6 posts tagged “30 rock”
With that rebel Jeff Zucker behind the monster truck wheel at NBC, the peacock network released it's lineup for the 2008-2009 season this week, a good six weeks before the traditional upfront presentations that Zucker has decided to shun (he's calling it an "infront," har-har). And since entertainment chief Ben Silverman is his navigator, that means there's some good, a lot of bad, and definitely some ugly on the roster. Aw, come on, it's been a while for the GBU, I can't help myself.
The Good
Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't lose! For real, ya'll. NBC's deal with DirecTV is official for Friday Night Lights. As much as I knock Silverman, he did make season three happen. Kudos, Benji. Next season, thirteen episodes featuring the Dillon Panthers will appear on DirecTV's subscriber based 101 channel in the fall and then on NBC in 2009. Jason Katims hopes to get writers to work as soon as possible with production slated to begin in July. Well, barring a SAG strike. But this is good news, so let's not visit the recent breakdown between AFTRA and SAG.
ER will say goodbye after fifteen seasons. Finally.
Ian McShane is set to star in Kings, a show about "exploration of the timeless David vs. Goliath struggle." It will be strange to see Swearengen not swear on the telly.
Donal Logue is joining Life when it returns. Damien Lewis and Donal Logue. Redheads Rule! (not that I'm biased or anything)
Heroes and Chuck are still partnered as the pitch perfect antidote to my Monday blues.
Silverman's fave 30 Rock got a full season renewal. It even won a Peabody this week, so added to the awards it has garnered already this is not a real surprise, just good news.
The Bad
Knight Rider got a pickup. Consider kudos retracted, Silverman.
Scrubs is done at NBC after this season. That's a little sad but not the big bad. The badness actually concerns rumors that ABC may pick it up. I love Scrubs (watched so much I know dialogue) but isn't it time to end? Unless the remaining episodes at NBC can't send it off properly, just let it flatline already. Please, before I lose all luh-ove for it. Not even pitch perfect Dr. Cox and Turk can balance out the annoyance that has become JD any more. Doesn't Braff have a movie to direct with an "adult contemporary alternative" soundtrack featuring at least one whiny British dude, loads of acoustic guitar, and Imogen Heap? (And I say that as someone known to indulge in the guilty pleasure of whiny British dudes, acoustic guitar, and Imogen Heap).
A new mother-daughter sitcom called Kath & Kim starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. Does Molly Shannon look old enough to play Selma Blair's mom? That can't be their relationship, right? Eh, not generally a fan of either, especially Blair's wooden delivery.
Thursday Night Live, an extra special dose of political satire leading up to the elections. Really, the time we already spend together not laughing isn't enough? Let's take a guess as to what we'll see. Lots of Darrell Hammond doing spot-on impressions. Plenty of Amy Poehler. Seth Meyers trying to crack wise. And an extra dose of Samberg's SNL Digital Shorts. Yeah, only if there is a change in the balance of Kristen Wiig and Kenan Thompson appearances. She is a comedic goddess. Can't say the same for Good Burger.
Camelot? Merlin? Crusoe? Why does "original" programming seem to be such a turn-off for NBC?
The Ugly
Lipstick Jungle was renewed. I caught a repeat of it on Bravo late one Sunday night while trying to fall asleep. Twenty minutes and the Zs came easily. Not even for the love of Andrew McCarthy would I watch it again. And after I saw Pretty in Pink when I was eleven, I spent an entire Sunday night dinner at my grandparents staring at his picture in Teen Tiger Bop Beat Magazine. I also saw Fresh Horses and Mannequin in the theater. That's some stalkerific tween devotion right there.
They are planning a spin-off of The Office. Why? Duh, to mess with a good thing, of course! So do they consider the spin-off of a remake "original"? If you're interested in details, including a Will Arnett rumor (NBC, you evil bastards!), here you go. I only skimmed because I refuse to acknowledge it exists until production starts (lalalalala, I can't hear you!). Avoidant much?
In other telly news . . .
A little while ago, I read that Rob Thomas was developing a pilot for ABC in addition to Cupid Redux and writing the Recycling 90210 pilot (maybe "creative conservation" is an unclear-on-the-concept effort by the networks to go green). It is a go, according to E!'s TV Diva Kristin Dos Santos. This one is the remake (three makes you Remake Rob, my friend) of an hourly from New Zealand called Outrageous Fortune. The big news, though, is that Kristen Bell is in talks to star. Yeah, yeah, what about Heroes and Gossip Girl? Well, she isn't signed for too many episodes as Elle next season and she can literally phone in her XOXOs, right? In addition to KB, Rene Russo is rumored to be up for the role of her mother. Love her, she's smart, sometimes goofy, and can kick serious ass. Hmm, that sounds like casting perfection. Okay, Remake Rob, once again, I am your bitch, which is a good thing since it seems you are fighting for primetime domination.
