real-life based character driven stuff of the first season. The episode's most shining moment was the brilliant Connie Britton's silent tears after her conversation with her husband- she's easily the most underrated actress on TV. I don't like that Landry is trying out for the football team though. I find when a show is centered around a certain activity its important to have a couple characters who aren't rooted in that activity to ground the show. For example, Alias was strongest when Sydney had a life outside the CIA from which she had to hide her real identity- it gave the show more dynamics. By integrating Landry into the team it seems forced and unreal. I found the final moments of the episode kind of confusing since they were giving out the state champ rings (and coach Taylor was giving them out) but Landry was in uniform so I was unsure whether it was a flashback. In fact the whole episode was strange because it skipped ahead 8 months from where we left off with very little exposition as to what had happened since we left. Also, I could have sworn Riggins was supposed to graduate last year. And why is Tyra's molester all of a sudden following her? it seemed as though she hadn't seen him in 8 months and now he shows up? it seemed badly constructed as a whole- but then again, I'm picky, really picky. The show as a whole still is the best character drama out there and I will be watching the premier again when it airs for real in October.

CBS MONDAY COMEDIES: How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory

My favourite show currently on the air is (no secret here: How I Met Your Mother). I was, however, disappointed in last night's third season premier. While still better than most sitcoms out there (see the second half of this post), last night's HIMYM was not up to their usual standard. After re-watching the entire first season on DVD and gearing up to buy the second when it comes out on Oct 2, I was really excited about the premier but it lacked some of the omph of past season. I can't pin down why it wasn't as good- it just was lacking something. I must also say that I hate Lily's hair. She said herself in season 1 that "the bangs were a mistake" in reference to her homecoming picture. She used to be a cute, down to earth red head who paralleled Marshall in a lovely way. Now, with her cool girl straight bangs and dark hair she looks stylish, popular and kind of mean. Her look doesn't reflect her personality anymore and her and Marshall don't fit as nicely together because she looks like one of the cool kids and he looks like one of the actually cool kids. It seems to me that Alyson Hannigan is trying to outrun Willow with all her might, though I have to say: WHAT'S WRONG WITH WILLOW?

The second comedy of the night was the series premier of Big Bang Theory from the creators of Two and a Half Men, starring 8 Simple Rules' Kaley Cuaco. This was dull. It had its moments of funniness but overall had the ring of a sitcom where the laugh track sticks out because it doesn't inspire nearly that much laughter. On a really great sitcom a laugh track is completely unnoticeable. Though, as we learned last year with The Class, the pilot is oftentimes not nearly as good as the rest of the series- I say let it grow. I doubt this one will make it far, it's a shame though- I do love watching geeks at work, so cute!

Prison Break episode 2

Last night's second episode of the Prison Break season was certainly meh. The sleuthing should not be left to Lincoln. Susan B Anthony is clearly ridiculous- first off she's completely unbelievable as an agent of whatever she's an agent of, she's also played by the bitchy prom queen from She's All That, please. I hate it when Michael doesn't have a plan- its not nearly as interesting. I'm also tired of Sucre already (who we've only just been re-introduced to) though perhaps he'll be better once this Marie-Cruz thing is over. And I can't stand what the writers have done with Mahone. I disagreed with the direction they took for the character in the first place but they've taken him to idiotic extremes that someone of his supposed intelligence would never stoop to. With all he went through last year he would know that he can't beat Michael and that his only chance for survival would be to work with him. Instead, he's clinging to an immoral strategy that he thinks will get him out of prison but which even he admits doesn't sound like it will work- what? Id rather just have Mahone killed. The second season was great for that- they killed off beloved characters because there's no way all 8 of them could have made it, they showed no qualms about losing them. We lost Abruzzi, Tweener and Haywire to that (no one cared at all what happened to C-Note) and the series survived- so lets off Mahone and be done with him.

on the good side- I love T-Bag, he's one of the coolest characters ever. Robert Knepper is impeccable as the villain you love to hate. Its amazing to see how he transforms himself (a funny, happy-seeming, kindly man) into the snake that he portrays on screen. In the audio commentaries on the season 1 DVD you can hear him talk about the techniques he uses to develop the character. I also love Mike and Linc, as corny as it may be I love seeing them swear to go to the ends of the earth for each other.
Though he drives me crazy, the writers have done a great job throwing Bellick into a completely different world than the one in which we were introduced to him but keeping him true to his character. Unlike Mahone, Bellick is consistent in character. His willingness to do anything (including betraying Michael- the only person he can trust) to survive in relative comfort is reminiscent of his time as a CO, taking bribes from the inmates. Similarly, T-Bag's degrading himself for protection and status makes perfect sense and is full circle from his forcing young men to hold his pocket for protection at Fox River.

