How to Be a Gentleman - Pilot

Network: CBS
Time: Thursdays, 8:30-9:00pm
Cast: David Hornsby, Kevin Dillon, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Rhys Darby, Dave Foley, Nancy Lenehan

Summary (from imdb.com): When etiquette columnist Andrew Carlson is told he must adapt to the new, sexier style of his magazine, he hires his old high school bully Bert Lansing to help him become a modern man.

Review: I had mixed feelings about this pilot. Overall, I finished with optimism, but there are definitely some areas where it could use some work. It's premiere ratings were low, but I'm hoping CBS will give it a shot to build its audience (though with 2 Broke Girls doing so well, that could be a problem for Gentleman in the future).

This introductory episode focused on Andrew, a columnist whose magazine was just sold and restyled. Their new boss wants the magazine to have a "sexier" style and appeal more to middle aged men who "think they're 15." Meanwhile, his sister, in her attempt to butch him up, gives him a gift certificate to a gym which, it turns out, is owned by one of Andrew's (many) former tormentors, Burt.

Are Andrew and Burt both fairly stereotypical characters? Yes. Burt is the high-school-dropout meathead who bought his father's gym, and Andrew is the effeminate metrosexual who is still getting the crap beat out of him. And the unlikely friendship isn't really so unlikely... at least, not if you've ever watched a television sitcom before.

But is the stereotype necessarily a bad thing? I think it's too soon to tell. Now that we've established the baseline for our characters, where will they develop from here? A few throwaway lines from Burt indicated he has a tempestuous relationship with his father. Can the writers expand on that without turning it into a cliche? Is there a reason Andrew is so obsessed with being a gentleman? Will we find that out, and will it satisfy us as viewers?

There's plenty of potential for this show. The writing wasn't stellar, but it wasn't horrible either. I've found that pilot writing isn't necessarily indicative of how the show will be anyway. Writers come and go between development of the pilot and a pickup. And even if they don't, as the show continues, the writing becomes tailored more towards the actors and the characters they're developing, making it feel more natural. Some shows click right away (like Criminal Minds), but others take a little longer (like Castle).

The supporting characters were a little overdramatic, but they also have the potential to turn out pretty funny. Andrew's sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Mike, are almost as oddly matched as Andrew and Burt. In fact, Mike may have been my favorite character of the show so far. Rhys Darby's matter-of-fact delivery of even the most farfetched lines had me cracking up, and the chemistry between him and Mary Lynn Rajskub's Janet was really very good.

Long story short, I'm not in love with it yet. But I'm also not quite ready to write it off. Hopefully last night's numbers will hold or be a little better than last week's, and maybe Gentleman will have a chance to develop some of its potential.

Rating: 3/5

Favorite line:
Janet: You're doing it again.
Mike: What?
Janet: Talking.

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Big Bang Theory - The Skank Reflex Analysis

Network: CBS

Time: Thursdays, 8:00-8:30pm

Cast: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Kaley Cuoco, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik



Summary: The gang deals with the fallout from Penny and Raj's night together. Amy counsels Penny when she considers moving back to Nebraska due to her failing acting career. Sheldon takes charge of the paintball team.



Review: I know critics were tough on her, but I think the addition of Amy Farrah Fowler was one of the best things that happened to Big Bang Theory. I love the way her character interacts with both Sheldon and Penny, supporting their stories while still developing as a character in her own right. I also love that the girls' story balances the boys' without changing the basic premise of the show. At its heart, BBT is about nerds (and Penny), and that doesn't change just because now they're sometimes girl nerds (and Penny).



This episode was yet another wonderful use of Amy, who really seems to be growing and evolving in her role as Penny's "bestie." Mingled with somewhat heartbreaking hints at her childhood ("I wish I could tell 13-year-old me it does get better!"), she acted as Penny's confidante while the latter tried to sort through the mess she'd made of her relationships with the guys.



Penny's side of the conversation felt more real to me than most things that happen on this show. Upset that she'd managed to hurt several of the guys she's come to really care about, she makes a decision to return to Nebraska, giving up on the idea of becoming an actress. While a last-minute commercial job eventually changes her mind, they actually had me a little worried that Penny might leave. Also, was I the only one who felt unbelievably happy that Penny got that part? I feel like we've been working towards her acting career since the show started, and even a little progress made me grin.