CBS greenlit another series starring the lovely Simon Baker. Well, I guess being canceled twice doesn't mean squat when it comes to a contract. First The Guardian and then Smith, two CBS shows I enjoyed and not just for the Australian eye candy that is Simon Baker. (We won't mention how many times I've caught Something New on the HBOs or how I wish there was video on-line of The Daily Show interview during his scruffy summer hiatus talking about how he doesn't wear deodorant because he drinks so much water his super-hydrated sweat doesn't give off toxic fumes and I didn't bat an eyelash at the absurdity of it because his grin hypnotized me). Jonny Lee Miller was in Smith, too, heh. Anyway, The Mentalist is about a guy "who uses his special gifts to help the police as an independent detective." So a little like Psych without the yuk-yuks, I'm guessing. And Owain Yeoman. Sure, fine, whatever, I dig mysteries and, from time to time, like to wade in the shallow end (will it be paired with Moonlight?), so I'll check it out.
The Good
30 Rock
"You know what, I've
moved on. I bought a whole bunch of apartments. I bought
a black apartment." Liz drunk dialing the co-op board when they wouldn't return her call after their "date." Best part of the entire episode: Liz Lemon on a treadmill at 7 a.m. drinking a glass of wine while placing her final call
"I've always been told that New York was the twenty-first century city of Sodom
and look what's happened? I've become one of them. I've been sodomized." First Kenneth became addicted to coffee (hot drinks are of the "devil's temperature"), then he went to a PG-13 movie, bought sunglasses, and tried a "Jewish doughnut." He promised his mama he wouldn't change, but NYC changed him, so he had to return to Georgia.
Gossip Girl
Serena:
Anybody notice the weather today?
Blair:
What?
Serena:
Take a look outside, B. My first response would be that the sky is a clear blue
easy.
Blair:
Dorota, you may be excused now.
"I command myself not to be pregnant." Blair before taking her Clear Blue Easy test.
"I'm so happy. I would have had no idea what to wear to a paternity hearing." Serena hearing the results said test. Actually, Blake Lively had several snarks this week; the writers were spreading the wealth and not giving Leighton Meester all of the goodies.
"RALLY!" Tim Gunn altering his usual "Make it work!" to boost Christian out of his rut on Project Runway. I want a pocket-sized TIm Gunn to carry around for when I need life advice or encouragement. Who doesn't love TIm Gunn?
The Bad(Ass)
Why did I have to say goodbye to 30 Rock and Gossip Girl in the same week (the reason for the above quotefest)? It's so unfair. Sigh.
The 30 Rock episode wasn't the greatest of all episodes, but Liz's adventures with the co-op board were hysterical. Jack and CeCe's storyline was kind of dull, although it still had moments (Lott-Spector Recreational Whale Torture Bill), but the "Midnight Train to Georgia" song-and-dance actually made up for it. When it started, I was skeptical it would be funny, thought they may have derailed. By the end, I was laughing myself off the elliptical trainer. I'm too verklempt to say more.
Which brings me to the last Gossip Girl of the season, my favorite small screen guilty pleasure. So much crammed into one episode, I've decided to go with a train of thought ramble. Wanna hear it? Here it go. First, Rufus' sub-plot was Kirsten Cohen-level dull. Parents don't have to be snoozers, Schwartz. Next up, Dan and Serena. Dan can be so self-righteous that he's a skosh insufferable. I wanted to deck him for the way he turned down Serena's first Christmas present (too expensive but she was so excited--graciously accept, jackwad), but the way he handled Serena's not-reply to his proclamation of love, well, that Serena's a classy gal because he should've limped to his next class (it's a mystery why I'm still single). Kind of bamboozled the girl, jackass. Meh, I really like them together, find them to be genuinely adorable, and hello, Penn Badgely. Serena rocked through Blair's preggo drama. Those two may have knock-down spats, but in the end, they realize they need each other the most at those times. Their final scene, spectacular. As for Blair's maybe-baby-daddy mess, I've never been a fan of Nate (Chace Crawford wins the Teddy Dunn Award for Outstanding Impersonation of Lumber this season--studio doesn't care if he can act as long as he's pretty) so I'm cool with his farewell to Blair. He didn't want Blair when she adored him, they break up, his life goes down the drain, and then suddenly the world revolves around Blair. Uggh. At least Chuck knew what he wanted, even if he is a pervy, unscrupulous douchebag with a heart of scotch. Juciest breakup, Chuck and Nate. Who should break up? Chuck and turtlenecks. Moving on to Little J. I take back my comparison to fabulous Caitlin Cooper, nope, not even close. Jenny has some of the worst dialogue, she's whiny and annoying, and I can't wait to see what Blair plots in revenge. Little J is not ready for the wrath of powertwins Blair and Serena. What else? Eric is the bestest brother, the Ostroff Center taught grasshopper well. No Lily, too bad, but no Vanessa, awesooooome. Okay, that's all. Whew.