Overall I still thoroughly enjoy this show even if there are tons of things I would do differently if I was writing it.

Also: Wentworth.

PS: I MISS SARA!!!!!!

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

I just finished watching the first season of Friday Night Lights on nbc.com and can I just say it is not in the least bit over hyped by all those critics who've been swearing by its brilliance for a year. I'm the last person to ever watch something about football. I'm the last person to watch something set in Texas, I'm the last person to watch something shot in a dark and gritty style and I'm the last person to ever watch a show based on a Billy Bob Thorton movie. I am, however, someone who will give anything the critics love a chance.

After the pilot I liked it. After mid season I really liked it. After the season 1 finale I LOVE it- I love it to the extent that it's made the Facebook Favourite TV shows list. The characters are so well developed through both writing and performance that it makes me wonder how 1) these young actors are only being discovered now, 2) Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler have, until now, been bit players and guest stars, 3) I wasn't watching this before and 4) no one else is watching at all. Every single character is so multidimensional that even the ones I started out hating turned out to be characters I really cared about.

Coach Taylor and his wife are the most believable and wonderful couple Ive seen on screen since Paul and Jamie left us (Mad About You). They are kind, compassionate and caring while plagued with an array of flaws that I recognise in my own parents. Julie, who I initially couldn't stand, has turned into a wonderful character whose plight I really invest in (and her relationship is so lovely to watch blossoming), Tim Riggins went from the loser parody of a typically conflicted character to one of the sweetest yet (as the Grey's characters would say "dark and twisty") characters ever. Tyra, similarly, deepened with every minute of screen time she got and is now one of my favourites. Now mind you Miss Lyla's not a character I'll ever really love but she has a few moments of pathos too. Jason Street makes my heart ache- the scene when he set about passing on his knowledge to Matt made me cheer out loud. Matt is typically lovely (though you knew that from the beginning) and while Smash started out as a parody and still has his moments of being completely annoying, his late season scenes with his family and with Waiverly (particularly the one outside the diner) make him spectacular in my eyes.

This show is not about football. It's about people and life and love and everything. Football is a backdrop, a metaphor for what's going on on a deeper level. Matt's growing confidence in himself is reflected in his leadership as QB1. Every time Riggins takes a hit to protect Smash on the field it represents their growing friendship and race relations within the team. The way they take to heart what coach Taylor says reflects their characters. when the coach runs a play Matt developed it shows not only his confidence in the boy as a leader and as QB1 but it shows that he trusts him in his relationship with his daughter.

It wont get a third season without a huge jump in viewership. It shows NBC's dedication to content that it (and 30 Rock for that matter) are still on at all. We owe it to the network to prove to them that we notice when they give us something other than what's economically smart. In picking Friday Night Lights up for a second season, the network chose what was right over what was right for their team (something coach Taylor struggles with on a weekly basis) and for that they deserve at least a PVR recording every week.

Watch it- not only will it contribute to the salvation of intelligent scripted television but there's so much you can learn from these fascinating and complicated characters.
So, say it with me y'all....
"clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose"

WHAT IM WATCHING THIS FALL SEASON:

As premiers rain upon us I thought Id give you an idea of what I'm going to be watching this season (because that's what Ill be talking about but its also what you should watch... hint, hint).

