Did you miss me?

Hey, everyone! I'm back! And holy crap did I miss a lot of tv. Who would have guessed that going out of the country for three weeks during Fall Premiere time would cause such a back-up? Alright, maybe that's something I should have given more thought to before leaving, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that my DVR did not completely fill up in my absence. Of course, forgetting to tell it to record Heroes and Chuck might have also had something to do with it. That's why God has the networks put full episodes on their websites, right?

Anyway, since my return from vacation I have been trying to cram in as much tv watching as possible to catch up with y'all (and also posting my pics on Facebook and on my other blog). I've managed to get caught up with most shows (except for Sarah Connor, America's Next Top Model, Project Runway, Law and Order: SVU, Fringe, Mad Men, and 90210 which I think I am actually going to give up on). Alright, so maybe I am not as caught up as I thought.

Here are some quick initial impressions from the shows I have managed to catch up on:

Pushing Daisies: It has all the same quirky charm, and I still love Olive more than life itself (Pigby!!), but something seemed off to me with the premiere. I think the central murder mystery was a little convoluted and not that interesting, so it just didn't grab me as usual. Having said that, Emerson's stress-knitting and pop-up book making was so cute, and any scene with Olive and/or Aunt Vivian = love. Is it just me or is Aunt Lily seem kind....evil? I can't wait to see how the hints at Emerson's daughter and Ned's Dad pay off.

Heroes: I basically watched all three episodes of Heroes back to back online the second day I got back, which is really how it should be watched. The show is not well-served from long breaks. However, this also means I have difficulty distinguishing each episode from the other and remembering exactly what happened.

Things that I loved about last season I still love--anything with Sylar, Elle, Noah, or Mama Petrelli--but the things I didn't like then, I still don't like now. Meaning anything with Maya (seriously, she needs to die and stay dead), Mohinder being annoying, and Hiro's story being boring. The jumping into the past was boring last season, and while the jumping into the future is more interesting, I dunno, I'm just not as grabbed by the show I used to be.

I will give Heroes the biggest WTF moment so far though, for the revelation of Mama Petrelli also being Mama Sylar. Seriously. W.T.F. And Sylar's poking into Claire's brain and telling her that the idea of eating her brain was "disgusting" was one of the funniest and sickest things this show has ever done.

Hmm...actually as I sit here thinking about the show I keep coming up with more moments I really liked. Adam being awakened, having Sylar and Noah work together, seeing Weevil from Veronica Mars back on my tv...so maybe I am enjoying Heroes as a whole more than I thought. The initial revelation that it was FuturePeter that shot Nathan was stunning, and I am actually interested in Matt again, with the whole spirit journey and follow the turtle angle. So basically, if they would get rid of Maya/Mohinder and bring Hiro back with the other heroes, I will definitely be obsessed again.

Chuck: Ah, Chuck. I missed you and your brilliant title sequence. Sometimes it seems that the show is trying a little too hard (see how quirky we are?? See how cute we are?? Look at me Ma, LOOK AT ME!!), but I find it just really really enjoyable. All the elements in this show work, and I love the combination of action and funny. I wish I had a friend named Captain Awesome.

Supernatural: Wow, this show really came out of the gate roaring. Every episode has been stellar, and I was totally surprised by the "Dean gets right out of hell" angle. I thought for sure we would have to endure several episodes of Sam being all angsty and travelling around being ethically gray trying to find a way to bust out Dean.

But, no! The war is in full swing, and while I was a little worried about the whole Angel/God having a plan for Dean subplot, it's really working for me. And this last episode, that revealed Mary was a hunter and Skinner was Dean and Sam's grandfather was AH-MAZING. Bring it, Kripke, I can take it. Oh, and thanks for putting Dean back in the priest outfit.

Oh, Kripke, you know just what the fangirls want.

R.I.P. The Riches

"Word came down. That word is cancelled," blogs Todd Stashwick, aka Dale from The Riches. Though I kind of doubt that it's really him. I mean, his blog is on MySpace. Still, he's not wrong - The Riches have been run out of town.


I have previously blogged about this critically-acclaimed drama. The beauty of The Riches was that it was something new, a story of innocence lost that was at once darkly funny and uncomfortably real. Sure, the second season floundered a bit, IMHO, perhaps due to the WGA strike. But there was so much potential! I was looking forward to the show's (and the Malloy family's) eventual redemption.

America didn't agree. I complain about how formulaic TV has become, but really we bring it upon ourselves. If we continue to ignore any show that seems "weird," we will be condemned to watch the same premises/plots/characters being recycled over and over again. We are creating an environment where creativity is punished. And that makes me sad.

You know who I'll really miss? Sam Malloy. That kid was one of the most original characters on television today.

Oh, little cross-dresser. We hardly knew ye.

Thanks, Maggie Cats, for the heads-up!

I guess I'm just a Knight Rider purist...

Don't ask me how or why, but this weekend found me watching the new Knight Rider with my parents. In my defense, the television pickings are always slim at Castle Sri. My parents have stuck with the old console TV they bought in the late 80's, and they don't have cable. And yet, we probably would've been better off watching ABC, which is usually nothing but static, or Ion TV, which for some reason comes in loud and clear.

Gives the term "classic television" a whole new meaning.

This nostalgic back-drop was not enough to make the Knight Rider remake palatable. The characters were one-dimensional stereotypes, the writing was terrible and the plot was merely an excuse for explosions to happen. Oh, and for women to wear bikinis.

Knight Rider: When my manly tattoo presses against the hood of my super-computer car, classified information on my shadowy past is revealed!
Bikini-clad Cohort: Look out, here come some bad guys!
Bad Guys: *menace menace menace*
KR: Woman, can't you see I'm busy?
BCC: I will be forced to make out with you on top of the car, thus concealing the classified information from sight!
KR: ... well, if you insist.
KITT: Michael, this is far from sanitary.