Yes, there is a b in subtle, and The Wire put it there. Bubs struggles to stay clean while his old pal, McNutty, fell off the wagon and rolled down the hill into a bar. Full-circle, Jimmy? The unit was busted up because the Boy-Mayor can't keep his promises to the police department with the crumbling school system. Marlow stirred the pot of Prop Joe's co-op. And the city desk editor, Gus, is just trying to fill his section with at least a few inches of good copy about the corrupt city council. Nobody can do a newsroom story better than David Simon.
Finally, Friday Night Lights returned to form. No soapy drama. Well, except for Riggo stealing money from Tighty Whitey Meth Dealer to pay the mortgage while putting his handprints all over his handgun (hello, Chekov). But the rest of the episode was fantastic. Kyle Chandler's Emmy reel needs to include both his apology to Riggins and his talk with Julie. The Follicles of Forgiveness even made an appearance during both of those speeches. As for Smash's verbal commitment, isn't a verbal worth the paper it's printed on? It's not like signing a letter of intent. I did find the recruitment humorous, especially the Alabama talk. Son, do not go to Bama now. And not because of the fictional players Coach Taylor mentioned. The writers didn't know that Bama would have a 6-6 season, adding a bottom rung bowl win to cap off the year, true. But they did know the school forked over an obscene $4 million a year to lure Nick Saban to a program that has been trying to rebuild ever since Gene Stallings departed a decade ago. At least they finally have scholarships to spread around again; sanctions are a bitch (guess my alma mater?).
[ETA: So I missed the first few minutes of FNL with Smash's meeting with the Alabama recruiter, or at least the part where his new little girlfriend/agent first showed up. I was reading TWoP's recap of the epi. and read that she was wowing him with knowledge of the Tide's "eight national championships." Excuse me? Try twelve, sweetie. Come on, writers! I don't know if I should be more pissed about the writing staff not doing their research, or their missed opportunity to have the goofy God-Bless-Bama recruiter correct nosy Noelle. And, by the by, I love football but it isn't a religion for me.]
The Ugly
Well, Kevin's Project Runway dress definitely belongs here. It did look kind of cheap and not like a prom dress. Too bad because I liked most of his work before this week, and wanted Town Crier Ricky to go home. Victorya's dress was fun, well-made, and suited her client, but I wanted Sweet P to kick her annoying ass.
Moonlight returned this week. It wasn't terrible, but I had issues with Mick's emergency treatment to a dying Josh. It was conveniently introduced, after Josh had been shot, that Mick was a medic in WWII. Was that mentioned before? When I watched, I thought not, but now that I think about it, maybe it was? I don't pay the best attention to this show. Eh, they made up for it when Mick wickedly vamped out on Josh's killers.
I caught two episodes of Grey's Anatomy this week, the new one and a repeat. Watching the new one, I realized I don't miss it because I don't care about the characters any more. Bailey was pretty much it, and I am not happy with what Shonda decided to do with her home life. Realistic? Probably, but when has Grey's ever been based in reality? Interestingly, I also caught an old episode on Lifetime (forgot I had that channel, hee). It was the one with the subway accident with the man and woman impaled by the same pole. Watching Monica Keena ask her partner in pain about heaven, knowing she had to die to save his life, made me tear up as much as it did the first time I saw it, and I don't cry at shows. Then, I still cared about most of the characters, didn't yet hate Meredith, didn't yet love Addison, and didn't say "you go, Derek" when he dumped Mer (as I did during the new episode; not because I'm choosing sides, because they both grate, but anything that "ends" their relationship is fine by me). The medical stories always made ER look like a Discovery Health show, but the show was a soap set in a hospital so I didn't expect much. I never believed that Grey's was the show that the hype made it out to be, but it was a fun, guilty pleasure to snark on. It's too bad it's no longer what it used to be.
Egads, pickings are slim this week. On top of the very light schedule, I even missed Scrubs completely.