RETURNING SHOWS:
- Brothers & Sisters
- Desperate Housewives
- Prison Break
- How I Met Your Mother
- Heroes
- Lost
- Grey's Anatomy
- The Office
- Scrubs
- 30 Rock
- Jericho
- Weeds
- Boston Legal
- Ugly Betty
- Friday Night Lights

NEW SHOWS:
- Back to You
- Gossip Girl
- Kid Nation
- Viva Laughlin
- Life is Wild
- the Big Band Theory
- Chuck
- Journeyman
- Cane
- Reaper
- Private Practice
- Dirty Sexy Money
- Bionic Woman
- Life
- Big Shots
- Moonlight
- Aliens in America
- Pushing Daisies
- Women's Murder Club
- Samantha Who?

MIRACULOUS SECOND SEASONS- its not too late

This is my appeal to you (not that anyone reads this- if anyone reads this please post a comment so I know you're there).

I have a thing where I can't jump into a show if I haven't seen the beginning. I couldn't return to Lost after I skipped the end of season 1, I couldn't watch Grey's because I hadn't been a fan for the first 2 seasons and finally I couldn't lend my valuable viewership to critically acclaimed shows such as Arrested Development and Sports Night because I hadn't always been watching. As a result of behaviour like mine both of these shows were cancelled after only a few (3 and 2 respectively) seasons. Since, I've watched both series in their entirety on DVD and love both shows. I wish they had had the viewership to continue. (same with my beloved Veronica who I'm glad I was able to support during her third and final season because I caught up with DVD in time).

Ive spent my summer catching up on shows I didn't use to watch and am now going to dive into. I'm returning to Lost, Ive discovered Grey's (full entry to come later on my thoughts on the most popular series around) and I even intend to watch season 1 of Heroes so I can tune in when it premiers and see what all the fuss is about. (I gave it a shot last fall, grew quickly tired and turned it off but the loyalty of its fans suggests that it deserves another chance). While these shows don't need any help getting another season (in fact Lost is already signed long term), they're important to my repertoire.

There are, however, shows that need the viewership that are really worth saving.

1) 30 Rock. This Emmy winner for best comedy is truly hilarious and really charming. Tina Fey is brilliantly relatable and Alec Baldwin is priceless. This show's completely unexpected second season pick-up was a miracle and to keep it from going the way of Arrested Development it needs people to tune in and see how great it really is (one episode will have you hooked).
CATCH UP WITH SEASON 1 on www.nbc.com

2) Friday Night Lights. Every blogger, critic and podcaster out there has been screaming for a year that everyone needs to be watching FNL. Its gritty and real and dramatic and engaging and FUNNY- who knew the words gritty and funny could apply to the same thing. The characters are some of the most developed Ive seen on TV in years. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are spectacular and beautifully recognizable as a wonderful couple as they lead a group of young actors who will knock your socks off from Matt's desperate optimism to Tyra's unexpected strength to Tim's hidden vulnerability and compassion. Give it a couple episodes to grow on you but I guarantee its worth every second of your time.
CATCH UP WITH SEASON 1 on www.nbc.com

3) Jericho. This is the only show I'm promoting that Ive yet to watch. I have every intension of watching all of season 1 and tuning in to season 2 though because this show is the root of the most inspirational story Ive heard in television in years. Upon hearing that Jericho wouldn't be returning for a sophomore season, its dedicated fans sent nuts to CBS in protest. This isn't unheard of: Everwood fans put a Ferris Wheel outside corporate offices and Veronica Mars fans sent Mars bars across the country. It is, however, unheard of that the network listened: that's exactly what CBS did. The most watched yet least talked about network which serves founder Sumner Redstone's mantra of "content is king" decided to listen to their audience. They agreed to a second season of Jericho on a trial basis, if the viewership doesn't go up they'll kill it again- more than fair. In fact, this brilliant move by CBS gained the network serious points in my book. It shows they were listening, they care and if Jericho doesn't make it there's no way anyone can blame the network- people have got to watch. So, in the name of democracy and in the name of CBS and in the name of the dedicated fans who made their voices heard for the first time in network television history- WATCH JERICHO.
SEASON 1 IS AVAILABLE ON www.cbs.com

and finally...