The most sympathetic character turns out to be the talking car.

The special effects could have redeemed the show somewhat, but were ruined by sheer self-indulgence. Kit is hit by a missile, catches on fire, and races towards the secret base all ablaze. The team has to trap Kit in a vacuum-sealed chamber to smother the flames. Meanwhile the people inside the car try to stay cool by stripping down to their underwear, as if two layers of cloth would make a difference when you're suffocating.

Perhaps I'm being too harsh. When all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. When all you have is an AI Mustang, every problem looks like a drag race. Somehow, I remember that the original Knight Rider made this premise work. It was a simpler time when a talking car was the stuff of outrageous science fiction. In the era of GPS systems and voice-activated controls Knight Rider has lost a lot of its "wow" factor. The new series has tried to replace this with a subplot in which the protagonist was a member of Special Forces Black Ops in Iraq and somehow lost his memory. It comes off as heavy-handed and unnecessary. No surprise here, but I do not brake for the new Knight Rider.

Plus, it lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. To wit, The Hoff.

Taking Sanctuary

Sorry about the terrible pun in the title ... but it had to made.

Previously, I've blogged about my love/hate relationship with the Sci-Fi channel - it's potential for kick-assery is rivaled only by it's potential for cheesiness. In any given show, it's a toss-up as to which will win out in the end. And so, when I sat down to watch Sanctuary tonight, it was with a skeptical eye and one hand on the clicker.


Sanctuary is the story of Dr. Will Zimmerman, a forensic psychiatrist who gets recruited by a cryptozoologist, Dr. Helen Magnus, to aid in her mission "to find and help the unfortunate creatures of this world." Basically, she runs a humane society for monsters. So, right from the get-go the pseudoscience starts to bug. They keep saying things like "massive genetic mutation" and "I kept the embryo frozen for a century." It just makes my teeth hurt.

Still, the show has several redeeming qualities - not the least of which is the cast. Zimmerman is a classic Hot Nerd, played by Robin Dunne, the star of one of my favorite indie films, Borderline Normal. Magnus, the omniscient mentor figure, is played by Stargate SG-1 fan-favorite Amanda Tapping, aka Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter.

I knew (of) them when...

The cast is rounded out by the usual tropes: blonde hottie with an attitude, scruffy techno-geek, psychopathic ex-boyfriend who never dies... Wait, that's only a trope for James Marsters. You wish you were that cool, John Druitt! But, I digress. Sanctuary is definitely worth a look - Fridays a 9pm, on Sci-Fi.

I Want to Believe

Well, Fall TV is in full swing. I've been watching for a few weeks now and I have to say, I have mixed feelings about returning shows and new shows.

We've already gotten one review of Fringe and while I tend to agree I have a few comments and reservations. I really want to believe in this show, I want it to succeed, if for no other reason than to have Joshua Jackson back on TV. But it seems inevitable that something that JJ Abrams helped create would bound to not be a success. And I both fear and hope this is the case. Fringe has all the classic elements of The X-Files with the influx of Abrams trademark character studies (if was not a dysfunctional family drama wrapped up in a spy show then I am not sure at all what it was, and if Lost is not a study of people with twisted pasts thrown onto a creepy island than what is it?). The mystery at the heart of Fringe is interesting, but I have yet to find it compelling. What I do find compelling is the relationship between our beloved Pacey and mad Denethor. This father-son dynamic is what drives me to watch week-after-week, even though my interest in the show itself is lackluster. But I want to believe so I'll keep watching.

Selvi just wrot about her interest in the premiere of Pushing Daisies. Last year I was a big believer in this show. I mean, what is not to like about Jim Dale narrating a TV show? And there is much to love in this dramedy but when I found out it was being programmed opposite Bones I was presented with a dilemma (which would go away if I had a dual-tuner TiVo but that's a topic for another blog). While I want to like this show, I have to admit, I never did watch the last episode of the first season, I'm not sure I really want to watch this show on DVD (unlike previous shows by this creator, namely Wonderfalls and Dead Like Me), what I've ultimately decided is I may watch this eventually but it's not part of my must-see TV schedule. I may have to revist this, but I find myself more interested in Bones than Pushing Daisies.

I don't have to believe when it comes to Heroes. I am genuinly excited about this season. Having Hiro back in our time is fabulous. The the study of good/evil and hero/villian is fabulous. When our view of HRG was transformed overnight and we saw him not as the villian but as the hero, this show revealed that it could be so much more than a drama about people with powers, or another iteration of comics on the screen. I feel there was potential in last season but as we all know the writer's strike stopped that cold. And I agree with the general sentiment that the real danger of the season was not presented up front. We did not have that problem with last week's premier. We knew from the first that there was a problem in the future that was trying to be fixed. My biggest complaint is primarily: how often can they rely on someone from the future warning them of an impending doom? We need a new way to drive the season's storyline. This combined with the idea that anyone can gain a power reminds me a little of The 4400 and we all know how that worked out. But on the plus side, Heroes is part of my must watch shows. I stop everything I'm doing to watch it on Monday nights.
In fact Monday has become my favorite night of the week for TV watching. With the return of Chuck and Life there is a a solid block of viewing. I can hear the NBC honcho's salivating over a viewer like me. I was able to watch the premiers of Chuck and Life last week thanks to Hulu.com. And I was not disappointed. I'm still not sure what to make of Life but I love Damian Lewis from the first moment I saw him in Band of Brothers. He brings humor and gravitas to this roll. And his quirks as a detective are almost as funny as something you see on USA. The Chuck premiere was almost perfect. It had everything I had come to love in the show, and it did what every returning show's first episode should do: remind you of what happened before, and some nice homages to the pilot episode. All the characters were back in their quirkiness. I think I love Adam Baldwin a little more each day. And the guest casting this season is second to known: Michale Clarke Duncan this week and John Laraquette next?!!!? The one thing the episode failed to do was remind us of Bryce Larkin and the secretive organization Fulcrum. Fulcrum shows up at the end of the episode but there is no context for the name. It is only threw the happenstance that I have been watching older episodes on DVD that I even remember this.

