Top fall comedy premiere- Raising Hope on FOX!

Fall Comedy Premiere Reviews


ABC
Modern Family
Wednesdays at 9 PM


  

Modern Family starts out with a funny episode about the passage of time, and trying to recapture it. Phil, Gloria, and Mitchell had some funny moments in this episode. The show seems to have grown up a little bit since it began a year ago, and I have grown to like it more and more, the more I watch it. The humor never seems telegraphed or forced, even though some of the things that happen are a little extreme.



This is one of the best comedies of 2009, and it is still just as funny. The only shows that I think are funnier are The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother, which are focused on a different demographic. None of this years new comedies are as funn as Modern Family so far, though they certainly have potential.


Rating: B+



Cougar Town
Wednesdays at 9:30 PM

This first episode of season 2 guest starts the second of Courtney Cox's Friends alum. In the first season it was Lisa Kudrow, and this episode it is Jennifer Anniston, playing Jules' new therapist, Glenn. Glenn helps Jules understand why Grayson needs some time without her. Elle helps her realize that Glenn is just as crazy as the rest of them.

Laurie and Travis make a bet to see who can stay up longer, further cementing their sibling-like relationship, in one of the most entertaining moments in the episode.

Bobby has trouble with Grayson and Jules' relationship, while Grayson and Bobby further develop their uneasy friendship.

This show is entertaining from one episode to the next, without exception. It has evolved so far beyond its premise that it no longer resembles the show it first set out to be. That is one of it's strengths, as the show it set out to be be was a tired one note joke, and this show is anything but.

Rating: A-

NBC
Outsourced
Thursdays 9:30 PM

One of my friends suggested that I watch NBC's new comedy Outsourced, and I tried to like it, I really did. The thing is, I live in America, as do most of the people watching the show, and I find it relatively offensive to spend an entire 30 minutes go back and forth between making fun of Indian culture, food etc. and making fun of American culture, food, etc.



Its hard to decide what the target audience for a show like this is – I chuckled once or twice, but most of the time, making fun of the relative frivolity and freedom of American culture was annoying more than upsetting.



Only one of the characters stood out in my mind – but I honestly couldn't even tell you his name. The premise has legs, but the writing needs some tweaking, and many fewer jokes making fun of American and Indian culture. The culture clash should create the humor instead of blatantly making fun of one or the other.



Rating: C-



FOX
Raising Hope
Tuesdays at 9:00 PM

I wasn't looking forward to watching this show, because the premise didn't “grab” me. Once I started watching the show though, I was interested. Like Greg Garcia's other show, My Name is Earl, the show is grungy, realistic, and fun. It is funny, perhaps the funniest show I've seen this year. Some of the funniest characters in the first episode got minimal screen time, but I'm sure that'll change throughout the rest of the season.

Jimmy Chance had a one night stand, and the next morning we find out she's a murderer. The Chance family sends her back to prison, and 9 months later we find out the one night stand had a baby. Soon the mother is out of the picture, and Jimmy is left with a baby girl, named “Princess Beyonce” by her mother. The baby is soon renamed “Hope” and Jimmy decides to keep her, after the disagreement of his entire family, who can barely afford to take care of themselves.
Martha Plimpton plays Jimmy's mother Virginia, and she is one of the strong points of the show. Also, his grandmother is played by Cloris Leachman, and she steals every scene as the often senile old woman. I wish we could see more of her, and hope we do. The other character I hoped to see more of was the Grocery store worker, and potential love interest for Jimmy, Sabrina (Shannon Woodward), whose scenes were quirky and funny.



The show is sweet and funny, and some of the scenes with the baby make me laugh because Jimmy seems to be just as clueless about how to raise a baby as any first time parent (more so than some). Some of the comedy is a little bit exaggerated, and the sight gags are funny, especially the one with the kiss (I won't go into detail, but I squirmed).



I liked this show and thought it was cute, endearing, and funny. The cast is great, and the chemistry is there. I hope Hope is around for a long time.

Rating: A-






CBS
Mike & Molly
Mondays at 9:30 PM

Mike & Molly follows two fat people, Mike Biggs, a police officer looking to lose weight, and Molly Flynn, a fourth-grade teacher. They meet at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting, they make a connection, though they fail to make a date. They then meet again later, and Mike finally has the confidence to ask her out.


The show has its funny moments, and the supporting cast so far seems pretty entertaining, but there were just too many fat jokes. The show is about fat people, we get it (I mean his name is Mike Biggs, seriously?) - the show is about fat people going to Overeaters anonymous. The fat jokes should be well placed and littered infrequently thought the episode, but I thought the pilot was thin on plot with way too many fat jokes.
I'm still not sure where this show is going, I'm not sure what tension here is, since we know they'll end up together (The show IS called Mike & Molly after all) . I'll stick around because I like what I've seen of the characters and the cast, but the writing has to improve, and they have to work on their jokes.



I'll be around for another episode or two, but there better be something in those episodes to keep me around.

Rating: B-

This is No Ordinary Show!

No Ordinary Family

 

 Tuesdays at 8 pm

ABC

 
I have been waiting for the premiere of No Ordinary Family on ABC since I heard about it this past summer.  It has gotten quite a bit of advertising, and has grown quite a bit of buzz over the past few months.  Many people consider it the spiritual successor to NBC's Heroes, which was canceled last spring after 4 seasons.

There aren't a whole lot of similarities between the two shows though other than the fact that both shows star people with superpowers.  I imagine NBC's mid-season replacement show The Cape is more likely to be heroes spiritual successor in genre as well as tone, but time will tell.

In the meantime, No Ordinary Family seems like it is going to be a very character-based, family-oriented show.  It is sort-of like a live-action version of The Incredibles, but instead of comedy and light-hearted fun, this will be a dramady (drama+comedy) complete with both humorous moments and character-based drama.


The show is about Jim and Stephanie Powell and their kids Daphne and JJ.Their lives have caused them to feel disconnected from one another until they go on a vacation to Brazil, and get in a plane crash in the Amazon.  Their plane crashes into the Amazon, and they land in glowing green water.  When they return home they find out that they all have gained superpowers - Jim is super-strong, near invulnerable, and can leap, Stephanie has gained super-speed, Daphne has gained the ability to hear other people's thoughts, and JJ, who previously had learning disabilities, now has super-intelligence.

I was under the impression that they would be the only super-powered people on the show, but was pleasantly surprised to see at least one more in the pilot, and I imagine there'll be more to come.

The pilot begins with the plane crash and then shows us how they developed their powers.  The show is not above turning the usual comic conventions on their ears, such as invulnerability, "leaping tall buildings in a single bound", etc. as well as containing many Easter eggs for comic book and superhero fans.  It seems like the writers are having a lot of fun with the show, it's characters, and the genre as a whole.