4) How I Met Your Mother. The best sitcom in years (perhaps ever) is hailed as the "perfect" sitcom as it combines elements of all the best sitcoms. Entertainment weekly said it takes the hip twenty-somethings of FRIENDS and puts them in the bar from Cheers with the comedic and revealing narrative and in-jokes from Arrested Development, the unconventional format of The Office with the comfort of a laugh track, the comedy-romance of Mad About You, big name guest stars like will & grace, the nostalgia of The Wonder Years and the catch phrases and supporting star like the Fonz from Happy Days. How could anything be better? Its one of my top 3 shows of all time and though perhaps not in as much immediate danger of cancellation as the above 3 it really needs to be on the air for a long time to come. So please, I entreat thee, WATCH.
This is also on CBS so, WOOT!
SEASON 1 NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD, SEASON 2 AVAILABLE ON DVD ON OCT 2, 2007.

Don't let these disappear like "THE CLASS", "REUNION", "SPORTS NIGHT", "STUDIO 60", "ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT", "JACK AND BOBBY", "KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL", "VERONICA MARS", "EVERWOOD", "AMERICAN DREAMS" and so many others.

Holy Prison Break Batman!!!

I admit I love the Wentworth. I love his secretive eyes, his heart shaped face, his perfectly defined lips, the small mole on his temple, his strong hands, the way he exudes quietly intense intelligence, etc... but I have to admit that even if we put him aside for a moment I still love Prison Break.

Ive just finished watching the third season premier of the show (courtesy of fox.com) and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was a little disappointed in the second season as a whole so was unsure about the third (now mind you I was disappointed but still enthralled so there was no way I wasn't coming back) but so far its proved a bit of a return to the original brilliance. Though not as exhilarating as the first season (I'm already tired of the prisoner who runs the prison and his so called "rules"), it's nice to see the guys stop running and have to think things through again. What made the first season so great was knowing Michael's plan was already set and watching it play out (as well as watching him think on his feet and adapt to the obstacles that came up). sure it was an action/adventure show but it was more intelligent and suspenseful (also home to some of the most interesting and well-played/developed characters on TV- Robert Knepper is the king of character study!!!). The second season was mostly running and Link without a shirt. This season Michael's back in Prison (alongside 3 other characters we already know- the bores that are Bellick and Mahone and the awesome villainy of T-Bag) and we get to see him come up with an escape plan. It's sure to be somewhere in between the brilliance of the first season and the mediocrity of the second. Also, this plot line certainly wasn't in the original plan so the answers cant be in the tattoo. we're sure to see plenty of long sleeves on Wentworth this season (so he doesn't have to spend the extra 5 hours in makeup).

We're also going to sincerely miss Sarah Wayne Callies (Sara Tancredi) who' s not in the cast this season. As far as we know Sara and LJ are alive and have been kidnapped but with Michael's attachment to her and her non-existent contract she's bound to meet an unfortunate fate. Too bad, I always like Sara.

Must go, more to come as the new TV season unfolds.

Big Brother- my shameful love

I have a confession to make. Though I on a regular basis sing the praises of intelligent television and curse the squalor that is reality television, I love, and have loved for some time now, Big Brother. I tried to give it up when 6th season rolled around but by the time I found out about season 7 being All Stars I was back wasting my time 3 hours a week watching the addictive social experiment in the big brother house. The genius that is the evil dr. will had me not only glued to my couch but also extremely excited about the next episode (almost as much as I am for new episodes of How I Met Your Mother and Prison Break). And now we are on season 8, a new set of unrealistically attractive people and I am not only back, I am in a worse condition than even when I was watching my beloved will. I watch all 3 episodes a week, I listen to three different podcasts after every episode and today I even ordered the live feed and have spend entirely too much time watching it. At the moment Zach and Nick are sitting in a giant tea cup strategizing as to how to best work the house with their alliance. Zach is saying things along the lines of "I need more time with you" as Nick lies to his face (and he buys it) that he is 100% with the alliance only minutes after he swore to Amber that he has her back and wants Zach out ASAP. Sad, but exhilarating. Its pathetic but I love it. I would like to claim that Big Brother is a sophisticated study of human interaction but I would be lying through my Jedi master of BS teeth. Its crap. Watching beautiful people scheme and fight and make fools of themselves is some of the best entertainment there is and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Someone to Fall Back On

I INTERUPT THE TV LOVE FOR A RANDOM, UNRELATED THEATRE POST!!!!!!!!!

I've been failing as a theatre addict lately, though Ive seen a couple shows nothing has inspired me... until JRB came along.