I will save my thoughts on the ever loveable House for another time. But this is a season I hope to see something great. And I think I might.

Pushing Daisies: Back for Seconds

This post contains NO spoilers.

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I am SO excited about the season premiere of Pushing Daisies tomorrow night (8pm on ABC). Last season we got a tiny taste of this quirky comedy featuring a dead girl, a pie maker, a PI and a ... well, an Olive Snook.

Kristin Chenoweth = LOVE.

Due to the WGA strike, the already abbreviated season was cut to a mere nine episodes. The show still managed to earn critical acclaim and a solid fan base, and looks to enjoy a triumphant return to the small screen this fall. Leaving nothing to chance, the show also launched a creative marketing campaign: the Touch of Wonder Tour. A replica of the Pie Hole, Ned's restaurant and the main set of Pushing Daisies, went from coast-to-coast serving up free pie and the latest dish on the show. Sadly, I was not able to make it up to PA or NYC for the closest tour stop. But just knowing about the tour makes me smile.

Seriously, how cute is this?

Number one in the 'hood, G.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force. If you're looking for well constructed plots, sympathetic characters and a feel-good message with strong Christian overtones ... you've got the wrong cartoon about anthropomorphic foodstuffs.


And don't let the name fool you - the characters are neither aquatic nor teenagers. Lately, they don't even fight crime. Originally conceived as a segment on Space Ghost Coast to Coast, the Aqua Teens were only ever allowed their own series because Cartoon Network was desperate for original programming. Execs fully expected the show to fail. Five seasons, a major motion picture, and a huge cult following later they must realize that the Aqua Teens are here to stay.

But I can't mention the ATHF movie without mentioning the Boston Bomb Scare. As part of a "guerrilla marketing" campaign, LED displays of Ignignokt the Mooninite (one of the show's few recurrent villains) were placed around several cities. They had been up for several weeks before someone decided they must be part of a terrorist attack. To apologize, Turner Broadcasting paid the Boston PD $2 million and the Cartoon Network general manager stepped down. Whoops.

Yes, he's flipping you the bird. Deal with it.

Setting aside their poor advertising choices, I love ATHF because it's so character-driven. Entire plot lines will be abandoned, just to fit in more dialogue. In a live-action show this would bug the crap out of me. In a cartoon (and with ATHF's hilarious writing) it's pure genius. You really get to "know" each character, and their personalities play against one another brilliantly.

Plus, the show has a deranged, incontinent, eight-foot-tall spider named MC Pee Pants. How can you go wrong?

The Mentalist - it's like deja vu all over again

Watching the series premiere of The Mentalist, I kept getting the feeling that I'd seen it somewhere before. A fake psychic, working with the police, is driven by the need to apprehend the serial killer who murdered his family. Then, it hit me - if Profiler and Psych had a bastard love child, it would be this show.

For those of you who don't remember, Profiler was the story of Dr. Samantha Waters, a detective with the Violent Crimes Task Force whose husband was murdered by a serial killer known as Jack of All Trades. Sam was a "real" psychic - when she visited the crime scene, she would get flashbacks of the murder. On the other end of the paranormal spectrum, you have Psych. Shawn Spencer pretends to be a psychic for fun and profit. He and his sidekick Gus have wacky adventures while helping out the local police department.


As you can probably guess, Psych is as light as Profiler is dark. Mentalist falls right in the middle, combining the Tortured Soul routine (in the style of Dr. Waters) with a touch of whimsy (a la Mr. Spencer). It also reminds me a bit of Dexter, which to me is the gold standard of mixing the horrific with the humorous.

Honestly, I was a bit disappointed that Mentalist wasn't something New and Exciting. Then again, how many original ideas can there possibly be for a crime procedural? Still, I remain hopeful. There is definite potential for Simon Baker, Robin Tunney (who plays the lead FBI Agent/potential love interest) and Co to elevate this show above its somewhat formulaic beginnings. So keep your wits about you, Mentalist. You're on notice.

Appointment TV - can I get a rain check?

"Come over to my house Thursday," my friend says with a smile. "It's my birthday, and there will be wine and cake. Lots of cake."

"No can do," I reply. "Ugly Betty season three premiere."

MC wants to see Betty and Daniel get together in the end.
I'd rather see rocks fall and everybody die.

Obviously, we here at TV Sluts take a certain pride in our obsession with all thing televised. But what's a blogger to do when Real Life attempts to encroach on our precious Appointment Television? There are several ways of dealing with this - obviously, there's the frank rejection (demonstrated above). A bold move, but unlikely to help you make friends and influence people. Then there's the equivocation: "I've got ... something ... going on until 9pm. Is it OK if I come a little late?" Of course this can lead to awkward questions, like "where are you going?" and "can I come, too?" Thankfully, there's another solution for those of us without a TiVo/DVR - online episodes.

Personally, I can't handle but two or three Appointment Television shows - this season, it's Heroes, Pushing Daisies, and Ugly Betty. But I also want to watch House, M.D. and The Mentalist (see Simon Baker below .... *drool*). There may be any number of shows that pique my interest without fitting my schedule. And I would invest in a DVR, except then I would be watching too much TV (if such a thing can be imagined).

You may recognize him from The Guardian or Something New.

Luckily for me, shows are getting smarter about online content. It used to be you had to wait several days for a new episode to be posted - several anxious days spent with fingers in your ears, eyes shut tight, muttering "no spoilers, no spoilers, no spoilers." Now (for some shows) you can stream video online almost as soon as the televised broadcast ends. We live in a truly wondrous age.