The Good
Morgan often grates on Chuck, but he rocked
this week. There were several funny gems in the Black Friday segment,
but this one scored points with me.
Morgan:
Sorry, you look just like this guy who roomed with my best friend at Stanford
Bryce:
Oh, yeah. Sorry. I went to Penn.
I'll take it as a compliment.
Morgan:
Don't. That guy Bryce was a real douche.
True Friend 1; Asshat 0
"Why is saving the world always your responsibility?" Ando to Hiro on Heroes
"An attractive man who makes pies for a living shouldn’t even spend a short amount of time in prison." Emerson on Pushing Daisies.
"Don't mess with the Pie Hos!!" Chuck and Olive after exacting their revenge on the candy store on Pushing Daisies.
"If you think about it, it makes total sense that your mom was a groupie. I mean only a woman that had completely satisfied her sexual appetite in her youth would ever marry your step-dads." Blair on Gossip Girl after finding out Lilly and rocker Rufus were an item back in the day.
"These things tend to happen, Liz. I had my no sex with Asians rule but then one day you walk into Sharper Image and there's Kwan." Because I usually don't laugh at Jenna, I'm giving her the 30 Rock quote o' the week.
"Is it still Cabo in your pants?" Matt Saracen on Friday Night Lights showing up to rescue Smash after his beers-n-women recruitment weekend went wrong.
The Bad(Ass)
Blair Waldorf is always badass. No, she doesn't literally kick butt like Elle on Heroes and she doesn't knit wicked gun cozies like Emerson on Pushing Daisies, but she proves week after week that she is one of the best characters on TV right now. Leighton Meester is devilishly awesome in the role and manages to make Blair a snotty bitch that we can still sympathize with. Even her bulimia storyline this week seemed fresh and interesting, so well done. Good writing is necessary, but it takes a good actress to make it work.
So this week Heroes blessed us with Sylar sans shirt instead of Peter. I love to see Sylar be truly evil, and Zachary Quinto is very easy on the eyes, but he just doesn't do it for me. Maybe because even before he was cast as Spock, he was Spock-ish to me. But at least the show is maintaining a strong sense of continuity by giving us a pretty, half-nekkid boy dripping wet. When will this happen for Adam "Kensai" Monroe? Ahem, as for the episode's actual events, HRG is alive and pissed! Claire is grieving and pissed! Elle stalks with sarcasm! Mohinder has a cure for Niki! Monica is in trouuuble! Adam is eeeevil! Peter is misguided! And most importantly, Alejandro is D-E-A-D! Farewell Tears-for-Fears Twins; now we just have Tears-for-Fears Maya in the wicked hands of her sweet Gabriel. Aw, Sylar, be gentle when you use her in your heinous plans. Awesome. At least it looks like Volume Two will end with a bang and not the whimper that fans once feared.
30 Rock. I will so miss this show; I've grown to really love it. I laughed so much at Jack and Tracy's Knuckle Beach Little League storyline that I think I burned off my pie from Pushing Daisies' night. I even laugh at almost all of Tracy Jordan's lines, and that astounds me. Tina Fey is badass. I want to be her when I grow up.
The Ugly
"Seven, did you lose that virginity yet?" Grrrrr, when is the Mini-Mart Murder storyline going to end on Friday Night Lights? I thought it might wrap this week, but I'm okay with that, actually, because it means less time focused next week on Saracen's sexxxy story. HATE. So when Tim Riggins asked Seven about his virtue at practice, I figured Chekhov's gun just went bang and Saracen would definitely bang Helllllo Nurse! I absolutely adore Matt Saracen. His cute little stammers, innocent bright-eyed outlook, and incredibly mature sense of responsibility, le sigh. Even when he made his speech to Carlotta about why he dumped the new cheerleader, I thought "I heart Saracen." But then lonely Carlotta jumped him and Saracen's virginity is predictably tossed out the window with his Hanes t-shirt. HATE. Come on, writers! Why the rehashed soap opera bull? This is the show about a football team that's not about football. It's about people handling realistic obstacles in their small town lives. Coach and Tami, real. Saracen bedding the "exotic" live-in, unreal. Eh, maybe Saracen can get advice from Riggins this time instead of Smash. Since he had an affair with an older woman. Last season. Remember? I wish I didn't.