A couple weeks ago, thanks to my favourite blogs at the addict.com network, I found out about a Jason Robert Brown concert in Toronto. This was a once in a longtime deal. So I invited my musically enlightened friend Chris and we went to see the new Sondheim perform in person.

He was wonderful. Take my breath away, out of body experience- type WONDERFUL. Warm fuzzies and cold shivers were abundant throughout the show. Glenn Gould Studio was filled to the brim with musical theatre lovers, complete nerds and other phenomenal people of the sort who swoon at sung poetry.

The magic of the encore can't be described. Someone to fall back on sums up my Donna mentality (TV reference to be explained in a latter post). Lets just say, I'm obsessed.

With all my love, I send you to jasonrobertbrown.com to listen to the recording.

Jim and Pam

Has anyone seen a cuter couple since Ross and Rachel? Jim and Pam's chemistry is one of the greatest things about the amazing sitcom that is The Office. Their kiss at the end of last season was breathtaking and an entire continent held their breath until its resolution this September. Though the writers decided not to put them together and to have Jim start at a new office, viewers still have a sense of hope since Pam didn't marry Roy either. This past Thursday Jim and Pam spoke for the first time since the season began. He called the Scranton branch to talk to Kevin and she answered. The next few minutes were enough to make us all hopeful that they may be together yet. They reverted back to the witty banter of their close friendship. That exact dynamic has not only been missing from the show, you can tell the characters have missed it from their lives. If you ask me, its just a matter of time until Jim is back: the unfunny Stamford characters can't possibly keep him away long. Though shows tend to lose a little magic when the couple finally gets together (Ross & Rachel, Tony and Angela, Luke and Lorelai) just having Jim and Pam in the same room makes the show soo much better.

Dear Aaron Sorkin, I love you

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. That's all I have to say about the current state of television. There are all the reasons in the world to lose faith in television as an art form. Deal or no Deal has somehow replaced jeopardy, The OC and One Tree Hill are the only remains of Dawson's Creek and every other show is about lawyers or doctors. For years, one of the last true commendations for television legitimacy was Aaron Sorkin's drama The West Wing. Now that its done, in its place we are left with the brilliant yet struggling Studio 60. Television is still alive AND artistically legitimate; its simply a matter of watching the smart stuff. If the millions of viewers who complain about the lack of intelligent programming had been tuned in to the intelligent programming on NBC at 10 on Mondays they would have seen Jordan Mcdeer (Amanda Peet) fighting for great programming. If no one watches the great stuff, no one is entitled to complain when it's gone. As for Aaron, when the public doesn't come through for him I sincerely hope he writes anyway and continues his attempts at force feeding the American public what they need to be watching. We've already lost Jack and Bobby, American Dreams, Joan of Arcadia and Everwood to cheap, stale and unstimulating mush, don't let us lose Studio 60 as well.

What Happened to The Reign of Sitcoms?

Once upon a time there was a multitude of great television encapsulated into succinct 23 minute installments. This was when sitcoms ruled the airways... not in syndication.

My TV obsession came in the age of FRIENDS, Will & Grace, Frasier, Sex and the City, That 70s Show and Seinfeld. These days there are only 3 sitcoms that make me laugh even a fraction as much as any of these did- How I Met Your Mother and The Office and Weeds.

It is a truth pretty much universally acknowledged that Jim and Pam are the new Ross and Rachel but the old energy just isn't there.

This past Monday, Canadian Thanksgiving, The Women's Network aired a FRIENDS marathon of Thanksgiving episodes. Viewers got to experience gems such as the Thanksgiving football game, Chandler telling Monica he loves her while she's shimmying with a turkey on her head, Joey eating an entire turkey on his own, Phoebe pretending to like the Green Bay Packers to escape helping make dinner, Rachel sticking a marshmallow up Monica's nose, Judy and Jack Gellar's bizarre antics, Michael Vartan as Richard Burk's hot son, Brad Pitt and the I Hate Rachel Green Club, Chandler in the box, Phoebe's WWI Thanksgiving memory, Fat Monica, Chandler's Thanksgiving aversion, Monica and the toe, Rachel's schwooping, Monica's neurosis, Mocolate, potatoes with peas and carrots, tater tots, mashed potatoes WITH the lumps and grilled cheese sandwiches.