The real villain is Sendhil's hairstylist

This post contains NO spoilers.

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How cute was the Heroes: Villains season premiere last night? I loved the televised pre-party with the cast - the character clips were good refreshers, and the special effect stuff was pretty darn cool. They even managed to get me interested in the staggering amount of web-based content for the show. It was like the creative team got together after the disasters of last season and said, "Okay, our bad. How can we make it up to you?" The answer, as usual, was MOAR MASI!

He led the crowd in a group, "Yatta!" Adorable.

I did get a bit worried when people kept saying, "you don't need to know everything to enjoy this season." Um, hello? Isn't that what got us into this mess in the first place? I don't want to go through world-building again. You did a great job in the first season. You mucked it up in the second season, trying to reinvent everything and fix what wasn't broken. Let's just move on.

But I was pleasantly surprised (I won't bother to recap, because I'm sure the blogosphere exploded with theories approximately five seconds into the actual episode). We jumped right into the action, got to see most of the main characters, and met a few new characters to boot. Consider this fangirl back on the Heroes bandwagon.

The one disappointment - Mohinder switched from hair gel to shellac.
Seriously, WTF?

Asian Persuasion

Off the top of your head name five Asian protagonists in popular scripted TV today. There's Masi Oka and Sendhil Ramamurthy (two of the multitude of Heroes), Naveed Andrews (though he plays an Arab on Lost), Kal Penn (arguable, since he is a sort of sidekick on House, M.D.), and then... and then...

NO "AND THEN!"*

It's a sad fact that our nation's diversity is not reflected in the faces of our biggest stars. Fault does not rely solely on TV Execs (aka The Man). Many first generation Asian Americans do not consider the fine arts legitimate fields of study. Those of us in the second generation are strongly encouraged to pursue more stable (read: boring) careers. The end result is that there is a dearth of Asian actors. So I perk up whenever I see a TV show has an Asian protagonist. Which is why I was so excited by the previews for Samurai Girl.

Samurai Girl is the story of Heaven Kogo, the 19 year-old adopted daughter of a wealthy Japanese businessman. She comes to America for her arranged marriage to the son of her father's business associate. Though she is hesitant about the marriage, Heaven is reluctant to defy her beloved father. At the ceremony, right before the cup of sake touches her lips, NINJAS ATTACK!


Okay, okay. On the surface, it does sound a little exploitation-y, a little Faster Pussycat, Kill! Kill! And there's no doubt about it - Jamie Chung, who plays Heaven Kogo in the title role, is a stone cold fox. Observe:

Spoiler Alert! She's actually Korean.

But I thought they did a decent job of portraying Japanese rituals/costumes/artifacts, and not just as plot devices or to exoticize the heroine. Heaven is no mere "token." She's got a believable character arc - she starts out a bit silly and kind of a princess, but it works. She evolves as a fighter due to the usual Mystical Destiny dues ex machina, but at that point you're too far gone to care. Or rather, you care too much to go (ba dum chh!). The series is further aided by great supporting actors, creative fight scenes, and a strong plot (complete with pretty twisty twists). The writing improves dramatically from the first episode to the second. Plus, as it stands it's just a miniseries - it doesn't really have enough time to get truly annoying. You can catch the wacky Asian fun this Saturday (Sept 27th), starting at 3pm, on ABC Family.

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*Yes, I realize that the time for Dude, Where's My Car? references has come and gone.

Bon Voyage!

The DVR is emptied, I've set it to record the premieres of all my favorite shows...yep, it must be time to go on vacation! That's right, I'm headed out of town for almost three full weeks, but the other tv sluts will keep you up-to-date on all the latest tv happenings. And there will definitely be plenty to talk about when I get back, what with all the shows premiering while I'm gone.

Show premieres I'm most looking forward to:

Heroes. I need my Sylar fix.

Supernatural. How are they gonna get Dean out of hell?

Pushing Daisies. One word: pie.

I'm also looking forward to see if Fringe improves, and frankly, if it even survives. The premiere ratings were less than stellar (around 9 million), and things are just going to get tougher for it time-slot wise.

Have fun, kids!

The WB is officially Back

Some of you may remember my earlier block about the beta of thewb.com. Well, its been up now for two weeks or so. When I first got the email that it was officially back, I went there right away. It's not quite what I expected but it is so nice. I won't go into all the ins-and-outs of web design. The site is easy to navigate. What really mattered to me, and probably to you, is the shows. Let's face it, the number of shows and the eps for each of those shows were on the lite side during the beta. I'm happy to see that's no longer the case here.

All my favs are here: Angel, Buffy, B5, Firefly, Friends, Smallville and Veronica. If I did not already own all these on DVD then this is where to see them. And of course The OC, Gilmore and Everwood. I had been on an OC kick this summer, waiting for Chuck to return and I get a taste of Gilmore every now-and-then so I was really excited to re-watch Everwood. And am I glad I did.



There's something quite enduring and charming abuot this show. I am almost ashamed because its almost wholesome and I'm afraid I'll never be allowed to blog here again for liking it! At the heart of the show is the father-son relationship and I've never seen it better. Greg Berlanti knows what he's doing. I didn't really know his name until this show. I was vaguely aware he was on Dawson's Creek (I now know he wrote some of my fav eps of that show), and I'm glad I know the name now (Eli Stone anyone?). So far I've only been able to see 6 or 7 of the season 1 eps. They seem to progress through, adding new eps and taking older ones away (there are some season 4 eps up, so I have yet to figure out the rhyme or reason of this site), but I heartily recommend checking it out now. I am probably more eager to get to season 2 - since right now only season 1 is available on DVD (so I could Netlfix if I really wanted).