I didn't really enjoy Pushing Daisies this week. It just left me feeling kind of meh. Maybe because I am not a fan of Molly Shannon, although I have enjoyed her sitcom guest spots on Will & Grace and Scrubs, and I did love the homage to The Birds this week. I also didn't like the Lars and the Real Girl mystery of the week, and still really don't feel the Ned-Chuck connection. But my real problem is what has happened to Chuck's wardrobe. Maybe she's in a seventies phase, but what was up with that hat and blue tinted John Lennon glasses? Although all of the clothes had a very 70s feel (I spied so much polyester in the MOTW) this episode. I'm just not digging it. And for some reason, when I don't like Chuck's wardrobe, I like Chuck even less.
Strike Links
So, LA Weekly's Nikki Finke got everyone's hopes up this week with rumors that things looked up with negotiations. It turns out she was off the mark. Well, she did say it was rumor even though the source is often reliable. And she is often more accurate than the trades, so I still consider her the best source of info. Things could get worse this week after the WGA responds to the new Partnership proposal that doesn't really sound all that new and calls for rollbacks. Way to go, AMPTP. At least they're talking, right?
In other news, Carson Daly is a tool; Conan O'Brien rocks socks. No, wait, that's not news. What I find interesting is that Carson claims that if he didn't go back to work, he would lose his show. Because of his contract, blah, blah, laughtrackcakes. Does anyone miss his show? Will a dip in ratings be noticeable? I've never, not once, laughed at a "joke" he has told, monologue or not. And his interviews suck worse than Leno's. So, maybe coming back is a good thing because it might mean his show is canceled. It hasn't been watchable since Bob Costas left anyway.
Holy crap. I haven't posted since last week's review. Suck-ass temp job. Sigh. Enough woe is leelee. Let's get to the telly.
The Good
To honor the casts suspended by the studios because of their support of the WGA strike, 30 Rock and The Office will get extra favie lines this week. I wonder how long it with take Tina Fey to whip up an episode titled "Force Majeure" when the strike ends. On with the show, first 30 Rock . . .
"That pita pocket could be a terrorist!" Liz referring to her neighbor, Raheem (the hilarious Fred Armisen), after swearing to Pete that she's not racist.
Jack: Wireless phones are just so popular, I accidentally grabbed one belonging to an acquaintance.
Liz: Well sure, cause that Verizon Wireless service is just unbeatable.
If I saw a phone like that on TV I’d be like "where is my nearest
retailer so I can get one?" (pauses to look directly into the camera) Can we have our money now?
Tina Fey
didn't just tear down the fourth wall, she smashed it with her bare
hands. And then stomped it into itty bitty pieces that
should be sold on ebay with certificates of authenticity to benefit the
striking writers.
A Dog Took My Face And Gave Me A Better Face To Change The World: The Celeste Cunningham Story. I bet that flick would steal the title of Best Lifetime Movie Ever from Mother May I Sleep with Danger. I'd trade the stellar Kristen Wiig for Tori Spelling any day.
Moving on to The Office and Kelly "Smack Talk" Kapoor . . .
"What has two skinny chicken legs and sucks at ping pong?"
"Were Jim's parents first cousins, who were also bad at ping pong?"
And my favorite, sung to Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" with a little smack-talk dance. . .
"Hey, hey, you, you. I don't like your boyfriend. Cuz, cuz, cuz, cuz. Cuz he sucks at ping pong."
Yes, there were great lines during the deposition, including a "That's what she said" joke gone delightfully wrong and Michael's XOXO diary entries about Jan and Ryan (heeee), but it was painful to watch. And a lot to transcribe, heh.
"That’s the most tragic story I have ever heard—notwithstanding the big-ticket items like genocide and famine. But tragic nonetheless." Pushing Daisies' Olive after Chuck blames allergies for why she and Ned never to touch.
"I succumbed to inebriation, performed in a speakeasy, and surrendered my virtue to a self-absorbed ass." Blair on Gossip Girl confessing her sins, even though she's not Catholic. Love her and her confession ensemble.
"I just pulled from different blogs on the internet. Mixed and matched. Presto manifesto." Dexter's voiceover explaining how he created the Bay Harbor Butcher's crackpot manifesto to lead the investigation astray.
"If I had a blog, this would be a really big day for me." Chuck after taking the deadly truth serum.
The Bad(Ass)
I love sweeps. And during sweeps one thing is certain: stunt casting!
Mercedes McNab as Lucy, a newly turned vampire, on Supernatural was gold. When I first saw her, I thought, "Harmony? Nah, they wouldn't." But then tied up in a chair, blood stained mouth, pleading with the boys to help her detox from what she thinks is a potent drug, definitely Harmony (of Buffy and Angel for those not Whedon-inclined). An entire episode of her vamping it up, too much. Five minutes to intro. the mystery, nice stunt casting, Kripke. Actually, the whole episode was an excellent return to form for the demon-hunting duo. Gordon became the monster he once hunted, even ripping out his sidekick's heart, and then was slowly decapitated with razor wire by Sam, his head popping off like a grape. Gross, gruesome, and very cool. And then a heart-to-heart ending with Dean being a big brother and teaching Sam how to keep the Impala in shape after he goes to Hell. Aw, you guys.