The pilot is a lot like the first issues of a comic book in that it explains the heroes origins, so the tone and pacing of the first episode is likely to be different then the rest of the episodes, but if the first episode is any indication, it looks like this show is going to be a lot of fun. 

Overall I enjoyed the episode quite a bit, and can't wait for the rest of the season.  This is one of the few new hour-long TV shows I will be watching this season (The other are The Cape and The Event).  The Cape doesn't start until mid-season, and I haven't yet watched The Event but as long as the writing stays as strong, intelligent, and funny as the first episode, I think it is safe to say this is one of the best new TV Shows of the season.

Rating: A

Smallville: Season 9 - The right way to do Superhero TV

Smallville: Season 9

CW

Fridays at 8 pm

Smallville has been on for nine seasons, as a modern reinterpretation of the Superman mythology. It has gone through it's ups and downs, from the first few seasons
“Krypto-freak of the Week” format to where it stands now. The show stands to break the record for the longest running science fiction in the US series as it begins its 10th (and final) season this fall.

The chemistry between Clark Kent (Tom Welling) and Lois Lane (Erica Durance) is electric, and shows in every scene they share. At first, I did not like Erica's take on Lois Lane, but she has made the role her own, and it doesn't show any more than in this season.

Every season has characters and mythology from the Superman and DC Comics universe. This season is no exception, with the inclusion of Metallo (Brian Austin Green) the Wonder Twins (David Gallagher and Allison Scagliotti), Hawkman (Michael Shanks), Doctor Fate (Brent Stait), Stargirl (Britt Irvine) and Amanda Waller of Checkmate (Pam Grier), Zod (Callum Blue) and the return of fan favorite heroes Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Cyborg.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the two hour episode, Absolute Justice, which felt more like a Smallville movie than an episode.  It related the history of the Justice Society of America and introduced them to Clark and his band of heroes.  The episode was well done, and kept the introductions grounded in realiy more than one would suspect for a bunch of heroes with such complicated histories and outlandish costumes.  Just enough of the introduced heroes origins was explained, but not too much to overshadow the action of the story.  The plot stood on it's own, while also introducting the viewer to the reoccuring government agency Checkmate, which will be used for the rest of the season, and probably well into Season 10.

Clark and Oliver (Green Arrow) come closer than ever this season to forming the Justice League, thanks in no small part to the bond shared by the members of the Justice Scoiety in the Absolute Justice episode.  By the end of the season you can see the pieces falling into place for the Justice League in Season 10. There has always been an unspoken rule for Clark Kent on Smallville, to keep the show grounded - “no tights, no flights”, and we see in the finale of season 9, that rule may now be off the table as the show heads to its conclusion.

The Clark Kent from Smallville is much different than the Clark Kent from the comics, perhaps more jaded, but still heroic, but if you do not compare Smallville to the comics, the show shines as an example of how to do superhero television show right, while still using costumes and superpowers and keeping the show heavily grounded in reality.

Ever since Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) left the show (after season 7), the show has gone through a modest decrease in enjoyability. This season seems to have returned to its former glory, being the most enjoyable season of the show since season 7. I still look forward to Lex's return in some form or another in Season 10, as he is certainly one of the most important characters in the Superman mythology.

Smallville: Season 9

4 ½ stars out of 5

Fringe Science and Chemistry both make Fringe Season 2 a blast

Fringe: Season 2

FOX

Thursdays, 9 PM

Fringe is an interesting show, part science fiction drama and part police procedural, the first season was somewhat of a shock to me. I do not like police shows as a general rule, but this show is different. The show was created by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and J. J. Abrams ( creator of Felicity, Lost, Undercovers, and producer of Star Trek and Cloverfield).

The show follows the FBI's “Fringe” division based in Boston, MA (Go Boston!). The team of FBI agent Olivia Dunham(Anna Torv), mad scientist Dr. Walter Bishop(John Noble), and his son Peter Bishop(Joshua Jackson) investigates strange unexplainable incidents using “fringe science”. In the first season we learn these occurrences are related to previous experiments done when Dr. Bishop was young, and possibly to an alternate universe.

This season we learn more about this “alternate universe” and about the shape-shifters that we learned in the first season are coming from this universe. We also learn the truth about who Peter is. Leonard Nimoy guest starts in this season, as well as the first, as Dr. Bishop's previous partner, William Bell.

In this season, we learn more about the alternate universe, and we actually go there. We find out the truth about what happened to Peter when he was a child, and we meet the man pulling the strings from the other dimension.

The end of season cliffhanger was fairly obvious to me, and one I wasn't too impressed by. The same plot is often used in alternate universe shows (such as Sliders), and is not original in the least. Time will tell in Season 3 if it goes somewhere new.

The core cast of this show shares unequaled chemistry, the characters of Dr. Bishop, Peter, and Olivia are human, complicated, and extremely well acted. Dr. Bishop's helpless, confused, crazy, mad scientist is among the most heartwarming characters in modern television who at times seems innocent and naïve and at other times selfish and amoral.

The beauty of this show is that unlike other science fiction dramas, you can catch an episode here and an episode there, and you will not feel lost.

Fringe: Season 2
3 ½ stars out of 5

True Blood Season 3: Out with a Wimper

True Blood: Season 3

HBO

If you haven't watched the season finale, do not read!!

This was the season that was going to take True Blood to new levels of greatness – it's popularity has never been higher, and vamp-omania was still sky high. The season started out on a high note with the introduction of the werewolves including new cast member Alcide (Joe Manganiello), as well as Crystal Norris(Lindsay Pulsipher) and her were-panther family.

The mysteries surrounding Bill's arrival in Bon Temps and of Sookie's lineage are a major part of this season's plot. We eventually find out that Bill is not exactly who he says he is, and Sookie and he have a rough patch this season, which ends badly for Bill. Sookie s finally revealed to be part fairy. To quote Sookie Stackhouse, “I'm a fairy? How f**kin lame!”

Tara was treated very badly this season by vampire Franklin Mott(James Frain), leading her at the end of the season to be suspect of any supernatural creatures (besides Sookie) even going to far as to walking out on Sam when she find out what he is. Tara sure has been mistreated the last two seasons – first by Mary Anne and then by Franklin. She has got to be a severely damaged person by now, and it shows.

Jessica and Hoyt start out the season no longer a couple, but by the end of the season are a couple again, although it looks like Hoyt will have some resistance to this relationship next season as we saw his mother purchasing a shotgun.