Time to check out what else The WB has to offer. Oh, and I should get around to watching Fringe shouldn't I?

First Impressions: Fringe

Ok, let's just get this out of the way.

AHHHH! PACEY!!!!!! You're back!!1!!

Just needed to get that off my chest. It should not come as a surprise that I was a big Pacey fan, back when Joshua Jackson was making a splash as a loquacious teen on Dawson's Creek.

I had heard good rumblings about Fringe. After all it's from J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias) so you know it will be brilliant and somewhat effed up. And turns out, I was right and I really like it. Although I wasn't sure at first. The first 40 minutes were a little "meh," but once the whole cast was assembled and we saw some hints of an arc for the show (what's "the pattern?"), it really took off and I got interested.

Here's the official description:

When an international flight lands at Boston's Logan Airport with no signs of life, FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) is called in to investigate as part of an inter-agency task force. After her partner, Special Agent John Scott (Mark Valley), is nearly killed during the investigation, a desperate Olivia searches frantically for someone to help, leading her to Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), our generation's Einstein. There's only one catch: he's been institutionalized for the last 17 years, and the only way to question him requires pulling his estranged son Peter (Joshua Jackson) in to help.

When Olivia's investigation leads to multi-billion dollar corporation Massive Dynamic and its manipulative corporate executive, Nina Sharp (Blair Brown), our unlikely trio, along with Department of Homeland Security Agent Phillip Boyles (Lance Reddick) and FBI Agents Charlie Francis (Kirk Acevedo) and Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole), will discover that what happened on Flight 627 is only a small piece of a larger, more shocking truth.

The lead character, Olivia, is played by a chick who could be Cate Blanchett's younger sister, and also resembles Jennifer Garner enough to make me think I am watching a slightly less complicated Alias. Other than that, she didn't make a huge impression. But of course it's good to see my man Pacey, er Joshua Jackson, again.

Pacey, I missed you! How is it you look exactly the same now as you did 10 years ago?

A big surprise for me was seeing John Noble playing Pacey's crazy father (you might remember him from The Lord of the Rings when he played an, um, crazy father). Noble lends a certain gravitas to the cast, and a touch of whimsy. He made my laugh when he noted that Spongebob Squarepants was "surprisingly profound for a narrative about a sponge." And since he's playing a guy who has been locked up in an asylum for 17 years, I'm willing to buy that he has certain eccentricities.

The pilot episode ended with a big twist, which I won't ruin here, but I will definitely be making this one a keeper. I have a feeling that the show will only improve when it settles into it's normal formula, where the team investigates/solves cases involving various aspects of "fringe" science.

Did I mention that there's a cow? Her name is Jean.

Californication

If read this blog, you know I love David Duchovny. As in, loooooove David Duchovny. The X-Files was my first fandom and David Duchovny was pretty much my first celebrity crush. Also, please bear in mind that I was 13 when the show started. The perfect age for crushing.

So I approached Californication with trepidation. My impression of the show from hearing people talk about it/read about it was that DD played a character whose sole purpose was sleeping around with other women. While the prospect of seeing DD naked was appealing, the show sounded like it might be light on plot. Also, I was concerned that DD could not play a character other than Mulder, I mean I love him, but that mumbly swagger thing seemed to be his schtick.

Yeah, I was pretty much wrong.

While DD does the mumble and swagger thing, Hank is definitely a new and distinct character. He's more unhinged, loopy, and mercurial than Mulder.

The central conceit of the show is that Hank is a brilliant novelist (in the vein of Chuck Palahniuk and Kurt Vonnegut) but since his ex-wife, though technically they never married, and mother of his daughter, Becca, left him, he has not been able to write. But he has been able to have sex with many random women. But he's not a misogynist or anything, in fact, usually the women seduce him. And let's be honest, it's DD, who wouldn't want to hit that? (And yes, I know he is now in rehab for sex addiction, how bummed am I that I didn't meet him the day before he sought treatment??) Despite all these random hook-ups, Hank's goal is getting back his ex-gf, who is now engaged to be married to another man.

For me, the best part of the show is Hank's interaction with his 12 year old daughter. She's smart, is lead singer of a rock band, and pretty much takes everything in stride. Oh, and she doesn't like it when people touch her hair. Yeah, she knows her Dad is fucked up, but she loves him anyway. And that's life, you know?

There are, of course, a myriad of other wacky supporting characters, including Hank's best friend and agent played by Charlie Runkle (whom you will recognize from Sex and the City as Charlotte's Jewish husband), but Hank is the real star of the show. Frankly, the subplots involving the other characters are kinda boring.

And while the show is often very very funny, I would not say it's a comedy. Television has really embraced shows that fall into the dramedy category lately (like Weeds, and the originator of the genre, Ally McBeal), and this show for me is firmly entrenched in that tradition. Californication is capable of portraying strong human emotions when it comes to love and sex, and it all feels very genuine. All in all, I really liked it, more than I was expecting, and I eagerly look forward to the second season, which I believe is starting very soon. Too bad I don't have Showtime. *sigh*

Favorite quote from the season 1 finale "The Last Waltz"

Hank: "Becca got her period."
Ex-wife: "What!? She did!"
Hank: "Makes perfect sense it would happen on my watch, doesn't it?"
Ex-wife: Oh my God! How is she? What did you do?"
Hank (very proud of himself): "What do you think I did? I handled the fuck out of that shit."

90210h, please don't hate me, but I loved this show.

Man, was I wrong. It wasn't until the day before yesterday that I even decided to WATCH the new 90210. I didn't really enjoy the first incarnation of the show (watched a few seasons back in the day during middle school, but could not get past the spandex), and I went into it ready to hate it. I wanted to mock the car wreck. To laugh at the terrible acting.

But you guys I kind of loved it.