Meanwhile, Raj was also dealing with the fallout from the season finale. Both Leonard and Howard are mad at him, Leonard because Raj slept with Penny, and Howard because he found out Raj wrote poems about Bernadette ("marionette" also rhymes with Bernadette, BBT writers. I'm just saying). The strained friendship took its toll on everyone, and ultimately Sheldon paid the biggest price, when he stepped unarmed onto the field during the interdepartmental paintball game and insulted...everyone. The reunited friends raced forward to avenge his death.



I liked the way this story was handled, from Raj's belief that he and Penny were now a couple to the kicked puppy look on Leonard's face whenever he thought about it to Sheldon's on-field promotion of himself. But the real shining moment of both this story and the episode was the conversation Leonard had with his mother. His voice when he told her he didn't want to be with Penny (though is there anyone who actually believes that?) but that he didn't want Raj to be with her either was so sincere. I feel like they underused Leonard in the beginning of season 4, and it's nice to see him get to really shine every so often. And it's also good to see Christine Baranski reprise this role.



This was a solid episode to kick of season 5. In some ways, BBT reminds me of a geekier version of Friends, with the way the characters interact with each other. I'm looking forward to seeing the continuing evolution of these relationships as the season progresses.



Rating: 4/5



Favorite line:

Leonard (after telling his mother about Penny and Raj): Got any advice?

Beverly: Yes ... buck up.

Leonard: Excuse me, you're a world-renowned expert in parenting and child development, and all you've got is "buck up"?

Beverly: I'm sorry. (pause) Buck up, sissypants!

Bones - The Doctor in the Photo

Network: Fox
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, TJ Thyne, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley

Summary: When the body of a surgeon is found in a tough neighborhood with multiple skull fractures, Brennan is disturbed by how much she has in common with the victim, but her perspective may be just what the team needs to solve the case.

Review: Sorry this review is so late this week; I’ve been having some computer problems that make it impossible to watch anything with sound on my laptop, which means I spent the weekend trying to bully it into submission (it didn’t work).

So this was a very Brennan-centric episode of Bones, and one that finally called into question the entire philosophy by which she lives her life. For those who didn’t see the episode but are still reading this review for some reason, the team investigates the death of a prominent neurosurgeon with whom Brennan over-identifies. It forces her to reexamine her life.

First, I have to say that, while this may not have been Emily Deschanel’s best ever episode (I personally think that goes to the episode where she testifies against the Gravedigger), she definitely nailed it. Brennan’s been bottling everything up all season (well, really her entire life, but especially since she got back to the States this season), and it all have to come out eventually. I thought Deschanel did a good job showing a range of emotions that Brennan doesn’t normally display, namely fear and regret, in a way that was still believable for the character.

The case was the best kind of letdown. Stop here if you don’t want any spoilers. I said in a previous review that Bones (and many other crime shows) tries so hard sometimes to surprise the viewer by making the killer the least obvious person that it’s actually incredibly predictable. This episode was nothing like that. The fact that her death turned out to be essentially an accident was actually a bigger twist than any murder could have been.

Then, of course, there was Brennan’s revelation that letting Booth go was her biggest regret. Having seen the promo for this episode, I was anticipating this moment with trepidation, and I hated it just as much as I expected to. The whole thing just felt… awkward. I should state that I’ve never been a Booth/Brennan shipper, and I don’t see that changing unless one of them does a serious personality makeover. I think they (usually) have the best chemistry of almost any on-screen duo (Castle and Beckett might be the exception), but I don’t think it translates into romance. I know that I’m in the minority with this opinion, and I’ve almost accepted the fact that they’ll wind up together in the end, but this scene didn’t warm me to it. If anything, I’m hoping both of them can get some closure now and work on salvaging their friendship. Go off and be with other people. I know fans will say that they’ve already done that and it’s time for them to be together, but the opportunity was missed. If they’re really going to get together, another opportunity has to present itself, and I don’t believe that can happen until both of them have moved past this failed attempt.

So that’s it in a nutshell. There were a few more smaller things I enjoyed: the dinner Brennan threw in the beginning for Booth, Hannah, Angela and Hodgins; Brennan’s comforter; pretty much every scene with Sweets in it; how genuinely nice Brennan was to Micah (was I the only one who thought he might just be in her head?). In all, I think this was one of the better episodes this season, and I’m looking forward to seeing the consequences it will have.

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Rating: 4/5

Big Bang Theory - The Alien Parasite Hypothesis

Network: CBS
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-8:30pm
Cast: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar

Summary: Amy finds she has sexual feelings for Penny's ex, while Koothrappali and Wolowitz try to prove who would be the better superhero. (from imdb.com)

 Review: As with much this season, I liked exactly half of this episode of Big Bang Theory.


