Lost, Second Season, "S.O.S." Ah, at last we get back to the spirituality of the island. In many ways, L. Scott Caldwell's character and Terry O'Quinn's characters are the most interesting to me. John Locke has been all over the place this season, though, and not very spiritual, and that has been a detriment to the show, IMHO.
But here we are again, with Rose and Locke, sitting on the beach. Beautiful. Also a parallel of the Man of Science, Man of Faith duo, with Rose and Bernard. Beautifully done.
I loved this episode again.
And why is it that at the end, instead of rejoicing that Michael's back, I started thinking of when Ana Lucia threw herself into that pit, to make the other prisoners think she was one of them? Weird feeling.
Also weirdness with "Henry Gale". Can't wait to see how the show ends.
Weeds, First Season, Good **** Lollipop Elizabeth Perkins is great in this. I just love the ultimate unhappiness of her character. And the whole lesbian argument is hilarious, too. "What are you doing Friday night?"
Love how so much of it is taken from real stuff that happened out here in West Hills, too. That cougar thing... Real life is so stranger than fiction...
Weeds, First Season, Fashion of the Christ And so Justin Kirk arrives with a bang. Or a set-off smoke alarm, at least. Memorable. Great episode, it is true, for MLP. Definitely a noteworthy submission.
Great cast they have here. Just great. Can't wait to see more of this show.
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The Comeback, "The Comeback" I have to say that I'm glad I didn't watch any of this before our chat with Lisa Kudrow. I do think she's an amazing actress, and this is a noble concept...however...
Man! Is it painful to watch! boy, oh boy.
It's almost funny now that during the chat, I asked her why she thought entertainment shows didn't work. She didn't really answer. But i can answer now, in relation to this particular show: people don't give a crap about self-obsessed celebrities.
The reason that I care is because I know she's contributing her inside info, from her years in the business, that probably make this a real funny inside joke. But for those who don't care about "the business" or its inside jokes, I can totally see why this died.
Nobody wants to take the mask off the business of show. And this concept of doing a reality show, while she's struggling to make her comeback, is really too painful.
The scene with Kim Fields and Marilu Henner was funny, though.
The Comeback, "Valerie Hangs With the Cool Kids" Another painful episode. Every time she shows real emotion, she shuts off the camera.
She yells at the kids on set, she yells at kids at home. Painful. Ugly. Not funny.
This would be funny if there were more truth, and less artifice. Knowing that actresses are completely fake isn't a new thing. The whole sitcom is based upon a character we really can't root for.
The Comeback, 'Valerie Demands Dignity" Now this is what this show should be. The scene where she contemplates the effect of reality shows dying on her reality show, and the absolute fear on her face is heartbreaking.
The whole subtext with another reality show participant as her assistant was brilliant. "If reality isn't there, you have to make it," brilliant.
Valerie running for the bus. Just astonishing stuff. The other two I had seen made me want to give up on this, but this episode is incredible. If she weren't submitting the Leno episode, this one is by far better than the "Cool Kids" one.
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I have all my favorites picked out for Best Drama, based on solid reasoning, careful analysis and thorough investigation. But the show that I didn't want to like that keeps drawing me in, keeps me addictively watching--and enjoying--episode after episode is
Grey's Anatomy, Second Season, "Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head" Season One ended on quite a cliffhanger. Season Two picks up with everybody in full action. Lotsa drama everywhere.
This new character, Addison Sheppard, Dr. McDreamy's wife that he's separated from, who's now working at the hospital (temporarily). People who can't admit they're in love. People who can't rat on their friends. People breaking up and not telling others about babies they may be carrying.
At the core of it all--the work. It's all about the work. The work comes first. (Kinda like the acting life, too, actually.) Just so well written and acted, I can't tear myself away.
A well-crafted show starts out with a great first episode.
And have I mentioned how frikin cute T.R. Knight is? ;-)
Scrubs-My Way Home A Great Eppy. I Absoutley Loved Wizard Of Oz Mentions. The Writing and Directing Was really Great. I wouldn't be Surprised If Braff got a Directon Nod. I Loved The Beginning with the Church Choir Singing "Payback Is a Bitch". and I loved when zach tried to leave in a body bag and when the nervous guy found out... Dead People are supposed to be Dead A-
I've returned.
Posts: 4527 | Location: Rehab | Registered: November 01, 2005
The Comeback, "Valerie Bonds With the Cast" Boy, I just hate this show. It's truly painful to watch. Not because Lisa Kudrow isn't an amazing actress, but because this just shows how horrible people in LA can be to each other.
"Why would I do that? Then they would see that I'm hurt," she says, blinking away tears. It's exactly that emotion we'd need to see, if the show were to work.