I mean, not like the way I love Jon Stewart or Heroes or Lost or Doctor Who. But I love it the way I love America's Next Top Model. You know, the trashy, guilty pleasure type of love.

I should have known this was not going to be the crap-fest I expected when I saw that Rob Thomas was listed in the credits (oh, he who created Veronica Mars and owns my soul). I remember hearing months ago that he was working on the pilot script, but when he left, I figured that meant nothing could save this show.

But I was wrong.

I mean, it's not high art, but for pure escapism, I loved it. The little nods to the original show (there's a girl named Hannah Zuckerman! And they joke about how she's 30! HAHAHAHA. Meh.) were kinda lame, but I was surprised by how cool it was to see The Peach Pit and Kelly and Brenda again. All the characters were fleshed out and felt real, even the typical high school archetypes. The corn-fed country girl is actually kinda ballsy and awesome, the "mean" girl isn't a complete and total bitch, the jock might actually have a soul, etc. etc. It was surprising. And the alcoholic tell-it-like-it-is grandmother is made of awesome.

I also liked how the show didn't just concentrate on the young kids. I know CW is chasing that young demographic, but the adult characters had almost equal screentime , and had interesting stories of their own. I liked seeing how the Dad had to balance being a father and being the principal. Lori Loughlin has yet to do anything actually interesting, but she seems like a pretty cool Mom. And of course there is Mr. Matthews.

If my English teacher looked like this, I never would have skipped. Hellooooooo, nurse.

I'm just saying it's awfully nice of them to provide some eye candy for those of us who are not adolescents. At least not physically.

So, that's it, you guys. I'm hooked. Sigh. Why did CW have to go and actually make this show good?? Damn them.

Nevermind.

So after reading this interview that TWOP did with Zach Morris, er, Mark Paul Gosselaar, I have changed my mind.

I will not give TNT's Raising the Bar a look, and I will say now that Mark Paul sounds like a total tool.

That sound you hear? My tween heart breaking because it seems Zach is truly lost to us forever.

Oh, and Mark Paul? The hair is not "love it or hate it." It is just hate it. HATE.

Actually, I don't want my MTV.

Defamer has a really great article about how people who put MTV on the map wouldn't be allowed anywhere near the channel these days. The channel that once stood for youth counter-culture has now become a Gomorrah of youthful excess. My Super Sweet 16, anyone?

I'm not the first person to sit around and bitch about how MTV doesn't show videos anymore, how The Real World has become completely disgusting, and how the channel has basically become the home of male and female alcoholic fame-seeking whores, but that doesn't change the fact that it kind of sucks. I used to stay up late and watch Headbanger's Ball and rush home after school for TRL. Guess those days are gone.

Anyway, sitting around and moping won't change anything. I guess I'll just sit back and watch The Hills.

Oh, old school MTV, where did you go?

Veronica Mars movie??

Whatever Rob Thomas is selling, I'm buying.

If this actually happens, I will drop to my knees and become a devotee of the Rob Thomas 4EVR religion. But I think it might turn out to be nothing. But hope springs eternal!

Come back, Veronica!


And I suppose you could bring Logan along too. Just for old time's sake.

But seriously, look at the hair.

I first saw an ad for TNT's new legal drama, Raising the Bar, in a movie theatre before seeing The X-Files. Or as I like to call it, "I don't care how lame the plot is, David Duchovny is still pretty so leave me alone. Oh, and yay Skinner!"

I can objectively tell you that this looks like it will be a good show. It has J. August Richards from Angel, Jane Kaczmerek from Malcom in the Middle (and is also lucky enough to be married to Bradley Whitford), Gloria Reuben from E.R., etc. etc. etc. It appears to follow in the vein of Law and Order with a focus on the legal side, and I am sure it will be well-written and well-acted.

But none of these things were on my mind when I saw the trailer in the movie theatre. Because the first thing that ran through my mind was, "that man has the worst hair I ever seen." After snickering to myself about the supposed leading man's hair, I was hit with a lightning bolt revelation.

The leading man, he of the terrible coif, was none other than Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Also known as Zach Morris.

I was shocked. "Zach! What have they DONE to you?" I cried. I literally shouted it out in a crowded movie theater. People around me gasped and began whispering, asking if it really was Zach Morris. And the consensus was yes, it was.

How bad is it? Observe.

Bad.

It's not a mullet, but it's just....lank and long and it hangs there on his face. It looks like the haircut some young starlet has in a movie before she gets it styled, takes off her glasses, and reveals herself as a hottie and everyone is SO SURPRISED, because girls who wear glasses can never be attractive. It's just....bad. No, it's a travesty, a sin, an abomination. TNT has taken the man who epitomized cool for an entire generation and made him look ridiculous.

I'm not saying I won't watch the show, but it's going to be difficult to get past the hair. Oh, and that line in the commercial where he's in some dude's face and goes, "you really going to hit a lawyer?" is REALLY awful. Of course he is going to hit a lawyer, most people WANT to hit a lawyer. But I do want to give the show a chance.

But seriously, look at the hair. File this one under, what were they thinking??

"Hey! It's Danny Tanner!"

Last night's Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget paralleled the man's career - it oscillated wildly between the barely funny and the barely televisable. Ba-dum chh! Seriously, what more can you say about a man who's such a sell-out that he did Full House for eight seasons AND such a pervert that his version of The Aristocrats is considered one of the dirtiest jokes of all time? Quite a lot, apparently.

Saget, relaxing at ... wait, WTF is going on here?

First of all, I've got to give John Stamos credit - as Roast Master, he held his own against people that were much, much, much funnier than him. Dave Coulier had the sense to stay away, though he did show up in the audience. He had this to say: "I wish I was roasting Saget - on spit in my backyard. Just pouring soup over him, and listening to him scream."