Joel McHale on Pushing Daisies. The Piemaker and The Soupmaker, two of my favorite shows collide. This week he made me laugh in two timeslots, even as a murdered dog breeding polygamist. My heart goes pitter patter for this show.
Kevin Weisman and Rachel Bilson on Chuck. Weisman must have had so much fun playing the spy for once. Marshall did a wicked backflip before Sarah shot him in the knee. Beats following Sophia Myles around with a camera on Moonlight. And I've missed Summer's fast-talking rambles. Bilson's quirky and cute deli-owner Lou has a shameless love of sandwiches, which I totally understand (thirty variations of the turkey sandwich and pie, best part of Thanksgiving) and a thing for Chuck, which I also totally understand. Mr. Schwartz, can we have some O.C. stunt casting on Gossip Girl? Wouldn't Autumn Reeser be the perfect van der Woodsen cousin? Any other suggestions? .
The Ugly
There was so much good on Friday Night Lights: Tyra and Lyla teaming up for Pantherama, Matt Saracen all adorable even in a sucky storyline, Buddy Garity giving shelter to Santiago (that kid, oh those puppydog eyes break my heart). And even though Julie seems to be out of her obnoxious phase, I am not thrilled with her latest storyline. A crush on the cute, young journalism teacher (Austin Nichols of John from Cincinnati). Wait, didn't they do that on 90210? Yeah, Andrea Zuckerman and Gil Meyers. No. Not on top of the Mini-Mart Murder and Saracen kissing Grandma's nurse. FNL better put a fresh, new spin on this tired tale. If not, the end could be near. Butchie says rehashed daytime drama sucks.
Moonlight was so ridiculously bad. No Coraline, no Josef, no words. One step forward, twelve steps back.
The Good, Bad(Ass), and Ugly
Few shows can pull off all three in one week. But Heroes really does go for the gold. First, the Good:
"I've lived in this building for sixteen years, ever since the shrinks diagnosed me a sociopath with paranoid delusions. But they’re just out to get me cause I threatened to kill them." Elle on Heroes. Kristen Bell nailed that monologue.
I really enjoyed this flashback-esque episode of Heroes. I appreciate when questions are answered, mysteries solved (lookin at you, Lindelof and Cuse). I adored that about Rob Thomas—all was resolved and within a reasonable amount of time. So much crammed into one tiny hour, so many answers and details dished out. It was pretty bad-ass.
So my problem? Elle grated my last nerve. I think KB is doing the best she can with the little sociopath. I know that Elle doesn't understand boundaries, and Milo is quite a tasty treat. But, sparky, quit petting Peter. He's not a Jack Russell terrier. That tiny blonde one actually did annoy me with the touching. I hope she dials down the nympho imp and turns up the wicked wacko. Although, I must thank her for cutting the emo bangs. (I did lurve how they worked Milo out of his shirt this week. All to explain how he ended up in that shipping container, so not exactly a new shirtless scene, heh.) Also, although I understand the life lesson of DL being killed by a random skeezoid, and not dying as the result of heroic act using his powers, he deserved a better death scene then that.
Strike links
Saturday Night Live staged amid strike
Members of the cast put on a two-hour show at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in NYC, complete with Yo La Tengo as musical guest and Michael Cera taking on hosting duties. Wow, I am Kermit-green with envy (and anyone who can catch an ASSSSCAT show in L.A. or NYC, go!). All proceeds go to staffers out of work by the strike. On Monday, the cast of 30 Rock will stage a performance too.
Pencils2MediaMoguls campaign
United Hollywood has details about a new fan support campaign to send pencils to the powers-that-be. I'm not a huge fan of these campaigns, but it is a symbolic sign of support, so if you want to learn more, follow the link.
Film, TV writers set negotiations date
They're going back to the negotiating table! On Nov. 26, the WGA and AMPTP will sit down and start talks again. Negotiations are going to be rough and an agreement won't be reached over night, but at least they're back at the bargaining table.
Writers are winning over the public
Variety reports about the support writers have received. IATSE president, Thomas Short, has an interesting perspective on negotiations, and what it will do to the thousands of below-the-line crew members who belong to his union..
