Network: NBC
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, Craig T. Nelson, Dax Shepard, Erika Christensen, Bonnie Bedelia, Monica Potter, Sam Jaeger, Joy Bryant, Mae Whitman, Sarah Ramos, Miles Heizer, Max Burkholder, Savannah Paige Rae
Summary: A divorced mother of two moves back in with her parents, while her siblings deal with family issues of their own.
Review: I like pilot episodes. You go in so unprepared. I mean, sure, you've seen commercials, but they never tell you exactly what to expect. In the case of Parenthood, those commercials go in two different ways: the funny and the sweet. So you're a completely blank slate going into the first episode to enthrall or disappoint.
This was a bit of a disappointment. My expectations were high due to the writing/directing team (Ron Howard and Thomas Schlamme) and the wonderful cast (see above), and they didn't exactly fail to live up to them. It's just that I expected the show to be funnier than it was. I'd been watching those commercials all through the Olympics, and a large percentage of them made the show out to be a comedy. In reality, it was a slightly predictable family drama.
And it wasn't bad. Like I said, the acting was wonderful, and the sweet moments really were sweet. It was just too much sometimes. It tried to be a dramatic version of Modern Family. One of the great things about MF is that all the families have their own stories, and they intermingle periodically. Parenthood tried to do the same thing, but it didn't work as well. In a comedy, the stories are light-hearted and simple. In a drama, they're far more complex, and it's harder to work several complex stories into the same episode, which is what Parenthood did. The end result was that I didn't care enough about some of the stories that should have had a bigger impact.
That said, I think this show has a lot of potential, even if I still want it to be funnier (think Gilmore Girls, or even The West Wing). If each episode focused on one or (maybe) two problems at a time, the audience could focus on and care about those issues better. Also, further character development will aid in making the audience empathize with the characters' struggles as well (that obviously can only happen with time).
If I hadn't had any expectations going in, I probably would have enjoyed this pilot more. And I really did enjoy it, even if I'm coming down on it kind of hard. It's just that I expected more from the people who put it together, because they've also been responsible for some of my favorite television throughout the years. But I look forward to watching for awhile and seeing what will come of this highly anticipated show.
Favorite lines:
Kristina: Men feel the need to express their love through hitting balls, slapping butts and discussing meaningless statistics.
Crosby: Let's just play ping pong, so I can lose myself in sport.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Criminal Minds - Mosley Lane
Network: CBS
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, AJ Cook, Kirsten Vangsness
Summary: After a child is abducted from a carnival, the BAU determines the case may be related to many child abductions over the past ten years.
Review: I've spent the last month and change catching up on Criminal Minds episodes, so this is the first episode I actually had to wait to watch, and it didn't disappoint. The main draw of a CM episode is a heart-stopping case, and this episode had that and then some.
In the beginning, it's a fairly typical child abduction (if there is a such a thing as a typical one). One kid snatched from a carnival. It's sad, but it's unfortunately something that happens on a too-regular basis.
But then another mother shows up, claiming that her son was abducted by the same person. The catch? She's been saying that for every child abduction in the last ten years. So often, in fact, that JJ recognized the woman based on what she had told Emily, without ever seeing her face. But JJ's changed since the last time this woman showed up. She has a kid of her own now, and maybe that's warping her perception, because now she is starting to believe this mother. And so the hunt begins.
I like any episode that attempts to give JJ a stronger character. Out of all the members of the BAU, she's still the least developed. She has the weakest backstory of any character, though the writers have taken steps to try to fix that this season. And her personality has been confined until recently to the role of a consummate professional at almost all times. This has gradually been changing, but it's still nice to see another episode that focuses on her, to gain another glimpse into her life. They could have done a little more in this situation (I really think the ending practically begged for a scene between her and her son), but it was nice to see her step outside her professionalism for a little while, even if it made the others question her a little bit.
I also really like the episodes with missing children. I know that sounds kind of sick, but, in general, those episodes have at least a slightly happier ending than flat-out serial killer episodes, rapists or arsonists. I know the writers are definitely not squeamish about doing bad things to kids in their episodes, but they seem to appreciate the need for a little bit of hope at the end, so as not to make it all bad. This episode made me cry, but there was enough of a positive at the end to ease the pain of what had happened.