Oh, Uncle Joey... Cut. It. Out!

My favorites of the night were Cloris Leachman, Brian Posehn, and Norm MacDonald. I heart Leachman because she took the "you're old" jokes so well. Plus, she totally made out with Stamos on stage. I so want to be her when I grow up. And I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Posehn - he is the most unfortunate looking person I've ever seen. When you look like that, you have two options in life: comedian and serial killer. He took the high road.

Yikes.

But MacDonald stole the show - during the other comedian's roasts he was reading the sports section or doing a crossword. Every time someone insulted him, he would look up and cock his head as if to say, 'sorry, were you talking to me?' When it was his turn, he told some of the least funny jokes I have ever heard in my life.

See for yourself ... it's a freaking train wreck.

The reception of MacDonald's roast was lukewarm at best - the audience didn't "get" it. In my opinion, MacDonald was doing a send up of the cheesy humor so popular in Full House and America's Funniest Home Videos. It might have helped if he had broken character to explain himself, but MacDonald is a better performer than that. I honestly think he doesn't care if people are laughing at his jokes - he knows what's funny, he doesn't need your validation or approval! Which is probably why his career has been in the toilet for over a decade. Sorry, Norm - if you didn't want to pander to the masses, perhaps you should have stayed out of showbiz.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the roast. All of the comedians were funny, and some were hilarious. There were even a few tender moments and lots of hugs - you got the impression that Saget was thrilled to be there. Even if it was just so he could get up on national television and tell us all to go f*** ourselves.

I think we learned an important lesson today, kids.
Bob Saget's a douchebag.

Check it out online or Tuesday at 10pm on Comedy Central.

Oddly enough, they are kind of marvelous.

My job is stressful, so when I come home I immediately change into jeans (or, depending on how bad they day was, pajamas) and park it on the couch. I then proceed to channel surf until I'm ready to act like a human being. Obviously, I'm not looking for anything that requires too much thought. No crime procedurals, no trivia-based game shows, no sports or news. I want drivel - pure, simple, brain-rotting drivel. It was during one such evening that, while trolling the dregs of pre-prime time television, I was reeled in by The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack.

Okay, no more nautical terms, I swear.

This is the story of Flapjack, a young boy raised by (and inside of) an over-protective whale named Bubbie. One day, they rescue a self-styled "adventurer" named Captain K'nuckles. Flapjack idolizes K'nuckles, and convinces Bubbie to aid them in a quest for Candied Island (pictured below). Pretty standard fair for a cartoon show, right? WRONG.


The beauty of Marvelous Misadventures is its unique humor. Most of it isn't funny "ha ha," more funny "um...what?" For example, on Flapjack's birthday Bubbie presents him with a wrapped gift. When he opens it, we see inside as a heavenly chorus sings, "it's a pencil!" Flapjack laughs maniacally, thanks Bubbie, and uses the pencil to draw a face on his foot. His foot tells him that it wants to go for a swim, and he plunges it into the water. There, his foot meets a fish and they begin to dance a waltz. We pan back up to Flapjack, who is staring into space and humming a romantic tune. And while none these individual things was enough to make me laugh, reflecting back on the sheer absurdity of this scene cracked me up. Even now, writing about it, I've got a huge smile on my face.

It's a pencil!

The absurdity of the trio of main characters is demonstrated visually by their contrast with the dull tones of their home port, Stormalong. Flapjack has blond hair, a red striped shirt and bright blue pants and shoes. K'nuckles face is a dark blue, his nose is orange, and he wears a red hat and coat. Bubbie looks a bit like a giant speech bubble. Just about everyone and everything else else in the series is drawn in a more realistic style (sometimes using stop-motion), in various shades of brown. It's a great cue that, even within their own cartoon world, our heroes are patently ridiculous.


Finding this show was like uncovering buried treasure in my backyard. It has almost approached the level of Appointment Television for me - if it's on, I'll be watching. As Flapjack would say, "ADVENTURE! Nyahahahahaha."

Besides, you know a show is amazing when, six weeks since it first aired, it already has a fansite.

Olympic Fever!

Every time the Olympics start, I try to adopt a blase attitude. And then I get caught up in it. I'm talking perched on the edge of the couch, hands clutched over mouth, breath being held, waiting for that last US men's gymnastic high bar routine. That was me this evening, when I got from work and was watching to see how the team all-around had ended up. I couldn't stay up late enough to watch it (since it ended at 12:30 in the freakin morning), and I didn't have enough time this morning to get through it all. I had to remain spoiler-free all day, and wait to watch the results on my DVR.

(Side note: DVR has really changed the way I watch the Olympics. I used to get so frustrated with the way NBC switched back and forth between different events, meaning I have to watch like an hour of equestrian or something else totally random to get to the good stuff, like synchronized diving. Yes, I like synchronized diving. Shut it.)

(Second side note: the good thing about having to watch random Olympic shit is that you see...well, random Olympic shit. I got to see the finer points of fencing the other day! I thought those swords were supposed to be tipped, but those chicks were screaming like they HURT. Which = awesome.)

And then I got to watch it the men's gymnastics! There was fist-pumping and chanting of U-S-A involved, is all I'll say. From me, sitting alone on my couch. Hey, bronze is nothing to sneeze at.

I can't imagine how into it I am going to be when we get to women's gymnastics or even Michael Phelps's last swim, when he could become the most decorated Olympian EVER.

U-S-A! U-S-A!

Gloria Steinem, please don't hate me

I'm not saying that the Playboy magazine and the culture built around it aren't outdated at best and misogynist at worst. That is not in question. Neither is the fact that reality TV may be the first sign of the apocalypse, the harbinger of our doom. You'll never hear me say otherwise. But I do wonder if liking the show The Girls Next Door (about the wacky adventures of Hugh Hefner's three girlfriends) makes me a bad person.