This week, Pushing Daisies was bumped by the CMAs. I missed Chuck and Supernatural thanks to technical difficulties. Thursday was interrupted, so I didn't get my full funny on (only sitcoms I watch). So, this is kind of like what it will be for me as shows begin to run out of new episodes because of the strike.
The Good
“Apparently my new life involves a love triangle. I’m that guy. The voices are back. Excellent.” Dexter's voiceover post-phone call from Rita after his afternoon delight with Lila. Like Dex doesn’t have enough on his mind already.
"Look how Greenzo's testing. They love him in every demographic: colored people, broads, fairies, commies...gosh we've got to update these forms." Jack on 30 Rock.
"Yes, Phyllis called me Michael. And I will always and forever be haunted by that fact." The Office's Jim
This is not the best
line of Friday Night Lights, but I love Kyle Chandler and
Connie Britton’s chemistry and delivery:
Tammi: Honey, are you
jealous?
Coach: I'm not jealous.
Tammi: That is adorable . . . you're jealous!
Coach: You like that?
The Bad(Ass)
This week, the Bad(Ass) watchword is Revenge.
Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf. "You go, baby
vamp!" Leighton Meester is making the most of her time on the UES (while wearing a Heather Chandler bow). I still love to hate Chuck “my hobby is date-rape” Bass, but he and Blair sizzled.
I can't wait to see what drama they inflict on each other. I don’t think Blair pounced on Chuck just to get back at Nate, more like a
lethal combination of alcohol and raging hormones, but it sure will sting when Nate finds out. And he will. Eh, my NateHate lives on.
Heroes finally kicked some primetime butt this week. It was interesting and held my attention. Highlights for me: after a nekkid hazmat wash (how will they get Milo’s shirt off next? Stay tuned!), Peter’s memory started to return with a visit from mom. He then leaped back to the present, leaving poor Caitlin in the dank, dismal future. That sucks, buh-bye. Stalker Flyboy thinks Claire is part of a conspiracy when he finds out her dad is HRG. Okay, see ya. Maury screws with Niki’s noggin so she injects herself the virus. Parkman frees Molly from the room where even the wallpaper was a nightmare by taking down his dad. Hiro ensures that "Kensei the Hero" lives on in legend and catches up with Ando. Finally. Kensei somehow survived the smoky showdown and is now Adam Monroe, seeking revenge against Hiro and the Company by killing them and "saving" the world. Meet his partner, Peter Petrelli. Yowser. David Anders now has a role more devilish than Sark: a walking god-complex with a side of smirking sociopath. This face, right here, my over-the-moon face. Please, let wicked Adam have scenes with eeevil Elle.
David Schwimmer on 30 Rock. Schwimmer made me laugh. A lot. That's kind of revenge since I thought he couldn't possibly make me giggle, don't think that's happened since season four of Friends. No, season three? I've blocked out most of that show (and yet, I still remember the boys' TV Guide was addressed to Chnandler Bong). Just shows you what can happen when good writing meets seasoned comedic timing.
***************
So with my limited TV this week, maybe that's why Moonlight is
not Ugly, although it’s nowhere near Bad(Ass) either. I’m giving it
an Improvement, Like Whoa honorable mention. For
the second week in a row, I didn’t fast forward and the eye rolls decreased to at fewer than five. Still not stellar, but not utter crap. Alex O’Laughlin has
settled into playing Mick like he was a new pair of jeans that he needed to wear a few times
before becoming comfy. Having Jason Dohring's Josef be a part of the mysteries, and then grudgingly sidekick
it with Mick this week was such good fun. More please. The highlight was actually Shannyn
Sossamon as Coraline/Morgan. I’ve never been a huge fan, but she's a nice addition to round out the cast. Now Coraline's back, she seems to be human, and she obviously wants . . .dun dun duuun. . .revenge.
The Ugly
Where are they going with the Mini-Mart Murder storyline on Friday Night Lights? Now Landry’s dad, Officer Clarke, is destroying evidence without even getting the whole story from
him. I thought he might be taking Landry to the station to turn the car over, get the whole story, a confession, you know, what an officer of the law would most likely do. But station wagon flambé? If detectives at your station have a DMV list for cars in the area that
could match the carpet fibers found on the dead guy, it probably includes
names of owners. Landry’s wagon suddenly
disappearing, not suspicious at all. (Aaron from 24 shakes his head in disappointment). Just stop it, please.
Strike Links
In honor of the writers who created all of the shows I just blabbered about, here are a few links I came across today:
Susan Savage: Shut down this town? An actress, blogger, and WGA picketer, Savage adds her educated take on producers' strategies (basically, this is like cleaning house for them) and the negotiating struggle the writers have before them.