I don't think they could have cast better people to play the UnSubs if they'd had years to do it. Guest star casting has always been a strength of Criminal Minds', and it's nice to see that doesn't seem to be changing any time soon. The UnSubs were creepy in a way that just screamed mental disorder, which is exactly how they should have been.
One of my favorite things about this show is that it balances the cases and characters better than any other crime show I've seen. A lot of this season has been dominated by watching bad things happen to Hotch, but the last few episodes have returned to be largely case-based. While character-driven episodes are my preference, there has to be a balance or the show would get soap opera-y. And it's nice to be able to take the things you know about the characters and apply them to the case that's going on (such as apply JJ's relatively new motherhood status to a case where a mother believes her abducted son is still alive).
In just a little over a month, this went from a relatively unknown show to one of my favorites ever on TV, so I may be a little biased towards the episode (though I'm trying to view them objectively). So what did you think? CM has been on hiatus for a couple weeks thanks to the Olympics. Was this episode worth the wait? Are there other things you're hoping to see as the show begins to wind down for the season? Leave a comment and let me know.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Comments? Leave them here.
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, AJ Cook, Kirsten Vangsness
Summary: After a child is abducted from a carnival, the BAU determines the case may be related to many child abductions over the past ten years.
Review: I've spent the last month and change catching up on Criminal Minds episodes, so this is the first episode I actually had to wait to watch, and it didn't disappoint. The main draw of a CM episode is a heart-stopping case, and this episode had that and then some.
In the beginning, it's a fairly typical child abduction (if there is a such a thing as a typical one). One kid snatched from a carnival. It's sad, but it's unfortunately something that happens on a too-regular basis.
But then another mother shows up, claiming that her son was abducted by the same person. The catch? She's been saying that for every child abduction in the last ten years. So often, in fact, that JJ recognized the woman based on what she had told Emily, without ever seeing her face. But JJ's changed since the last time this woman showed up. She has a kid of her own now, and maybe that's warping her perception, because now she is starting to believe this mother. And so the hunt begins.
I like any episode that attempts to give JJ a stronger character. Out of all the members of the BAU, she's still the least developed. She has the weakest backstory of any character, though the writers have taken steps to try to fix that this season. And her personality has been confined until recently to the role of a consummate professional at almost all times. This has gradually been changing, but it's still nice to see another episode that focuses on her, to gain another glimpse into her life. They could have done a little more in this situation (I really think the ending practically begged for a scene between her and her son), but it was nice to see her step outside her professionalism for a little while, even if it made the others question her a little bit.
I also really like the episodes with missing children. I know that sounds kind of sick, but, in general, those episodes have at least a slightly happier ending than flat-out serial killer episodes, rapists or arsonists. I know the writers are definitely not squeamish about doing bad things to kids in their episodes, but they seem to appreciate the need for a little bit of hope at the end, so as not to make it all bad. This episode made me cry, but there was enough of a positive at the end to ease the pain of what had happened.
I don't think they could have cast better people to play the UnSubs if they'd had years to do it. Guest star casting has always been a strength of Criminal Minds', and it's nice to see that doesn't seem to be changing any time soon. The UnSubs were creepy in a way that just screamed mental disorder, which is exactly how they should have been.
One of my favorite things about this show is that it balances the cases and characters better than any other crime show I've seen. A lot of this season has been dominated by watching bad things happen to Hotch, but the last few episodes have returned to be largely case-based. While character-driven episodes are my preference, there has to be a balance or the show would get soap opera-y. And it's nice to be able to take the things you know about the characters and apply them to the case that's going on (such as apply JJ's relatively new motherhood status to a case where a mother believes her abducted son is still alive).
In just a little over a month, this went from a relatively unknown show to one of my favorites ever on TV, so I may be a little biased towards the episode (though I'm trying to view them objectively). So what did you think? CM has been on hiatus for a couple weeks thanks to the Olympics. Was this episode worth the wait? Are there other things you're hoping to see as the show begins to wind down for the season? Leave a comment and let me know.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Comments? Leave them here.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Past Life - Pilot
Network: Fox
Time: Tuesday, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Kelli Giddish, Nicholas Bishop, Richard Schiff, Ravi Patel
Summary: Psychologist Kate McGinn and former NYPD detective Price Whatley attempt to help a teenage boy who believes he is the reincarnation of an eight-year-old girl.