Let me tell you what I like about the show: Bridget.


Sure she's blonde and a bit spacey. But don't you dare call her stupid - she's got a Master's Degree (admittedly in Communication), and is clearly doing this whole Playboy thing to advance her career. The fact of the matter is that, in America today, celebrity is a commodity. Bridget is all about building her portfolio. Besides, she's not anorexic like some models (actually, none of the girlfriends look as if they starve themselves). Hell, I'd date her ... until her thirst for fame and fortune became overwhelming, and we would be forced to part ways.

I can also tolerate Holly, the girlfriend-in-chief. It seems like she honestly loves Hef - creepy, yet endearing. Also, she rules that house with an iron fist. Respect. Kendra, on the other hand... Ugh, that girl is so trashy, and irritating. At the same time, I feel sorry for her. She's the red-headed stepchild of the group (no offense to red-heads in general, MC). By acting so uncouth, she can pretend that being different from the other girls is a choice and not an inherent character trait. Good luck with that.

Bottom line, you have to buy into the fantasy lifestyle. The women of the Playboy mansion obviously don't feel objectified. They live in a castle surrounded by friends, a doting father figure boyfriend, and all the lavish social events they can handle. Watching this show is the equivalent of a live-action Barbie Dream House... all the fun of being wealthy without the tedious parts where you have to earn the money.


You might argue that The Girls Next Door is just an excuse to show naked ladies on television in the middle of the day. Somehow, I can't see a man sitting through thirty minutes of girly chatter in order to see four seconds of digitally-censored boobies. I'm forced to conclude that the target audience for this show isn't pervy old men sitting alone on their couches in stained undershirts, eating directly from peanut butter jars. Rather, The Girls Next Door is intended to be enjoyed by any and all watchers of reality television (including a nerdy third-wave feminist who overthinks everything, including her TV preferences).

And here's the actual Olympic look....

Designed by Ralph Lauren, here is what the actual Olympians wore in today's Opening Ceremonies. It's ok. No cowboy hats (thank god), and I guess newsboy hats are considered American. It's very Ralph Lauren, so I guess it's very American. You would think we all attended prep school and went sailing in the afternoons. But why does the Olympic uniform always include some stupid scarf for the women? GOD.

I still like Leanne's look for Project Runway better.

FINALLY

This week, I finally felt like Project Runway got back on track. Not that it was "off track" really, but it just didn't feel like the PR we know and love. I blame the contestants, mostly because they seem far too aware they are on a television show and want to create a "character," but also because they are not able to look beyond their own design perspective and put some real creative stuff on the runway.

Case in point: Jennifer. She is girly, and feminine. But the challenge was to create something for a female Olympic athlete! Who are, let's face it, butch. And also representing America. So what about this says Olympics?

Answer: nothing.

But what was great, is that the judges did not let her get away with it. Their critique was really on point this episode, and Jennifer went bye bye.

The winning look was cute and chic, but my favorite was actually Leanne's. I know it's totally impractical for China in August, but I just loved it.

It just looks like classic American sportswear, "chilling at the country club after playing tennis" to me.

So welcome back PR, I missed you!

PS: I have now decided that Blayne must go. As soon as possible. 1) He dissed The Beatles and didn't even know what Tim meant when he described something as too "Sergeant Pepperish." 2) He is making "holla at your boy" a phrase. So he must die. Stop trying to make "fetch" happen, Gretchen!

Avatar: The Last Airbender

A diverse, politically-charged world. A sweeping story line. Complex characters with compelling motivations. Romance. Intrigue. Betrayal. Destiny. And here's the angst-ridden hero ... and his flying monkey.


Avatar: The Last Airbender is somewhat unique amongst cartoons because it gives kids some credit. Kids can understand convoluted story lines - their attention to minute details that only later become crucial plot points is astounding. They can handle ambiguous morality and divided loyalty. They can even appreciate the Buddhist principles that are the driving force of many of the hero's actions, while still enjoying the elaborately choreographed fight scenes that set Avatar apart. Kids are flexible - they can hold more than one thought in their head at a time.

Sorry, what?

Beyond that, the Avatar universe is appealing because it plays by its own rules. There are four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. Certain people are born with the ability to "bend" a particular element to their will. The Avatar is the only person in the world who can master all four elements, and restore balance to a world gone mad. Even with these fantastical concepts, there are no shortcuts or obvious plot holes in the series. And when the writers break with the traditional ideas of "bending," they do it in a way that stays true to the original concept. Deep down, all kids crave structure, and Avatar provides it in spades.

Not that the show takes itself too seriously, which is always important in children's programming. In my humble opinion, Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the best cartoons on the market today. And with the closing of canon (in the form of a made-for-TV movie called Sozin's Comet: The Final Battle), now is the perfect time to sit down with a bucket of popcorn, the Avatar DVDs, and a precocious eight year-old to explain it all.

Even the pirates make sense, in context.

Puppy Love

Some people think that the best part of The Super Bowl is the match-up between the two best football teams. Others think it's the commercials. And I suppose there are those who think it's the show that airs AFTER the game, when the hosting network rolls out it's most creative and explosive episode of a prime-time hit.

All those people are wrong.

The real best thing about The Super Bowl is that it means Animal Planet will be airing Puppy Bowl. Which is the most entertaining, cutest, most awesome thing ever. And now, in honor of the Olympics, Animal Planet is rolling out:

Puppy Games.

Competitive cuteness! With an initial airing on August 8, Animal Planet promises that we will get sports ranging from "swimming to gymnastics."

Puppy gymnastics???? *dies of cuteness*

For my money, the puppy to watch is Mojo, the beagle, bred in England. But I am a sucker for beagles. Also looking promising is Abby, the maltese. But these bitches better all bring it. I will definitely be watching.