Lafayette has an interesting character arc this season as he begins the season getting over the torture he endured from Eric Northman for selling V, and this season he is asked by Eric to sell V. Later we meet his mother Ruby Jean Reynolds (Alfre Woodard) in the hospital being taken care of by her nurse Jesus Velasquez (Kevin Alejandro). Jesus and Lafayette immediately hit it off, and end up eventually dating. While on V, Jesus and Lafayette have a strange experience, a spiritual history lesson about their heritages, and it seems there is dark magic in both of their histories. As Lafayette comes out of his high, he sees visions of things people want to hide (such as that Jesus is a witch and that Sam has blood on his hands). It will be interesting to see where this plot goes next season, as I imagine witches will be a major part of the next season.

Jason has a small subplot this season, and the payoff (as with Lafayettes storyline) is likely to come next season. Jason decides to become a cop after dealing with the guild of killing Eggs and then blackmails Andy. He catches a drug dealer, and eventually meets Crystal Norris and her family of drug-dealing, white trash, were-panthers. In the end, Crystal's mate Felton kills their father and points the gun at Jason. Crystal leaves with her brother/mate Felton who is about to kill Jason, leaving Jason to take care of Crystal's family of were-panthers.

Arlene finds out she's pregnant this season, and then she realizes the baby is Renee's. She doesn't want to have anything to do with the baby, considering it a “demon child” and tries to get rid of it, but the baby is strong and it is likely she'll have a child next season. This is kind of ridiculous because Renee was not some kind of demon, he was just a man. And yet he still has all this power over Arlene. We'll see whee this plot goes next season.

Sam;s turn this season is a bit unbelievable. He went from the nicest guy on the block for the last two seasons, to a man capable of killing. He met his blood family, including his shape-shifting brother Tommy Mickens. He eventually took Tommy in, because he was being used by his parents to win dog fights. We soon see flash backs to Sam's darker side (something which hadn't emerged through the maenad plot from season 2 or the waitress killer plot from season 1) and find out he killed someone for money. And at the end of season 3, we see him willing to do the same to his (admittedly) trouble-making brother. We don't actually see if he's done it or not (another plot for season four).

Bill and Eric are involved in a number of double crosses this season – they all seem to be designed to protect Sookie, but in the meantime it makes them look like they have gone to the dark side (or in Eric's case, the darker side). They renounce their loyalty to Queen Sophie Ann and join Russell Edgington (Dennis O'Hare), vampire King of Mississippi, who is over 3,000 years old. It is in Mississippi that much of season 3's action takes place.

The majority of the werewolves in season 3 work for Russell, and they were the ones who kidnapped Bill in the season 2 finale. Bill begins working for Russell, as does Eric, until Russell goes over the deep end, killing a news reporter on live TV. Bill and Eric then reveal their true colors, as Bill seeks to protect Sookie, and Eric seeks payback for what Russell and his werewolves did to his (pre-vampire) family over 2,000 years ago. Eric kills his lover, a vampire named Talbot, which sets Russell even farther over the deep end.

There is some fair time spent on Lorena as well this season, including one grotesque sex scene between Bill and Lorene which was more like a beating then sex. He twists her head completely around as he is having sex with her in what I think is one of the most disgusting scenes I've ever sen on TV. Later she is killed by Bill and Sookie as they try to escape Russell's mansion.

In the end, the season went out with a sputter. The best episode, in my opinion, was “I Smell A Rat” which revealed much of the mysteries throughout the season, including Sookie's lineage. In fact, I thought there were perhaps too many reveals in this episode, giving very little time to any of them, and leaving little to be dealt with in later episodes.

The season ending cliffhanger also could have been more effective, as Sookie disappeared with her fairy godmother Claudine. It wasn't the most exciting cliffhanger, nor did it leave me aching for the next season. I am hopeful that the next season will get better – the groundwork was laid out this season for an exciting season four. This season seemed like a “between” season laying the groundwork for some exciting plot twists next season.

This seasons deaths: Cooter, Lorena, Talbot, Franklin Mott

3 fangs out of 5..more questions than answers

Fall TV Schedule

Fall 2010 Premiere Dates 2010*


Monday

8 pm
Chuck (NBC) 9/20/10

9 pm
The Event (NBC) 9/20/10

9:30 pm
Mike & Molly (CBS) 9/20/10

10:00 pm
Weeds (SHOW) currently airing

10:30 pm
The Big C (SHOW) currently airing

Tuesday
8 pm
Glee (FOX) 9/21/10
No Ordinary Family 9/28/10

9 pm
Raising Hope (FOX) 9/21/10


Wednesday

9 pm
Modern Family (ABC) 9/22/10

9:30 pm
Cougartown (ABC) 9/22/10

Thursday

8 pm
The Vampire Diaries (CW) 9/09/10
Big Bang Theory (CBS) 9/23/10

 9 pm
Fringe (FOX) 9/23/10

9:30 pm
Outsourced (NBC) 9/23/10

Friday

8 pm
Smallville (CW) 9/24/10

9 pm
Supernatural (CW) 9/24/10
Eureka (SYFY) TBD

10 pm
Sanctuary (SYFY) 10/15/10

 TBD:
The Cape (NBC) midseason


 Thank Goodness for DVR!!

*includes only television shows I may be following here on my blog

Vampire Diaries: Fang-less Fun

Vampire Diaries: Season 1

DVD Released August 31st, 2010

Thursdays @ 8 pm on CW

The Vampire Diaries is based upon a book series by L.J. Smith.  The TV series was obviously created in a post-Buffy, post-Twilight, post-True Blood world - the vampires are hardly scary, and fangs are rarely seen in the first half of the season.  These are not your fathers vampires - they're moody, broody, and often likeable, even when they're trying to be "evil".

The show revolves around Elaina Gilbert, a high school student in Mystic Falls, Virgina, who falls for Stefan Salvatore, a century old vampire.  Stefan's only reason for returning to Mystic falls is because Elaina looks exactly like his lost love from a century ago, Katherine.  Stefan's older brother (also a vampire) Damon (the bad brother) follows him to town with a vendetta against Stefan. 

The show starts out really slowly - it plays more like 90210 than Buffy the Vampire slayer.  Midway through the season though, the action ramps up and it gets much more interesting.  The first half of the season plays  out as Damon vs. Stefan. Once they come to an understanding, and the show introduces other antagonists, the shows mythology gets fleshed out and the plot goes to some unexpected places.

Damon (Ian Somerhalder from Smallville and Lost)  shines as the anti-hero.  Even when his actions are suspect, you can't help but enjoy his smug, cold attitude.  Rather than be a pale imitation of David Boreanez's broody Angel like Stefan (Paul Wesley) he revels in his sell-serving bad-assery. 

Elaina (Nina Dobrev) also stands out as a breakout star.  At first it seems she is channeling Bella from Twilight with her mopey depressed attitude, but this soon gives way to more depth than ever displayed by Bella.  She often puts herself in harms way for the good of Stefan and her other friends, but just as often she is able to defend herself.  She is the only one that really sees the good in Damon.