Review: It's not often I get to review a crime show from its inception, so this is a bit of a treat for me. It's unfortunate that I wasn't so thrilled with the show, however, but at least I made it all the way through the first episode this time (sorry, Human Target, I just couldn't do it with you).
This show needs a lot of work if it hopes to make it past the seven episodes Fox already ordered. A new premise would probably do wonders, but since that's not possible, let's see what else we can come up with.
To start, I don't think this show is sustainable for more than a season at its best. The concept is that what happened in your past life affects your present life. What it boils down to is that Kate and Price solve what are essentially cold cases by finding the reincarnated souls in living people. My question is: how many cases like this could possibly exist in the whole world, let alone just the New York area, where the show takes place? Even if reincarnation does exist, I can't believe it would be as common as it would need to be to fill all the episodes. If it was so common, wouldn't it be a little less mysterious? Maybe I'm being cynical, but I'm having trouble buying this premise.
My second problem is completely different, but equally as important. Either the acting or the writing is really bad. Or both are. I can't be sure after one episode, but something about it seemed really fake. I mean, Richard Schiff was his usual wonderful self, but he wasn't in nearly enough of the episode to make up for Kelli Giddish. The other characters fluctuated between mildly tolerable (Nicholas Bishop) and absurdly overdramatic (Cayden Boyd). Things were told to the audience through monologues or dialogues instead of shown through the characters' actions. It took drama away from the moments that really deserved an impact and gave it to moments that could have easily been done better. It also made it boring.
I tried hard to stay focused through the whole thing, but I definitely found my attention wandering during long conversations that seemed irrelevant (of which there were many). The problem with a "tell, don't show" episode is that it's not attention-grabbing. In our world of instant gratification, a show simply can't afford to be boring.
I really wanted to like this show. It sounded like it could have been interesting if it was less about reincarnation in such specific terms and more about the general idea. Also, if they used Richard Schiff more, I think it would have been infinitely better. But there just wasn't enough to keep me interested. I'd like to give it another chance to see if they fix some of the problems, but I don't know if I'll be able to keep going if they don't.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Comments? Leave them here.
Time: Tuesday, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Kelli Giddish, Nicholas Bishop, Richard Schiff, Ravi Patel
Summary: Psychologist Kate McGinn and former NYPD detective Price Whatley attempt to help a teenage boy who believes he is the reincarnation of an eight-year-old girl.
Review: It's not often I get to review a crime show from its inception, so this is a bit of a treat for me. It's unfortunate that I wasn't so thrilled with the show, however, but at least I made it all the way through the first episode this time (sorry, Human Target, I just couldn't do it with you).
This show needs a lot of work if it hopes to make it past the seven episodes Fox already ordered. A new premise would probably do wonders, but since that's not possible, let's see what else we can come up with.
To start, I don't think this show is sustainable for more than a season at its best. The concept is that what happened in your past life affects your present life. What it boils down to is that Kate and Price solve what are essentially cold cases by finding the reincarnated souls in living people. My question is: how many cases like this could possibly exist in the whole world, let alone just the New York area, where the show takes place? Even if reincarnation does exist, I can't believe it would be as common as it would need to be to fill all the episodes. If it was so common, wouldn't it be a little less mysterious? Maybe I'm being cynical, but I'm having trouble buying this premise.
My second problem is completely different, but equally as important. Either the acting or the writing is really bad. Or both are. I can't be sure after one episode, but something about it seemed really fake. I mean, Richard Schiff was his usual wonderful self, but he wasn't in nearly enough of the episode to make up for Kelli Giddish. The other characters fluctuated between mildly tolerable (Nicholas Bishop) and absurdly overdramatic (Cayden Boyd). Things were told to the audience through monologues or dialogues instead of shown through the characters' actions. It took drama away from the moments that really deserved an impact and gave it to moments that could have easily been done better. It also made it boring.
I tried hard to stay focused through the whole thing, but I definitely found my attention wandering during long conversations that seemed irrelevant (of which there were many). The problem with a "tell, don't show" episode is that it's not attention-grabbing. In our world of instant gratification, a show simply can't afford to be boring.