I’ll start with the good. I know there are a lot of critics who dislike Amy but I loved her in this episode, and I think it did a lot to separate her from being “a female Sheldon.” To begin, I think the odd little friendship that’s forming between Amy, Penny and Bernadette is wonderful. Bernadette seems to genuinely like Amy, and Penny is easy-going enough to roll with it. The scene in the restaurant had a comfortable feel to it, like they actually were three friends going out to eat (a significant change from the slumber party which felt like two women forced to hang out with a friend’s weird girlfriend). The change was that Penny and Bernadette didn’t make a big deal out of Amy’s quirks in this episode; they accepted them like they’d accepted her.

It also makes me happy that they’re able to add a female component to Big Bang without changing the concept of the show. At its core, Big Bang is about geeks who hang out together. Penny has always been the exception to that rule. I was worried that a friendship ring that centered around her would lose the geek aspect (since she is not), but Bernadette and Amy are as nerdy as the guys, which is what makes this new thread work. It also takes some of the focus off the guys, whose stories have gotten a little stale this season.

Now that I’ve spent more time talking about the Big Bang women than they actually spent together in the episode, we come to the main story: Amy has needs (cue laugh track from any latent That 70s Show fans). Turns out, she’s not an automaton, which is a concept that troubles Sheldon so much that he almost walks out of Amy’s lab with the human brain she’s dissecting instead of his lunch (and can I just say ew?).

It was nice to see the writers finally making a distinction between Amy and Sheldon, more than just the gender thing. Yes, they’re still freakily similar, from the science brains to the general distaste for being touched to their complete inability to spot sarcasm. But just as we’ve occasionally seen Sheldon’s human side show (usually when his mother’s involved), we’re now getting a glimpse of Amy’s.

Also, I loved the modified version of “Who’s on First?”

Will this open the door for more touching in the future? Sheldon didn’t pull away when Amy held his hand at the end. I haven’t decided which side I’m on yet—the “Sheldon only loves science” team or the “Sheldon and Amy should do it” team—but I’m curious to see how this story moves along. My only request is that they take their time with it. Instead of forcing their relationship down our throats, insert Amy into the everyday activities, like they did with Penny at the beginning. Now that Amy’s starting to exhibit some unique characteristics, she can bring a different perspective to the group.

And now we’re going to move away from happy land and enter the most painful plotline to date. Howard and Raj were arguing about which one of them would be a superhero and which would be the sidekick. I liked absolutely nothing about this. First of all, I wanted to shake both of them and say, “You’re both sidekicks in this show.” Second of all, this felt more like a bit that would occur at the beginning or end of an episode, or be a running gag throughout, not the supporting plot. It sounded like something they’d snipe and tease each other about in between things that were important. Howard and Raj have always been silly, but this was ridiculous.

I didn’t even find the sight gags very funny. I know many people thought they were hysterical in the wrestling outfits at the end, but it did nothing for me. And I actually would have preferred if they’d actually fought, instead of just dancing around each other, wasting their time and mine. The only thing that evoked even a slight smile was the spider crawling up Howard’s arm, and him trying to blow it off his back.

My biggest problem, however, was the complete waste of Johnny Galecki in this episode. I know a lot of the previous seasons have centered around Leonard (and his relationship with Penny), but he’s done nothing but whine or look depressed in weeks. It might be time for Sheldon to step back and let Leonard have some of the spotlight again. The show is best when it’s balanced.

What did you think? Did the Raj/Howard superhero challenge work for you? Are you warming to Shamy? Leave a comment and let me know.

Rating: 3/5

Bones - The Body and the Bounty

Network: Fox
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, TJ Thyne, Tamara Taylor

Summary: Brennan makes a deal with a celebrity professor to be her new intern after he inquires about hosting his children's science show from the Jeffersonian.  Meanwhile, a dismembered corpse is identified as a bounty hunter, and the team find they're not the only ones looking for a fugitive who is wanted for murder.

Review: I sat on this episode a few days before writing a review because I'm still not really sure how I felt about it.  On the one hand, I was annoyed by the Science Dude, and I found the killer to be predictable.  On the other hand, it may have all been worth it for two scenes: the one where Angela and Brennan discuss the baby's name, and the one where Brennan comes out dressed as a skeleton.