... and that's off the top of my head. I taped the marathon, I didn't even watch it yet. If I can remember that many Thanksgiving years after the finale- clearly Bright-Kauffman-Crane got something right. With the failure of Marta Kauffman's show on the WB and the lack of funny that IS David Crane's The Class, the terribleness of Joey, the horrendous 2 and a Half Men still trudging along and The New Adventures of Old Christine mediocrely breaking the Seinfeld curse, the future of the sitcom is fading fast.

Hopefully HIMYM, Weeds and The Office will be around for at least a couple more years and perhaps sometime soon the general public might sit up and realize that by allowing networks to entertain us with cheap and easy reality TV, they are killing what used to be a paragon of entertainment.

A Look Back at Television Revolution

All my intellectually snobbish friends look down their noses at me when I talk about the show that I watch every afternoon at 3pm. Well, of course I don't actually watch it then (I don't watch anything in its own time slot), I PVR it and watch it when I get home each night. This show is Beverly Hills 90210. Of course I watch the show with a pound of salt and am completely aware of the stereotypes and the unrealistic characters in it. However, my argument against the snide remarks is always the same: a real tv-aholic simply cannot ignore the shows that, though perhaps not of phenomenal artistic merit, made television what it is today.

The adventures of Brenda, Brandon, Kelly, Dylan, Steve, Donna and David are in many ways responsible for hits like Dawson's Creek, The O.C. and One Tree Hill. Even cult shows like Veronica Mars and Buffy the Vampire Slayer owe a little to the gang at the Peach Pit. The first major show to be completely centered on the trials and tribulation of a group of high school kids, 90210 spoke to troubles facing teenagers through their own eyes and didn't talk down to them. The teenagers were intelligent and capable but still made mistakes. The show was about teenagers, they were not simply tools to allow the parent characters to teach their lessons.

Though the writing was contrived, the story lines over dramatic and unbelievable and the characters stereotypical and idealistic, Beverly Hills 90210 laid the ground work for what was later improved upon and became one of the most popular genres in television. 90210 never won a prestigious award, was never critically acclaimed and was never heralded as "good television", however it was the most watched show of its time and ran for 10 seasons. The young stars were catapulted, at least for a while, to extreme stardom.

Its legacy is undeniable. Beverly Hills 90210, if missed the first time around, is worth watching in syndication on TVTropolis, if only to fully understand the evolution of the teenage drama genre. A true TV fan would be amiss if uneducated on the shows that shaped TV.

The Battle of the Gilmore Guys

Last night was the second episode of the year of the only show I've been faithful to since the beginning. This year, it's 7th, is the last year of the wonderful show that is Gilmore Girls. Every other show I watch is either less than 3 years old or I picked up after it began. Many shows I gave up on and returned to. All the shows I ever watched faithfully have gone off the air in the past 4 years. Gilmore Girls is the exception. With a new show runner, a final season and a big mess to clean up after last year's finale, the show is coping quite well as of yet.

Last night's episode had some shocking developments (Lane's pregnancy), some great repartee (Rory and Lane on celebrity baby names) and it's fair share of heartbreak (The saga of Luke and Lorelai). I must admit, with the exception of the 5th season, I have always liked Christopher. I like him and Lorelai together, he's a lovely, caring and witty character. Trouble is: Lorelai loves Luke and Luke loves her back and that's all that should really matter.

Justice

Being a Canadian girl the age I am ensured two things. 1) I love Victor Garber for many reasons (Daddy Warbucks, the king in Cinderella, Jack Bristow, etc...) and 2) I was, in my time, a Dawson's Creek fan.

These two factors ensured that I tuned in to the new law drama Justice starring the one and only Victor Garber and Dawson's Kerr Smith.

There are far too many shows about lawyers, detectives, doctors and criminals out there but this one is pretty enjoyable. It's witty and interesting and I can never figure out the mystery before I'm meant to.

Trouble is that it's been pulled off the air a week before scheduled to make room for the baseball world series break. This I see as not a great sign- here's hoping it comes back after the final pitch.