There are also other supernatural beings in the town, including various other vampires, a family of witches, and a family of supernatural beings that have yet to be revealed. 

I suggest you give this show a try, as it starts out slow but ends up very interesting.  The mythology of the show through only a single season is enough to keep me hooked.  I'm excited for season 2 - which starts this Thursday, September 9th.


3 1/2 out of 5 stars because i could do without so much winey teen angst

A Flash in the Pan: FlashForward Review

FlashForward: Complete Series

Released on DVD August 31st, 2010

ABC

  A mysterious event causes nearly everyone on the planet to simultaneously lose consciousness for 137 seconds, during which people see what appear to be visions of their lives approximately six months in the future—a global "flashforward". A team of Los Angeles FBI agents, led by Stanford Wedeck (Courtney B. Vance) and spearheaded by Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes) and his partner Demetri Noh (John Cho), begin the process of determining what happened, why, and whether it will happen again. Benford contributes a unique perspective on the investigation; in his flashforward, he saw the results of six months of investigation that he had done on the flashforward event, and he and his team use those clues to recreate the investigation.


FlashForward is a show, much like Lost and the upcoming The Event which revolves around a mystery that needed to be solved.  In this case, the mystery was the event that caused the worldwide blackout, and the flashforwards. 

The show was entertaining and engrossing, and the writing was superb.  It was cancelled after it's first season due to plummeting ratings, the same thing that happened to ABC's other freshman show V .  Unfortunately, a number of factors were working against the show.  Its time slot on Thursdays was packed with popular shows, and ABC put the show on a 3 month hiatus mid-season.  The networks do not seem to understand (or care) that these hiatuses severely damage fan interest. 

This is one of those shows that is much easier to watch on DVD because if you miss one episode, you're likely to be completely lost.  The concept was intriguing and original, but due to the nature of show, there were many flashbacks and even more flashforwards, which made the show confusing at times.  If you followed the show from beginning to end, there was a definitive payoff at the end of the season (unlike many abruptly canceled shows).

The show had a fairly large cast with at least 9 main character threads interweaving throughout the season.  They were fairly easy to follow and all the various plot threads connected near the end to reach one cohesive narrative.  The one exception to this was Mark Benford's friend and AA sponsor Aaron Stark (Bryan F. O'Byrne).   His plot thread remained independent of the others and slowed the narrative to a halt.  It didn't connect (tangentially) to the others until the last few episodes, and when it did, it was hardly worth it. Other than that, the writing was superb and intelligent.

The characters were likable and realistic, all with their own faults and weaknesses.  My favorites were Demetri (Cho) and fellow FBI agent Janis Hawke (Christine Woods), and Dr. Bryce Varley (Zachary Knighton). 

It is a pity this show only lasted one season, as the ratings may have gotten better had it been moved to a more favorable timeslot, or not given a 3 month hiatus, or given a second season. I enjoyed the 22 episodes available here, though, and am satisfied by the conclusion they offered.  


3 1/2 stars out of 5

Cougar Town is Surprisingly Funny

Cougar Town: Season One

DVD Released August 17th, 2010

Wednesdays at 9:30 PM on ABC

Both the premise and the title of the show, Cougar Town originally turned me off.  The show's target audience is older women. Nothing about the show's title or description was interesting to me in the least.  However it was on before Eastwick last fall, so i often caught the episodes, and i found that they were surprisingly funny, and not nearly as focused on the cougar aspect as I would have expected. 

Cougar is a slang term for a woman over fourty who persues younger men. 

In fact, the show really isn't as much about cougars as it is about a divorced woman who is trying to re-enter the dating world and keep up with her younger assistant Laurie.  In fact, the show strayed so far from its cougar roots that in May 2010, the shows producers were considering a name change, but were unable to come up with a better name. 

So the name stuck, and while it isn't necesarily what the show is about, it certainly is a name that stands out. I gave the show a chance, and watched the entire thing, and I found it to be amusing.  The humor was often vulgar and in your face, but I enjoyed it.  I found the characters to be interesting and likeable, even the screw-up ex husband Bobby.

Jules Cobb (Courtney Cox) is pitch perfect as the divorced mother of a teenage son, Travis (Dan Byrd), trying to get into the dating scene again while still being a mother to her son. Bobby (Brian Van Holt) is her ex-husband and Travis' father who still cares about Jules so much that she can't get rid of him. Ellie (Christa Miller) and Andy (Ian Gomez) Torres are Jules next door neighbors, and Jules and Bobby's best friends (respectively). Ellie is the married, 40-something voice of reason in Jules quest to recapture her youth, in part to keep up with her 20-something assistant Laurie (Busy Phillips). Jules identifies early on with the neighbor that lives across from the street from her who is also recently divorced, Grayson Ellis (Josh Hopkins). At first Grayson is resistant, but eventually becomes a permanent part of Jules social circle.

The show starts off with Jules dating younger men, but eventually she gets into some more mature relationships, and it seems as though that is likely a more permanent direction that the show is going to go in.

The one weak point in my view is the character of Laurie, who often times is entertaining, but just as often is shallow and annoying. She sems to have made steps later in the season towards being less a self-involved bimbo, but is still the most annoying character in the show.

Still, the humor is there, and most of the characters are likable and real.  When the season was ove,r i found myself wishing there were more.  I have yet to see Modern Family but Cougar Town looks to be the best freshmen sitcom of the 2009-2010 season.  I'll re-evaulate after having seen Modern Family but this show is miles ahead of the other freshman sitcom The Middle, perhaps not in originality but certainly in entertainment value and humor.

Ignore the show's description and it's title, and give Cougar Town a chance - you're likely to be pleasantly surprised. I know I was.

4 out of 5 stars

Ugly Better Season 4 Review

Ugly Betty: 4th and Final Season Review

DVD released August 17th, 2010

ABC

The 4th and final Season of Ugly Betty was one filled with many changes. The most obvious change is in her looks.  Betty Suarez' style grew up this season as we see her in much more fashionable attire.  This was far from the only change this season though, as there was a change around every corner, and it seemed like at least one in every eipsode.

As a matter of fact, there were so many changes that is is actually hard to talk about this season without mentioning them.  This season felt like Betty was growing up, and the show was trying to grow up with her, but it wasn't exactly sure where it wanted to go. 