Someone commented in a previous review that the characters were becoming "watered-down caricatures" instead of the complex characters from seasons past, and I'm starting to agree.  The quirky ticks (i.e. Brennan's inability to hold a normal conversation, Hodgins' childlike enthusiasm for everything, Cam's slightly flighty nature) have amped up significantly since the 100th episode, and not necessarily in a good way.  These traits which used to give balance to the characters now seem to dominate, making them more unrealistic.  We've always had to suspend disbelief a little when dealing with the science behind Bones, but now I find myself starting to suspend disbelief when dealing with the characters.

People have told me they don't feel Booth and Brennan's chemistry is as good as it once was, and I can see where they're coming from, though I still enjoy the scenes between them (especially where they were planning the perfect murder in the beginning of the episode, although I feel like they could have done more with that bit later in the episode).  And I do think they would be a little awkward around each other after Booth's confession of love and Brennan's rejection.  That kind of thing changes a relationship, at least for awhile.

I also mentioned last week that the case seemed to be just an excuse to have the characters make jokes, and I feel similarly this week--that the case was just an excuse to set a record for the most "Amazing"s in one hour.  I find this to be particularly sad, since the complex cases were one of the things I enjoyed most about Bones, after the wonderful chemistry between the characters.  How can anyone compare the cases we've seen in the past few weeks with the Gravedigger or Gormogon?  Even before they became arcs, those stories were significantly more intricate and compelling than anything we've seen recently.

I don't want to make it sound like this episode was terrible, because it definitely had its redeeming moments, the best being the scene between Angela and Brennan.  I've always loved their relationship, especially because Brennan tries so hard to be a good friend to Angela, even though she's fairly incapable of normal social interaction, and Angela loves Brennan no matter what.  This scene was probably the highlight of the whole episode for me because their relationship is one of the few that is uchanged throughout the series.  It was the first thing we were introduced to in the pilot episode, and it's something that has always been solid.

Also, the final scene, though incredibly out of character for Brennan, was hysterical.  It may have made the whole episode worthwhile.  Brennan reciting the "Scientist's Oath" was one of the funniest things I've seen on Bones in awhile. 

All in all, I have mixed feelings about this episode, and I'm not entirely comfortable with the path Bones is heading down.  It's always had a strong character focus, which is good because forensic anthropology is not most people's cup of tea, but the characters are starting to detract more from the plot than enhance it.  I enjoyed it while I was watching it, but it didn't have any kind of lasting impression, to the point where I had to struggle to remember the plot of this episode.  Did anyone else have the same problems?  Leave me a comment and let me know.



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Bones - The Couple in the Cave

Network: Fox
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, TJ Thyne, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley

Summary: A surprise visit by Booth's girlfriend, war correspondent Hannah Burley, forces Brennan to take another look at her relationship with Booth.  Meanwhile, the team tries to identify a couple whose remains were found in a cave in a national park.

Review: I'm going to come right out and say it: I like Booth's new girlfriend.  And I like her and Booth together.  Booth is so happy with her, and he's so obviously in love.  How can you not like it?  I also really like about their relationship is that Booth is clearly not with her as some kind of twisted ploy to make Brennan jealous (which you may scoff at, but is a fairly typical plot device when two characters are engaged in the "will they, won't they" game that Booth and Brennan are).  He loves Hannah because he loves her, and it has nothing to do with Brennan at all.

This episode was good for several reasons.  First, like I just mentioned, because it introduced Hannah and really showed her relationship with Booth.  Also because the team was solving their first case the way they used to, without any of the awkwardness of having been apart for seven months.  Even Clark was back as an intern... and he was still troubled by the fact that the team brings their personal lives to work with them all the time.  Everything was back to the way it should be.

The case itself was pretty easy to solve, which is a mild detraction from the overall quality of the episode.  I know after awhile there are only so many ways a case can pan out, but it's nice when the writers still manage to trip you up a little.  In this case, I identified the killer the first time he/she walked into a scene.  It loses a little bit after that point, even though it's still enjoyable to watch the team try and come to same conclusion.

It's good to see that a summer off and a new character haven't disrupted the chemistry between our favorite characters.  Booth and Sweets had a few wonderful exchanges throughout the episode, Booth and Brennan were spot on, and even Cam and Hodgins had some fun.  I'm looking forward to more of Hodgins and Angela and the baby story as the season goes on.

This episode did exactly what it needed to: introduce Booth's new girlfriend, establish what her relationship with Brennan would be, and show the audience that, despite the end of season 5, the team is back and just as good as they were when they left.