I really wanted to like this show. It sounded like it could have been interesting if it was less about reincarnation in such specific terms and more about the general idea. Also, if they used Richard Schiff more, I think it would have been infinitely better. But there just wasn't enough to keep me interested. I'd like to give it another chance to see if they fix some of the problems, but I don't know if I'll be able to keep going if they don't.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Comments? Leave them here.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
NCIS - Jack Knife
Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll
Summary: When a Marine is found dead, the team hits the road to bust an illegal trucking operation.
Review: This was an odd episode. Start to finish, it was quite unlike any NCIS episode I've seen before. For one thing, while there was a murder of a Marine, the bulk of this episode had very little to do with murder or Marines. It was about a possibly illegal trucking operation that possibly employed a few Marines.
Remember Corporal Damon Werth? The super-soldier from a couple seasons ago who came back a few episodes ago to save the team's collective butts? The one Ziva had a thing for? Well, he's back. And our favorite FBI agent, Tobias Fornell? He's back too (with facial hair). I have to admit, just having Fornell there made Gibbs a more likable character again. I don't know what's been up with him lately, but he's been even surlier than normal.
Also, McGee has taken to being Gibbs' personal slave. He feels bad about Gibbs getting hurt while saving his life, so he's running around doing anything and everything Gibbs could possibly need. Which means getting very little sleep. Which means a way over-caffeinated McGee. Which was hilarious.
Also also, if Tony and Ziva aren't sleeping together, I'll be shocked. There are just way too many inside jokes and secret looks for them to be teetering on the brink still. The tension is no longer unresolved; it's a different kind of tension now. The kind that TV couples have when they're in a relationship that no one else can know about (see The Mentalist's Rigsby and Van Pelt for a good example).
This was a fun little episode. Not much in the way of substance, but it seemed like the writers were stepping back and making sure all the characters were still likable. For the last few episodes, there's always been at least one character who was acting unnecessarily obnoxious or snarky. It was nice to see everyone get back to where they should be. They've also set up a nice story with Gibbs and McGee that I feel could be leading up to a good moment between the two. Not quite a 5-star episode, but definitely enjoyable to watch.
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll
Summary: When a Marine is found dead, the team hits the road to bust an illegal trucking operation.
Review: This was an odd episode. Start to finish, it was quite unlike any NCIS episode I've seen before. For one thing, while there was a murder of a Marine, the bulk of this episode had very little to do with murder or Marines. It was about a possibly illegal trucking operation that possibly employed a few Marines.
Remember Corporal Damon Werth? The super-soldier from a couple seasons ago who came back a few episodes ago to save the team's collective butts? The one Ziva had a thing for? Well, he's back. And our favorite FBI agent, Tobias Fornell? He's back too (with facial hair). I have to admit, just having Fornell there made Gibbs a more likable character again. I don't know what's been up with him lately, but he's been even surlier than normal.
Also, McGee has taken to being Gibbs' personal slave. He feels bad about Gibbs getting hurt while saving his life, so he's running around doing anything and everything Gibbs could possibly need. Which means getting very little sleep. Which means a way over-caffeinated McGee. Which was hilarious.
Also also, if Tony and Ziva aren't sleeping together, I'll be shocked. There are just way too many inside jokes and secret looks for them to be teetering on the brink still. The tension is no longer unresolved; it's a different kind of tension now. The kind that TV couples have when they're in a relationship that no one else can know about (see The Mentalist's Rigsby and Van Pelt for a good example).
This was a fun little episode. Not much in the way of substance, but it seemed like the writers were stepping back and making sure all the characters were still likable. For the last few episodes, there's always been at least one character who was acting unnecessarily obnoxious or snarky. It was nice to see everyone get back to where they should be. They've also set up a nice story with Gibbs and McGee that I feel could be leading up to a good moment between the two. Not quite a 5-star episode, but definitely enjoyable to watch.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Big Bang Theory - The Large Hadron Collision
Network: CBS
Time: Mondays, 9:30-10:00pm
Cast: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
Summary: When Leonard gets invited to see the CERN laboratory in Switzerland on Valentine's Day, Sheldon gets mad because he decides to take Penny with him.
Review: My affinity for Big Bang knows few bounds, but they're starting to do a few things that annoy me. First and most importantly, the Sheldon/Leonard relationship. When the show first started, Leonard regarded Sheldon with tolerant amusement. He accepted Sheldon's antics with good humor and patience. Now, he gets annoyed and lashes out and, more often than not, resembles a four-year-old have a tantrum because his little brother is getting his mother's attention. Out of all the things that I've noticed with Big Bang this season, this is the most troublesome. Where Leonard's comments to and about Sheldon were once light-hearted, they now seem barbed and aimed to hurt (though Sheldon often remains oblivious).