All of the main characters played a large role, although for the second season in a row Daniel Mead, one of my favorite characters, played a smaller role.  Wilhelmina Slater (played wonderfully by Vanessa Williams) had some surprising turns this season, but in the end learned the lesson that all she ever had to do to get what she wanted was to be nice. Justin Suarez finally did something interesting this season, and he learned a lesson or two himself (for the first time in the series, the lesson was not about fashion).  The friendship fostered between him and Mark St. James was entertaining, and led to some very humanizing and sympathetic moments for the often cold and mean Mark.  Amanda tried very hard to grow up this season, even though she didn't really seem to know how. The turning point was when she finally found her father, after two seasons!

We had some returns as Matt Hartley returned as Betty's boss (and boyfriend), as did Gio and Henry, Betty's former boyfriends.  Christina, Betty's former friend and Mods magazine's former seamstress returns for a few episodes as well.  We also see Nico, Wilhelmina's daughter, return for a few episodes.

We also had some guest stars this season as "Third Rock From the Sun" alum Kristen Johnston plays Helen, in a hilarious turn as Amanda's friend and perpetual leech.  RuPaul, and Kathy Najimy, Christie Brinkley guest star as well.  Shkira guest stars as herself, and in one of the funniest turns of all, Chris Williams, Vanessa Williams real life brother, plays WilhelDiva Hater, a drag queen modeled after Vanessa's character. 

Betty goes through some changes as well..but most of those would give away the season. Suffice it to say, where Betty and Daniel end up in the last episode is pretty much where i expected them to from the start of the series, but it's too bad it took so long because it would have been interesting to explore.  I will say this - Betty finally gets rid of her braces!

The series finale was one not filled with endings but with beginnings and it was overwhelmingly positive.  It is among my favorite episodes of the series.  The entire cast, by the end of season four, had grown up.  There were many life changing events this season for every character, and they all ended up in a better place then they were in the beginning of the season, having moved on.  Just as the cast of Ugly Betty had to move on now that the show was cancelled, so did all of Ugly Betty's characters, each of them to a new, more mature place.


3 1/2 Stars out of 5

The Ratings Conundrum

Stop Canceling Good TV Shows!
Ratings only tell part of the story

So i was trying to decide what i should write on my blog - I'm slowly realizing that the time it takes to watch an entire season of ANYTHING with my schedule means that there will be less than 15 blog entries a month, if that's all that i write about.   I have plenty of TV shows that I haven't watched, but it takes me a good week or two to watch an entire season.

I'm currently watching Ugly Betty, Season 4.  This show caught my attention almost by accident.  It's based on a Colombian telenovela,  Yo Soy Betty, La Fea (I am Betty, the Ugly - go HS Spanish!!).  This show was so funny and interesting the first three seasons, but in the third season there was a dramatic drop in viewership.  This led to ABC moving it around to Fridays (which is the one of the WORST days for network television) and after fan backlash, was again moved to Wednesdays at 10 pm.

Now I wasn't watching this show on TV, I had been following it on DVD, but i knew that it had been moved to Wednesdays at 10 pm.  The reason I knew this was that one of my favorite TV shows of last television season, Eastwick, was canceled after just 13 episodes (I think only 12 aired) and Ugly Betty took its time slot.

While i loved Eastwick, and i especially loved the three characters playing Joanna, Kat and Roxanne (Gotta love Rebecca Romijn - I mean she was both married to Uncle Jessie from Full House AND played Mystique in X-men and X2 in practically nothing but blue body paint), I always hated the time slot.  I personally hate watching television at 10 pm on any night of the week.  I have to be up around 7ish in the morning for work, and that means if i fall asleep at 11, that gives me a solid 8 hours of sleep.  More often than not, I would fall asleep watching Eastwick.

I know i wasn't the target audience for this show (it was probably women in their 20-30s) but I enjoyed it.  It was reminiscent of Charmed, and certainly could have gone places if given a fair shot.  Putting any show at 10 pm on a night when people have to work is really asking an awful lot of them.  I know people have DVR and Tivo, but not everyone does, and I think if a show like this was put in an earlier time slot, it would have done much better.

Does anyone think that the networks aren't even giving television shows a chance to find their audience anymore?  It used to be that shows that had potential were shifted around and/or retooled and given another season before the network called it quits, but it seems these days if a show doesn't capture huge ratings to begin with, it is canceled. 

For example, in addition to Eastwick, ABC also canceled FlashForward, another show I liked (a bit convoluted, but far better than V, a much better cast and with similar ratings).   Other great shows that were cancelled due to low ratings were Joss Whedon's Dollhouse (great show) and Heroes (an all time favorite show of mine).

The networks need to find different ways of capturing revenue.  The television landscape is not what it used to be.  It is reported (here, by associated content.com and here by the New York post ) that TV viewership is down.  This makes sense - I watch live television probably once a week, and yet I have between 3-5 shows being recorded on my DVR weekly.  I then fast forward through the commercials.  The one show i watch live, TrueBlood, has had no commercials this season since the first episode.  There's also watching television online, thought both official and unofficial website.  Each network has their own website with streaming television episodes that can be watched anytime.  In addition there are things like Youtube and Hulu.

The largrst drop though, has got to be due to DVD sales.  When television shows were not released on home video format in entire seasons, the shows were watched much more readily.  It was an event, because it was on once and once only (not including repeats and syndication) and then it was on to the next episode.  With DVD and Bluray TV Shows you can watch it all at once, without having to wait until the next episode is on.  I can tell you that i might only watch 3-5 shows a week (mostly to support them, I'd prefer to wait for the DVD) but i watch WAYYY more than that every season on DVD.

The shows I'm currently following on DVD are Chuck, Supernatural, Smallville, Psych, V, Vampire Diaries, Dexter, Fringe, Glee, How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory..The only shows I'm planning on watching live next TV season are new shows No Ordinary Family, The Cape, returning shows Weeds, and possibly Smallville because it's the last season.  I'm not sure about the Event, it seems fairly mysterious, but perhaps too much so.


The point is, I watch way more DVD TV then live TV, and if the networks found a way to make more money off of DVD's, they wouldn't need to make as much off the live shows, the ratings wouldn't be the only factor keeping a show on the air, and good shows wouldn't get canceled so quickly.  Obviously raising the prices of the DVDs isn't the solution, it all comes down to advertising!  The networks need to find better, "new media" methods of advertising such as product placement. 


So that's my rant for the week...STOP CANCELING GOOD TV SHOWS!!


Night

Embrace the Deception Psych Seasons 2 + 3 Review

Psych Seasons 2+3 Review
USA Network

In between the lines there's a lot of obscurity
I'm not inclined to resign to maturity
If it's all right, then you're all wrong
Why bounce around to the same damn song
You'd rather run when you can't crawl


I know, you know, that I'm not telling the truth
I know, you know, they just don't have any proof
Embrace the deception, Learn how to bend
You're worst inhibitions tend to psych you out in the end





Psych just gets funnier and funnier as you continue to watch it. Fake psychic detective Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his partner Burton Guster (Dule Hill) continue to solve crimes, often with the assistance of Det. Carlton Lassiter and Juliet O'Hara of the Santa Barbara Police department.