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My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad

Nikita - Rough Trade

Network: CW
Time: Thursdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Maggie Q, Lyndsy Fonseca, Shane West, Aaron Stanford, Ashton Holmes, Tiffany Hines, Melinda Clarke, Xander Berkeley

Summary: Nikita tries to right a past wrong when she posed as a nanny for a government official who ended up dead.  Michael comes to Nikita's aid during her quest, and also begins to question Percy's motives.  Meanwhile, Amanda forces Alex to deal with her claustrophobia after she has a panic attack.

Review: I'm constantly surprised by how much I like this show, and how quickly it became something I anticipate watching.  The writers did a wonderful job creating characters that are likable despite the horrible things they sometimes do, and I find that I am sympathetic towards almost all of them (not Percy, but they really haven't done much to expand his character yet).

Every episode provides a little more backstory into characters' lives, and this one was no exception.  We finally got to see a little more of Alex's life before she met Nikita, and we got just a small hint of Michael's past as well (did you catch that last line?).  We also saw a flashback from when Nikita was first recruited, when she was happy to be working for them, and her hair was messier.  I imagine we'll see more of the chemistry between Michael and Nikita as the series goes on.

As much as I liked the backstories, I wasn't as wild about the present day mission Nikita was trying to pull off.  It stemmed from her first kill, and she wanted to make amends by taking down the group that hired Division to kill him.  But there was a slight twist that I wasn't wild about, since it warped Nikita's reason for doing what she was doing.  I don't want to spoil it by giving anything away, but I like when Nikita has the moral upper hand, and this twist brought her down a little.  That being said, it did create an interesting moment for Michael, who is starting to realize that he has no idea why Percy does anything he does.

I really enjoyed Alex's present-day story too.  She hasn't been doing much but acting as a mole for Nikita in the past few episodes, so it was nice to see her with her own story to carry.  In this case, she has claustrophobia due to a traumatic event from her childhood, and Amanda is trying to "help" her get over it.  We got to see some real strength of character in Alex, not giving Division a win over her, even if she made it look like they did.

Between this episode and the summary for the next, I'm starting to get little prickly warnings about Alex's sort-of friend Thom.  Right now he's pretty gung-ho about Division, and I can't imagine he'd be okay with the things Alex does to help Nikita.  Which leads me to believe that Alex should not be getting as close to him as she seems to be.  I'm curious to see where that road leads.

Like I said, I never expected to like this show as much as I do.  It's ratings are a little shaky though, and I'm hoping the CW doesn't pull it before it really has the chance to develop into a great show.

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My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad

The Menalist - Rose-Colored Glasses

Network: CBS
Time: Thursdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman, Amanda Righetti

Summary: Rigsby goes undercover as an alumnus after a double homicide at a high school reunion.

Review: I'm fairly new to The Mentalist, but I've seen every episode and it has quickly become one of my most-anticipated shows each week.  There's something about Patrick Jane that, even when you want to smack him for being so obnoxious, you can't help but laugh at him and root for him.


In that vein, any episode where you learn a little more about his past is a good one.  In this episode, the audience learns Jane never went to high school (no spoiler there; it's really a minor detail).  Everything that happens from that point on, Janesees with a kind of child-like enthusiasm.  Everything's a new experience for him, and he seems to relish it all.

One of the nicest things about The Mentalist is that the characters are used to further the audience's understanding of the cases, not the other way around.  In some shows (namely NCIS), the cases fall a distant second to character interaction.  As anyone who reads my articles regularly knows, I love NCIS, so clearly I don't find this process detrimental to the overall effect of the show.  However, it's nice to watch a show like The Mentalist, where the cases are just as important as character development. 

And it really is almost a 50/50 split.  Each episode is nicely balanced.  Sometimes they focus on the case, sometimes they focus on the characters, but most often the two are intertwined so neatly that you can't have one without the other.  In this episode, the case is used to give the audience more about Jane's childhood, to develop Van Pelt more as an agent, and to further explore the Rigsby/Van Pelt relationship.  But, in a wonderfully Newtonian twist, those character developments are also used to bring down the killer, because there's no way Rigsby would have posed as an alumnus if it hadn't been for his insecurities about Van Pelt (both as an agent and a partner).

Plus, we got just the tiniest little Jane/Lisbon moment, for those of us who enjoy watching them be really sweet toward each other once in awhile.

In the long run, I don't think this episode will stand out in my mind as a particular favorite, but it was solid and enjoyable.  Not every episode needs to be a season finale, nor does each episode need to blow the audience away.  If the case is interesting and the characters are fun, the episode is going to be good, and that's what happened with this episode.  It was a solid first episode after the winter hiatus, and it makes me highly anticipate the next one.