And Sheldon doesn't make it any better. He's always been a selfish character, but it seems like he's gotten worse as the seasons went on (and the writers realized that his selfishness is part of the amusement for the audience). He thinks nothing of bullying, annoying, and guilting his friends into doing what he wants. His selfishness before used to be due to a lack of awareness about his friends' feelings; now it seems to be driven by a lack of concern for them.
Another thing that's started to annoy me is the Howard/Raj relationship. Since Leonard's mother's first episode (and maybe before), there's always been a hint of homosexuality in Howard and Raj's relationship. It seems lately, however, that the writers are building that up so much that it's damaging the other aspects of their interaction. Howard has a girlfriend now, which leaves him with less time to spend with Raj. But he's started to rub that in Raj's face, which I think is both cruel and out of character for Howard. We've had no evidence to suggest that he would ever deliberately hurt his friend, so why is he starting to now?
Raj himself has become a rather pathetic character. Perhaps he always was, but he's doubly so now that his (more normal) friends have girlfriends, and he's left alone more often than not. I miss the days when the boys used to hang around playing geek games and horrifying Penny. Now Howard and Leonard are with Bernadette and Penny, Raj is noticeably absent, and Sheldon is in his own world unless it suits him to come out. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm almost sorry Leonard and Penny got together in the first place.
This episode had some funny moments, but it's far from the hilarious episodes of last season or even the beginning of this one. Sheldon's antics are always funny, and I really like the Leonard/Penny interaction, which was appropriately sweet for Valentine's Day. I wasn't crazy about the end, as well as the things I mentioned before, but I can only hope that some of these things will resolve themselves with time.
Favorite line:
Sheldon: I believe you know why I'm here.
Penny: I always figured it was to study us, discover our weaknesses, and report back to your alien overlords.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Mondays, 9:30-10:00pm
Cast: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
Summary: When Leonard gets invited to see the CERN laboratory in Switzerland on Valentine's Day, Sheldon gets mad because he decides to take Penny with him.
Review: My affinity for Big Bang knows few bounds, but they're starting to do a few things that annoy me. First and most importantly, the Sheldon/Leonard relationship. When the show first started, Leonard regarded Sheldon with tolerant amusement. He accepted Sheldon's antics with good humor and patience. Now, he gets annoyed and lashes out and, more often than not, resembles a four-year-old have a tantrum because his little brother is getting his mother's attention. Out of all the things that I've noticed with Big Bang this season, this is the most troublesome. Where Leonard's comments to and about Sheldon were once light-hearted, they now seem barbed and aimed to hurt (though Sheldon often remains oblivious).
And Sheldon doesn't make it any better. He's always been a selfish character, but it seems like he's gotten worse as the seasons went on (and the writers realized that his selfishness is part of the amusement for the audience). He thinks nothing of bullying, annoying, and guilting his friends into doing what he wants. His selfishness before used to be due to a lack of awareness about his friends' feelings; now it seems to be driven by a lack of concern for them.
Another thing that's started to annoy me is the Howard/Raj relationship. Since Leonard's mother's first episode (and maybe before), there's always been a hint of homosexuality in Howard and Raj's relationship. It seems lately, however, that the writers are building that up so much that it's damaging the other aspects of their interaction. Howard has a girlfriend now, which leaves him with less time to spend with Raj. But he's started to rub that in Raj's face, which I think is both cruel and out of character for Howard. We've had no evidence to suggest that he would ever deliberately hurt his friend, so why is he starting to now?
Raj himself has become a rather pathetic character. Perhaps he always was, but he's doubly so now that his (more normal) friends have girlfriends, and he's left alone more often than not. I miss the days when the boys used to hang around playing geek games and horrifying Penny. Now Howard and Leonard are with Bernadette and Penny, Raj is noticeably absent, and Sheldon is in his own world unless it suits him to come out. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm almost sorry Leonard and Penny got together in the first place.