Season 2

In season 2, we get to know Gus better, including meeting his family. We meet his mother, Winnie Guster (Phylicia Rashad) and father Bill (Ernie Hudson) in the Christmas episode - “Gus' Dad May Have Killed an Old Guy” and his Uncle Bernie in an episode titled “Meat Is Murder, But Murder Is Also Murder”. We also meet Gus'...wife? Mira

In this season Shawn and Gus meet a rival psychic, have to find chief Vick a nanny, have to exonerate Gus parents for murder, Shawn joins the case of a telenovela, Gus becomes a model, and a mummy is suspected in a murder.

Guest starts include Tim Curry (in a hilarious episode titled America Duos making fun of American Dreamz and American Idol), Lou Diamond Phillips, John Amos, Kevin Sorbo (from Hercules), Kerry Washington, Saul Rubenik (from Warehouse 13), Bianca Kajlich, and Cristián de la Fuente.

This season builds upon the relationships in the first season, especially the relationship between Shawn and his father, and introduce Gus' family. At the end of season 2 there is a shocking cliffhanger, as Shawn's mother returns.

The show never skips a beat, sometimes funny, often hilarious, and always exciting to watch as Shawn and Gus stumble towards the answers in true Psych fashion.


Season 3

In season 3, we learn more about Gus and Shawn's past, even going to their High School reunion. We also see Gus' day job as a pharmaceutical salesman.

We meet Shawn's Uncle Jack (Steven Weber), his old flame Abigail, and have to revisit the biggest case of Henry (Shawn's dad's) police career. We also meet Chief Vick's sister Commander Barbara Dunlap 0f the Coast Guard (Jane Lynch). We spend Christmas with the Gusters including Gus' sister Joy (Faune A.Chmbers), Minnie (Phylicia Rashad) and Bill Guster ( Keith David).

In this season Shawn and Gus relive the 70s, solve a murder without a body, go treasure hunting, attend a sea lion funeral, join the fire department, join a pro football team, have to solve a “Friday the 13th type murder at a camp, Juliet O'Hara joins a roller derby team, Gus is taken hostage at a bank robbery, Lassiter is the prime suspect in a murder investigation, and they all get involved in a plot by serial killer Mr. Yang.

Gus' mother(Cybill Shepard) stirs things up when she has to give psych evaluations of the police officers including Lassiter.

This season Shawn's old flame Abigail(Rachel Leigh Cook) returns, and we get to see Shawn team up with Officer Juliet O'Hara as partners in “Talk Derby to me”. Their relationship continues to get closer and closer throughout the season, which helps as their on screen chemistry is electric.

This season has guest stars Rachel Leigh Cook, Cybill Shepard, Faune A. Chambers, Phylicia Rashad, Keithe David, Jane Lynch, Steven Weber, Alan Ruck, Gary Cole, Serinda Swan, Milena Govich, Bruce McGill, Mykelti Williamson,Jonathan Silverman, MacKenzie Austin, Justine Bateman, Ally Sheedy, Jimmi Simpson, Jere Burns, and Jordan Baker.

Shawn and Gus' PI agency, Psych, has a higher profile after such an extensive list of solved cases, and they end up in a lot of interesting places this season. Shawn and his dad's relationship continues to grow this season, and we finally meet his mother. We also see Juliet and Lassiter fleshed out more this season. The show is as funny as it ever has been, and this seasons guest starts are top notch, including a great turn by Jane Lynch (Glee) as chief Vick's sister.

Another great season.


Season 2
4 out of 5 stars

Season 3
5 out of 5 stars

Can't wait to watch season 4!

A Bloody Good Time - Dexter Season 1

Dexter – Season One
Showtime










I had heard of Dexter, and seen it in the store, but I never knew what it was until I bought the first season on DVD.  I got it on the cheap on eBay. 

This is an ingenious show with great writing that is on Showtime, and is currently about to start its 5th Season.  After I watched the first season, I went out and bought the next two seasons.  It stars Michael C. Hall (of Six Feet Under), this time as a serial killer with an impulse to kill who keeps his killer impulses in check by killing people who deserve it – often people who are let back on the street by the cops for one reason or another.

There is quite a bit of blood in this show, especially in the later half of the season, but if you can get past this, the show is engaging and offbeat, clever and complex, as is the character of Dexter Morgan himself, a severely damaged personality who is able to conform on the surface to societies social norms, but hidden behind this lies a deep disconnect from the world he is forcing himself to live in and be a part of.   It takes a good writer and a good plot to get the viewer to sympathize with such an emotionally dead character as Dexter Morgan.

He is deeply disturbed, seemingly beyond his control, and yet later in the season, sparks of humanity do seem to creep up on us and Dexter as well. This is especially the case when it comes to Dexter's adopted sister Debra Morgan, who is the only person he seems genuinely attached to.  It is unclear whether his attachment to Debra is real or just for show.  Dexter would have us believe it is just for show, but that comes into question later in the season.

Dexter feels he must fit in so he doesn't stand out, and having a relationship is part of this.  His girlfriend, Rita Bennett( played by Julie Benz) is a severely damaged individual, who he feels comfortable around because he does not need to get emotionally attached or be intimate with her. Things get more complicate between them midway through the season.

Debra is a cop for the Miami police department, and Dexter is a “blood spatter” specialist on the forensics team.  Most of the other supporting cast are either cops or forensic specialists.  The scenes flashback scenes with Dexter father are among the more interesting scenes in the show, if only because they help explain how he is so well able to fake emotion and get everyone at the Miami police department to like him so much, even though in reality he is their worst enemy, a serial killer operating right under their radar.  The only person who sees something in Dexter that is unsettling is Sgt. James Doakes, a member of the police force.  Later in the season, this plot line is in full force and adds some needed believability to Dexter's seemingly invincible cover as the friendly neighborhood forensics specialist. 

The first season revolves around the “Ice Truck Killer” who kills prostitutes and leaves the bodies for the police (and Dexter) to find in a specific way – I don't want to mention anymore, except to say that the final reveal at the end of the season is surprising.  Most probably won't see it coming, but it makes sense, and adds another layer to what little humanity Dexter has.

I give this show 4 out of 5 stars...because if Dexter was a real person, I'd hate him.

True Blood Hitting the Ground Review

True Blood - Hitting the Ground
Airdate: 8/1/2010

Sookie's attempt to rescue Bill has unforseen consequences. Meanwhile, Jason seeks the truth about Crystal. Sam must step in when Tommy gets involved in a dog fighting ring, all thanks to Melinda and Joe Lee's quest for money. Eric figures out how to get the information he wants from Sophie-Anne. Debbie plans to get even with Alcide while Russell ignores the Magister.