Strike rewrites rules in Hollywood About options the studios are looking to for substitute programming during the strike. Includes a suggestion made about recruiting ambitious students from USC. Huh, well if you don't mind not having a career after the strike, go ahead, scab away. Geez, even networking on a picket line is a huge no-no.
Creative Screenwriting published some great articles in its weekly newsletter, CS Weekly. When I looked on Saturday, the stories weren't archived on the site yet, so I can't link to them, but I will once they are published (or maybe quote parts of them here). If you get the newsie, make sure to check it out.
Oh, issues aplenty this week, and among them, computer issues of the corrupt hard drive variety. Bad hard drive, bad. I get to personally replace said hard drive and rebuild my system this week (small print on my tech. assistance service warranty is so tiny that it's invisible). So, this is going to be quick just because.
The Good
You know the drill. The Good = Giggles Galore.
"Who's crazier: me or Ann Curry?" Tracy on 30 Rock when introduced to the network therapist. Tracy Jordan can be diagnosed as "off his rocker," but my vote's for Ann (every time she interviews a member of the human race, I cringe). If you can find the scene of Jack role playing with Tracy online, Alec Baldwin's hilarious and mesmerizing.
"All right, I killed him, okay? What is the big deal?" Elle on Heroes. Heh.
"I was born into a life of windmillery." Elsita telling Lefty Lem her life story on Pushing Daisies. I also loved Emerson's "Hand up!" when he found Lefty, and the entire scene with darling auntie darlings helping Olive repair Pidge's wing with a bedazzler or "bejeweler."
The Bad(Ass)
Ever tripped through my blog before? Well, then Kristen Bell on Heroes being tops on my bad-ass list is a given. Eeeevil Veronica Mars with taserific jazz-hands is beyond awesome. Twisted, ruthless, snarky, and no need for Mr. Sparky because she is Mr. Sparky. The writers were very clever with how they deployed those sparks. I'm glad Peter is finally leaving Ireland; no West, yay; no Claire, a first?; Micah and Monica bonding over powers. Loved Parkman and Nathan working together, and the dueling nightmares were pretty cool. If things pick up, then it might not be a sophomore slump but a sophomore slow start.
I was a little horrified by the image of that hijacked crop duster crashing into a tall building on Pushing Daisies. Oh, dear writers, insensitive much? Then they soothed my soul with the Darling Mermaid Darlings on a roadtrip with Olive. As soon as Olive told Vivian to build a little birdhouse in her soul, I started humming. Kristin Chenowerth and Ellen Greene belting They Might Be Giants, perfection. Swoosie Kurtz's annoyance, brilliant. Jayma Mays and Dash Mihok made the windmill story so enjoyable. Bring them back when Lefty gets parole.
Dexter's voiceovers during the dinner with Rita's mother were hysterical. Actually, all of the DMVOs this week were particularly pithy and witty. Lilah grates but I like the contrast to Rita so I think she will be a nice twist in Dexter's twisted life. Her fascination with the butcher's handiwork instead of the expected revulsion was an interesting event for Dexter.
How I have missed half-hourlies of The Office. Darryl and The Dunder Miffilintones; Dwight's second Second Life; I want a Philly Jim; stalking Sue Grafton; Operation Fallen Angel; and the dawesomely bad yet endearing director's cut of Michael's commercial. He may be an idiot, but he's a loyal idiot.
The Ugly
I wasn't sure if I was going to watch Moonlight again, but I needed entertaining while I folded laundry today, so I hit play. It was fun, not as boring as last week, an actual improvement. Still feels like it should be sandwiched between Silk Stalkings and La Femme Nikita, but CBS thinks it's a keeper for now. Alex O'Laughlin was quite charming, and much more at ease, as was Sophia Myles. He even made me laugh with a line. Who knew?
Introducing a kink like Vanessa into the Dan and Serena relationship at this stage was a tad daytime for Gossip Girl. But if they were going to do it, might as well happen during a masquerade ball episode that reeked of rehashed daytime drama. And add a dash of The O.C. too. It's guilty pleasure time so I shouldn't dwell, but it was too predictable. I did love Jenny's revenge on Chuck. Actually, Little J reminds me of Caitlin Cooper a bit and I hope that continues. And Lily and Rufus are gold together.
Supernatural was such a snooze that I actually fell asleep. Yes, it was late at night when I eventually watched it but the boys have got to step up their game if they want to make it to season four. Can't afford to lose viewers. This is The CW after all.