This episode had some funny moments, but it's far from the hilarious episodes of last season or even the beginning of this one. Sheldon's antics are always funny, and I really like the Leonard/Penny interaction, which was appropriately sweet for Valentine's Day. I wasn't crazy about the end, as well as the things I mentioned before, but I can only hope that some of these things will resolve themselves with time.
Favorite line:
Sheldon: I believe you know why I'm here.
Penny: I always figured it was to study us, discover our weaknesses, and report back to your alien overlords.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Accidentally on Purpose - Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
Network: CBS
Time: Mondays, 8:30-9:00pm
Cast: Jenna Elfman, Jon Foster, Ashley Jensen, Lennon Parham, Nicolas Wright
Summary: Billie manipulates Zack into setting up the nursery. Meanwhile, Davis gets a job working at a gay bar.
Review: Dear CBS Network Executives, please please please please please don't cancel Accidentally on Purpose. It's a really funny show, and I think you'd be doing it a disservice if you don't give it more time to develop.
As a said in my very first review of AoP, I went into this show expecting the worst and was more than pleasantly surprised. And with every episode I fall a little more in love with this show and it's wonderful characters.
While this episode's main focus was the fledgling Billie/Zack relationship, it was Davis who stole the show. Davis got a job at a gay bar after lying to them and telling them he was gay (being, as Davis is, quite unaware that you don't actually have to be gay to work at a gay bar). And he really got into his new job, listening and offering relationship advice as a good bartender does... right up until the point when one of the men asked him out. And, of course, instead of being honest, Davis said he had a boyfriend---Zack.
Everyone knows a Zack and Davis. They're completely realistic 22-year-olds. Sometimes they obsessed with getting the right girl (and often, Davis, failing), and sometimes they're just two guys hanging around doing guy stuff that us girls don't even understand. So when Davis asks Zack for help getting out of his pants, Zack barely bats an eye, even if the ensuing scene is hysterical for the audience. Showing Zack behaving like a normal 22-year-old guy with Davis is great, because he tends to act fairly mature when he's with Billie. Sure, he has his goofy moments with her, moments where he's clueless or stupid, but he's stepped up pretty well in light of this whole baby thing. But seeing him with Davis reminds everyone that he's still just a kid sometimes.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the episode, Billie is getting relationship advice from her sister (who is probably more than a little insane, but that's okay). Abby's suggestions? Manipulate Zack into fixing up the nursery so the box with the crib in it won't be sitting in the living room anymore.
And it works. She does manage to get Zack to put the crib together. But it backfires a little. I'm going to leave the details out for those who haven't seen it. This entire story is telling though. Billie and Zack fell into a very serious relationship. They've been having fun together, and they're both serious about taking care of the baby, but they never muddled through the weird parts of an early relationship, like how to take two separate lives and merge them together under one roof. There are bound to be growing pains, and I'm glad this show gave us some of them. If everything's too perfect in a television relationship, we complain. If it's too awkward, we complain. Accidentally on Purpose is one of the few shows with just the right amount of awkwardness that's balanced by the right amount of sweetness and genuine love between them.
There was a third story in this episode. Abby was looking for a gay man to help her go from "drabby" to "fabby." It had worked for Olivia, and now she was hoping it would help her. There's not much to say about this one, except that Lennon Parham is awesome, and she makes me laugh every single time she opens her mouth.
CBS is moving this to Wednesdays soon (in March, I believe), and I hope that's not the first movement toward the door because I really think this show has the potential to be as highly rated as HIMYM or Big Bang Theory (which, by the way, was not a ratings-winner for its first several seasons either). I hope CBS gives it that shot.
Favorite lines:
Abby: It's like killing someone with carbon monoxide. Smile, smile, smile, dead.
Abby: Manipulation is one of the greatest tools in a woman's toolbox. That and the vagina.
Davis (comforting a gay bar patron): There isn't a man here who would want a piece of that.
Jerome: There isn't?
Davis: No.
Jerome: So... what time do you get off?
Davis: 2am
[beat]
Davis: Ohhhh....
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Mondays, 8:30-9:00pm
Cast: Jenna Elfman, Jon Foster, Ashley Jensen, Lennon Parham, Nicolas Wright
Summary: Billie manipulates Zack into setting up the nursery. Meanwhile, Davis gets a job working at a gay bar.
Review: Dear CBS Network Executives, please please please please please don't cancel Accidentally on Purpose. It's a really funny show, and I think you'd be doing it a disservice if you don't give it more time to develop.