This episode, much like last, ramped up the action and plot developments. We left off at the end of the last episode with Lorena, Bill's sire, feeding on Sookie as a powerless Bill watched. After a brief feeding, Bill gets free and saves Sookie, allowing her to kill Lorena, permanently. Alcide and Tara soon showed up to help get Sookie and Bill away from Russell's mansion. Then Debbie threatens to kill Alcide, and Tara, still high on v from Franklin, tackles her.

Back in Bon Temps, Sam saves Tommy and all the other dogs from the dog fight. He offers Tommy the chance to leave his family and after some thought, Sam and Tommy leave to return to Merlotte's, finally leaving their parents behind.

Jason still searches for answers to who and what Crystal is. The meth dealer that Jason caught a few episodes ago gives Jason a few answers – he is her cousin. He looked like he was about to say that her “fiance”is actually her brother but stopped short of actually saying it. We don't learn anything else new about her, and frankly it's getting a bit annoying. We'll learn more about her soon.

Back to Tara, Alcide, Sookie and Bill. Sookie lets Bill feed from her to keep him from dying. He's starving, and has lost a lot of blood. He goes all evil vamp and feeds on her to the point of almost death. Tara throws Bill out of the truck into the sunlight, and they drive off to bring Sookie to the hospital. Sookie almost dies, as she apparently has no blood type (curious) and is in a coma. Apparently she's never really been sick before, ans has never been in a hospital (she wasn't even born in one). Sookie arrives in what can only be assumed to be Heaven, and is warned by a woman to beware of Bill, and that he will take her “light”. Bill saver her life by feeding her his blood.

Eric finds out from Sophie Ann's human, Hadley (Sookie's cousin) who or what Sookie is. Russell and Sophie Ann are married by the magister before Russell kills the magister.

Overall, we learn a lot in this episode – Bill may not be what he appears to be, Sookie is something that Eric “didn't expect”, and Cooter, Lorena, and the magister are all dead. The plot is moving along at a much faster pace now, and we're learning more and more each episode. It seems that Sookie is no longer a fan of Bill, so we'll see where that goes. Russell's plan seems to finally be coming to a head, as he is now the King of both Louisiana and Mississippi. The action has ramped up, but the sex is lacking in these last few episodes, but I guess we can't have it all.

The last episode was particularly emotional, with Sookie close to death and in Heaven. I didn't cry, but I can totally understand why other people might have cried when Sookie was close to death. Thankfully she lived. Also thankfully, Lorena is dead. I hated that b&^%$.

4 out of 5 stars

Sabrina the Teenage Witch Series Review

Sabrina, The Teenage Witch
The Complete Series
1996-2003



The show Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which aired on ABC from 1996 - 2000 and on the WB from 2000 - 2003.  The show is about Sabrina Spellman (Melissa Joan Hart) who, on her 16th birthday, discovers that she is half witch and half mortal.  She lives with her two aunts, Hilda(comedian Caroline Rhea) and Zelda (Beth Broderick), and their cat, Salem Saberhagen (voice of Nick Bakay), a warlock who got turned into a pet cat for trying to take over the world. The show is based upon the Archie comic of the same name.

The show did a good job of "modernizing" magic and making it current, including many references and appearances by mythological characters, fairytale characters, pop culture references, etc.  The show had many guest starts, the best of which were Phil Fondacaro (as Roland) and Barbara Eden (as Aunt Irma).

The show ran for seven seasons.  In the first four, Sabrina is in High School, and the supporting cast are her friends Jenny (in season one), Valerie (in seasons 2-4), Harvey Kinkle (seasons 1-7), and Libby (seasons 1-3).  Harvey is her main love interest and friend in High School, while Jenny and Valerie are her friends and confidantes.  Libby is the school snob, and popular girl, and is her chief rival.  Mr. Kraft is the school principal.  The first four seasons are the best of the seasons, with a tangible rival relationship and a long courtship between Sabrina and Harvey.  The rivalry with Libby and the courtship with Harvey lead to many interesting "spells" and experiences.

After this, the entire case is changed, replacing Valerie, Jenny, and Mr. Kraft, and Libby with a new cast - her college roommates Miles, Roxie, and Morgan.  Josh is also introduced as her new love interest.  Harvey remains in the cast, as does Zelda, Hilda, and Salem.  The new cast is less interesting - Morgan is among the most annoying of the characters, a pale reflection of Libby, but a friend to Sabrina instead of a rival.  However, Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster) was a highlight of the new cast, playing Roxie King, Sabrina's roommate and best friend.

The show changes at this point as well, as no one knows about Sabrina's secret, besides her aunts and Salem, except for the occasional appearance of Harvey.  Neither Miles, Roxy, or Morgan ever find out her secret.The show is no longer about learning magic, it is about using it in her everyday life, and there are very few episodes focused on her keeping the secret of her magic - most of the new cast just accept that weird things happened and leave it at that. 

In season 7, the cast changes again, Hilda and Zelda leaving, and being replaced by the cast of a Boston magazine, Scorch. This cast is dropped halfway through the season, being replaced again by her new love interest, Aaron.  The entire last season is the worst season, as Hilda and Zelda are gone and their chemistry with Sabrina and Salem is missed, quickly, and often.  .  The entire Season 7 is just a battle between new love interest Aaron and old love interest Harvey, which comes from nowhere after a full two seasons where this is barely even mentioned.  The one high point of Season 7 is the final episode, in which Sabrina is finally reunited with her "soul mate" - her true love, and they ride off together in a rather unexpected fashion. 

Overall the series was best when she was in High School, and the quality severely decreased once she left.  It then got even worse in the last season mostly due to casting changes, specifically the loss of Aunt Zelda and Aunt Hilda, two of the main draws of the show and two of the more interesting characters.

Overall, the show was well done, and fun, but the later seasons could have used more of the cast from the earlier seasons.  The last episode was a pleasant surprise.

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Psych You Out in the End: Psych Season 1 Review

 Psych: Season 1

USA Network

To be honest, the only reason I purchased Season 1 of USA's Psych was because it was on sale for 14.99. This wouldn't be the type of show I would normally buy. I'm not usually into the whole police/cop show. That being said, this is one of the funniest shows I have seen in quite some time. After I saw a few episodes, I went out and bought Seasons 2 and 3.


The show stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer and Dule Hill as Burton “Gus” Guster. The show is about a perpetual slacker (Spencer) with a photographic memory who uses this memory to convince the police that he is psychic. Shawn and Gus then start a detective agency and Shawn also convinces his clients that he's psychic. Gus is the “smart” one and the skeptic, and often assists in solving the cases using his intelligence, and always assists in getting Spencer out of trouble.


The way in which Spencer has his “visions” is often hilarious and ridiculous. He and Gus solve almost every case using his unique skill set, in which he was trained by his former police officer father when he was a child. The chemistry between Gus and Spencer is the highlight of the show, often entertaining in it's own right.


The supporting cast, police officers Carlton Lassiter and Juliet O'Hara also contribute to the entertainment of the show, O'Hara by her quiet acceptance of Spencer's abilities, and Lassiter by his complete dismissal of Gus, Spencer and his abilities (both real and imagined).


One of the most impressive aspects of the show is its utter lack of sex and violence, especially in a TV landscape filled with both.


This show reminds me of another show, Eli Stone, that ran on ABC for two seasons. In that show, though, the visions were real, and often assisted Eli in solving the cases. This show is less serious, and more humorous, though certain aspects are similar.


I look forward to the next 3 seasons of the show. Hopefully the casts can keep the chemistry and humor that they share this season.


4 out of 5 stars

Being Human isn't as easy as it sounds

Being Human: Season One
Episodes 1+2
BBC

This is a BBC Three supernatural drama-comedy about three friends who are sharing a house in Bristol and trying to live a normal human social life despite being a vampire, werewolf, and ghost.

Annie Sawyer is a ghost who haunts the house in which she and her fiancee lived when she was alive.  Annie can only be seen by humans depending on her state in mind, but she can always be seen by supernatural creatures. 

John Mitchell is a vampire, who has been one for many years.  He must control himself at all times as vampires are dark creatures by nature, and  prone to feeding on humans.  He can survive in the daylight, but is sensitive to light.

George Sands is smart, but socially awkward.  He is a werewolf, human most of the month, but during the full moon transforms (very painfully) into a werewolf.  During this time his senses are stronger than a normal human's. He's in deep denial about being a werewolf.

This show has the right mix of comedy and drama, and explores what being human is all about.  The framing of the show - supernatural characters attempting to be human, allows us to see humanity though a different light.  The three main characters, Annie, Mitchell, and George, are all very compelling each with their own character flaws and strengths.  The writing on the show is top-notch, and the show has been nominated for a British Academy of Television and Film award for best drama. 

The first couple of episodes introduce a few supporting characters, human , vampire and werewolf and eventually start introducing various threads that seem to be building towards a war between vampires and humans. 

It's a pity the first season is so short as the show has a lot of style, and the characters have a lot of charisma, and their flaws make them more human.

The show is so popular that SyFy has ordered a 13-episode first season of a U.S. remake, which is supposed to air sometime next season.

4 stars out of 5

Breaking Bad Episode 1 + 2 TV Review

I was at Best Buy today and a DVD that caught my attention was the first Season of Breaking Bad airing on AMC starring Bryan Cranston. The only thing i know about Bryan Cranston is that he was the father on the woefully under-appreciated Malcolm in the Middle.

The show is about Walter White, a High School chemistry teacher who learns that he has lung cancer and is dying. In order to provider for his family, including his physically handicapped son and pregnant wife, he and delinquent High School student Jesse Pinkman start cooking meth in an RV.

In episode one, Walter is diagnosed with cancer, and we get a view of Walter's monotonous life at his first job, a chemistry teacher, and second job, as a car wash attendant. He decides that he needs to provide for his family before he is gone. Seeing his brother in law (a DEA agent) bust a meth lab, and in the process, seize $700,000 cash from the lab. Being a brilliant chemist, he decides this is the way to provide for his family.

In episode two, Walter and Jesse are dealing with the repercussions from the accident at the end of episode one, including how to keep this secret from his wife and what to do with a dead body.

The acting in this series is superb, and the plot is interesting. I can't help but think of the Showtime show, Weeds, which I am a huge fan of. The comedy in this show is far more subdued, as this is much more of a drama then a comedy, and Weeds is more of a 50-50 split. Although this show is covering similar ground, it does it in a much different way.

I'm not sure about the rest of the supporting cast after just two episodes, but both of the main characters Walter and Jesse are very entertaining, superb actors who play off of each other very well. The uptight teacher vs the delinquent student is a tired, cliche dynamic, but it is used here to full effect in a new and entertaining way.

I give these two episodes 3 1/2 stars out of 5. I imagine it will remain interesting as the rest of the characters are fleshed out, and as we see more how Walter's uptight personality conflicts with the world of illicit drugs.

...and wait until you see what they do with the body!

Six Feet Under TV Series Review

Six Feet Under is a drama that aired on HBO from 2001-2005. The plot revolves around three siblings, Nate (Peter Krause), David (Michael C. Hall) and Claire (Lauren Ambrose) and mother Ruth (Frances Conroy) coming to grips with the death of the family patriarch Nate Fischer, Sr. This leaves the two brothers Nate and David to run the inherited family business, Fisher & Sons funeral home.

While often gruesome, the show deals with death in a very mature way throughout. It eases you into it, and though there is at least one death in every episode, the show is entertaining and dramatic without being depressing. In fact, it surprised me how much i look forward to each episode. The plot is at times a little slow moving, but there is enough going on, and the writing is so superb, you don't even notice the speed.

The characters are (very) flawed, but believable. Nate makes some monumentally bad decisions in the course of the shows five seasons, but more often then not, i found myself rooting for him and hoping he makes it through. He was by far my favorite character on the show. I even feel bad for him when his bad decisions come back and bite him in the face.

A recurring plot device of having the recently (and not so recently in the case of the father, Nate Fisher Sr.) deceased have conversations with the various characters (mostly David and Nate) is well used and adds to the ambiance and themes of the show. It even sometimes helps to move the plot along, especially in the case of the father, Nate Fisher Sr. who dies in episode 1.

The main reason I wanted to watch this show to begin with was because I had heard that the series finale, titled "Everyone's Waiting" was considered one of the best television series finale's of all time. After watching it, I now understand why. This episode tied all the plots up beautifully, in a sophisticated manner, and even served to tie into the shows themes of death and family. It is hard to discuss this episode without spoiling it, but I will say what they did with the episode serves to perfectly tie the entire series together without taking anything away from it. The last ten minutes of the episode are heartbreaking, peaceful, and beautiful at the same time, and suffice it to say should not be missed.

The creator and producer of this show, Alan Ball, also created and produced another show I have been watching recently, True Blood. Though the subject matter is much different, both shows deal with death, the writing is superb (and adult) in each, and you can definitely see the similarities.

I recommend this show to anyone interested in drama. The themes of death, the afterlife, peace, family, and growing up are all central. Some of the plots are sexual in nature and should not be viewed by children, but everyone else should check it out. The writing is superb, the cinematography beautiful, and the last episode, again, is not to be missed.