As a said in my very first review of AoP, I went into this show expecting the worst and was more than pleasantly surprised. And with every episode I fall a little more in love with this show and it's wonderful characters.
While this episode's main focus was the fledgling Billie/Zack relationship, it was Davis who stole the show. Davis got a job at a gay bar after lying to them and telling them he was gay (being, as Davis is, quite unaware that you don't actually have to be gay to work at a gay bar). And he really got into his new job, listening and offering relationship advice as a good bartender does... right up until the point when one of the men asked him out. And, of course, instead of being honest, Davis said he had a boyfriend---Zack.
Everyone knows a Zack and Davis. They're completely realistic 22-year-olds. Sometimes they obsessed with getting the right girl (and often, Davis, failing), and sometimes they're just two guys hanging around doing guy stuff that us girls don't even understand. So when Davis asks Zack for help getting out of his pants, Zack barely bats an eye, even if the ensuing scene is hysterical for the audience. Showing Zack behaving like a normal 22-year-old guy with Davis is great, because he tends to act fairly mature when he's with Billie. Sure, he has his goofy moments with her, moments where he's clueless or stupid, but he's stepped up pretty well in light of this whole baby thing. But seeing him with Davis reminds everyone that he's still just a kid sometimes.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the episode, Billie is getting relationship advice from her sister (who is probably more than a little insane, but that's okay). Abby's suggestions? Manipulate Zack into fixing up the nursery so the box with the crib in it won't be sitting in the living room anymore.
And it works. She does manage to get Zack to put the crib together. But it backfires a little. I'm going to leave the details out for those who haven't seen it. This entire story is telling though. Billie and Zack fell into a very serious relationship. They've been having fun together, and they're both serious about taking care of the baby, but they never muddled through the weird parts of an early relationship, like how to take two separate lives and merge them together under one roof. There are bound to be growing pains, and I'm glad this show gave us some of them. If everything's too perfect in a television relationship, we complain. If it's too awkward, we complain. Accidentally on Purpose is one of the few shows with just the right amount of awkwardness that's balanced by the right amount of sweetness and genuine love between them.
There was a third story in this episode. Abby was looking for a gay man to help her go from "drabby" to "fabby." It had worked for Olivia, and now she was hoping it would help her. There's not much to say about this one, except that Lennon Parham is awesome, and she makes me laugh every single time she opens her mouth.
CBS is moving this to Wednesdays soon (in March, I believe), and I hope that's not the first movement toward the door because I really think this show has the potential to be as highly rated as HIMYM or Big Bang Theory (which, by the way, was not a ratings-winner for its first several seasons either). I hope CBS gives it that shot.
Favorite lines:
Abby: It's like killing someone with carbon monoxide. Smile, smile, smile, dead.
Abby: Manipulation is one of the greatest tools in a woman's toolbox. That and the vagina.
Davis (comforting a gay bar patron): There isn't a man here who would want a piece of that.
Jerome: There isn't?
Davis: No.
Jerome: So... what time do you get off?
Davis: 2am
[beat]
Davis: Ohhhh....
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
White Collar - Bad Judgment
Network: USA
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Willie Garson, Natalie Morales, Tiffani Thiessen, Sharif Atkins
Summary: Peter and Neal find a connection between Fowler and a corrupt judge, and they devise a plan to take down both of them.
Review: After being only mildly impressed by White Collar's fall premiere, I watched last week's episode with a bit of trepidation. Fortunately, whatever small kinks were in the first episode were gone by this time, and I have nothing but rave reviews for this most recent episode.
Peter and Neal are back in action, and I'm glad they're not at odds with each other anymore. Oh, sure, there's always going to be a smidgen of distrust between them, but they're back to being as close as an FBI agent and an ex-con can be. And, more importantly, this episode marked the return of the wonderful Elizabeth/Neal relationship.
I need to say this now and have it in writing in case something goes horribly wrong with the future of this show: I love Elizabeth's character. In so many crime shows, the wife of the agent doesn't seem to understand her husband's job. She whines that he's not home enough or that he doesn't pay enough attention to her or that he puts his works first. Elizabeth does none of those things. She takes everything in stride, whether it's waking up to find a minion of FBI agents in her house or finding out her phone is bugged. Instead of getting mad at Peter, she rolls her eyes good-naturedly, gets up, and makes a pot of coffee.
In this episode, Peter thinks that Fowler may have bugged his house... again. So he calls in a Cleaner. And guess who waltzes in the door--Mozzie. Mozzie is a true criminal at heart, and Peter leaves Jones there to make sure nothing gets stolen in his house. He needn't have worried though. By the end of the episode, Elizabeth and Moz are the best of friends (and what is with Elizabeth becoming buddies with all the criminals?).
There was a lot of Mozzie in this episode, actually. Between his new relationship with Peter and Elizabeth (or, as he says, Suit and Mrs. Suit), the chemistry between him and Neal just gets better with each passing show. Mozzie doesn't get that Neal isn't the same criminal he used to be, but he's not mad at the change in his friend, he's amused. Which leads to some really funny conversations.
My only complaint about this episode is the same complaint I always have--the last two minutes. I don't know why, but the last scene of each episode just annoys me. It usually shows Neal learning new information that he plans on dealing with himself. This episode was no different, except my reaction changed. Instead of worry that this would somehow taint the Peter/Neal relationship, I rolled my eyes and said, "Neal, you always wind up telling Peter everything anyway. Why are you bothering to try and hide?" I don't know how much longer the writers think they can use that trick as a cliffhanger, but, by this point, I don't expect Nealto keep any secrets from Peter for longer than half an episode.
So, great episode. I'm glad to see the banter between the characters return to the witty repartee I've come to expect from this show. I'm not quite ready to give this a 5/5 yet, but it's well on its way. I can't wait for more.
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Willie Garson, Natalie Morales, Tiffani Thiessen, Sharif Atkins
Summary: Peter and Neal find a connection between Fowler and a corrupt judge, and they devise a plan to take down both of them.
Review: After being only mildly impressed by White Collar's fall premiere, I watched last week's episode with a bit of trepidation. Fortunately, whatever small kinks were in the first episode were gone by this time, and I have nothing but rave reviews for this most recent episode.
Peter and Neal are back in action, and I'm glad they're not at odds with each other anymore. Oh, sure, there's always going to be a smidgen of distrust between them, but they're back to being as close as an FBI agent and an ex-con can be. And, more importantly, this episode marked the return of the wonderful Elizabeth/Neal relationship.
I need to say this now and have it in writing in case something goes horribly wrong with the future of this show: I love Elizabeth's character. In so many crime shows, the wife of the agent doesn't seem to understand her husband's job. She whines that he's not home enough or that he doesn't pay enough attention to her or that he puts his works first. Elizabeth does none of those things. She takes everything in stride, whether it's waking up to find a minion of FBI agents in her house or finding out her phone is bugged. Instead of getting mad at Peter, she rolls her eyes good-naturedly, gets up, and makes a pot of coffee.
In this episode, Peter thinks that Fowler may have bugged his house... again. So he calls in a Cleaner. And guess who waltzes in the door--Mozzie. Mozzie is a true criminal at heart, and Peter leaves Jones there to make sure nothing gets stolen in his house. He needn't have worried though. By the end of the episode, Elizabeth and Moz are the best of friends (and what is with Elizabeth becoming buddies with all the criminals?).
There was a lot of Mozzie in this episode, actually. Between his new relationship with Peter and Elizabeth (or, as he says, Suit and Mrs. Suit), the chemistry between him and Neal just gets better with each passing show. Mozzie doesn't get that Neal isn't the same criminal he used to be, but he's not mad at the change in his friend, he's amused. Which leads to some really funny conversations.
My only complaint about this episode is the same complaint I always have--the last two minutes. I don't know why, but the last scene of each episode just annoys me. It usually shows Neal learning new information that he plans on dealing with himself. This episode was no different, except my reaction changed. Instead of worry that this would somehow taint the Peter/Neal relationship, I rolled my eyes and said, "Neal, you always wind up telling Peter everything anyway. Why are you bothering to try and hide?" I don't know how much longer the writers think they can use that trick as a cliffhanger, but, by this point, I don't expect Nealto keep any secrets from Peter for longer than half an episode.
So, great episode. I'm glad to see the banter between the characters return to the witty repartee I've come to expect from this show. I'm not quite ready to give this a 5/5 yet, but it's well on its way. I can't wait for more.
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