Entourage, "Aquamansion" This is such a great show. It was really funny seeing what one million would get you, versus what four million would get you. Love the new pad, though.
Hef. Sheesh. Enough said about that.
Knew that he'd end up doing Aquaman, finally.
Great show.
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Originally posted by MicheBel: I'm just so astonished at Brenda's transformation from the first season to this one. Who knew when she seduced Nate in that airport that she'd end up being the standard bearer for truth in relationships? I wanna marry Brenda. She's just amazing.
And that's why I think that it's a shame that an actress who created such an original and complex character will never have an Emmy for it,and will also be snubbed for her amazing work during this fifht season. (and shame also to fellow actors who never gave her a SAG nomination).
In 2009 the three best TV female performances in a drama series were all snubbed. Shame to Emmy voters for not nominating January Jones, Alison Pil and Chloe Sevigny.
Piven's Performance Was Absoutley Great. The Writing Was Good. The Direction Was Good. Piven could Easily Win With this Tape. I Loved The Scene where Turtle and Drama was Watching That Movie. This Eppy Could Easily get Directing, Writing,A Nod(and Hopefully a Win) For Piven and a Series Nods.
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I've returned.
Posts: 4527 | Location: Rehab | Registered: November 01, 2005
Just wrapped up season 2 of Veronica Mars and I have to say I'm pretty disappointed. The show was fairly clever in its explanation of it all, but it was still rushed and didn't have much impact. It was because the show moved away from the bus crash for so so so so so long. I would say they really only prominently focused on the bus crash for about 6 episodes out of the 22, and the show suffered because of it. Despite its huge differences, I kept on being reminded of Alias in its mysteries while watching VM. The genius of Alias was that the mysteries really did last the entire season and you got little bits of info along the way. VM just seemed to setup the bus crash at the beginning of the season, then just left it til the end to actually approach it. Not nearly as good as season 1. But a solid B
Grammy FYC: Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreak; Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.; John Legend, Evolver; Paolo Nutini, Sunny Side Up; David Guetta, One Love; Kelly Clarkson, "Already Gone"; Jordin Sparks, "Battlefield"; Kings Of Leon, "Use Somebody"; Maxwell, "Pretty Wings"
I watched Sean win Donald Trump's Apprentice position. I personally can't stand him, but then again the alternative blew chunks. Don't ask me why I continue to watch this show when I despise so many things about it.
Posts: 8671 | Location: Canada | Registered: October 26, 2005
I'm totally confused now. I didn't trust Michael coming back (not sure why, just didn't. Never have liked his character much.). So he shoots Ana Lucia, for no apparent reason. And also Hurley's girl, also for no apparent reason. Then shoots himself in the arm. WTF?
I really don't get it.
I did, however, really like the sly references to Ana Lucia's drinking. And just before all that happened, I was listening to Ana Lucia's speech about how she couldn't kill "Henry". She just couldn't kill anymore. Right then, I thought, she's probably gonna die, since her purpose is fulfilled.
Started thinking about how Shannon died right after she found someone who really loved her for herself, which is what she'd been searching for.
What was it Boone was looking for? I think it was something about purpose. About being able to be useful to someone. And finally, he was useful to Locke.
But the whole thing with Hurley's girlfriend doesn't really fit that pattern. (Course, we don't know if they are either really dead yet.)
Pretty funny, too, that the writers force Ana Lucia to go to a bar with Jack's dad, and say out loud, "NO!" when he requests they go in and get very drunk. Didn't really buy it from her, though, sadly.
Interesting episode. Love they finally continued the "we met each other previously" thing that they only do occasionally. Also love that she and Sawyer had hot sex in the forest. heh
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Six Feet Under, "A Rainbow of Her Reasons" I loved this episode. I also love how so much this season, the person who dies at the beginning says something of a lot of reasonance to what is going on with the other characters.
Ruth's sister says: We are moments from the top. Mere moments!!
Fiona says: I didn't think I could make it.
And then, with a whush, she doesn't.
And they are all, there, moments from reaching their happiness, and whush! they choose to believe otherwise.
I love most of all what a woman-centric episode this is. It just oozes female. Even David is in his female mode.
But then, deep in the middle, when the male moments arrive, they hit you hard. Nate, talking to Billy about his first love. Such a poignant scene.
George, finally realizing that Ruth is moving him out.
Billy, achingly going over Claire's IMs, in case there might be some hope there.
This episode, in case no one had noted this, is certainly a Lauren Ambrose submission. Combine this with one of the earlier ones, where she's telling Billy off, and you have a powerful combo. But her getting up on that desk and singing was AWESOME. Stunning. A real revelatory moment.
The shock of mother and daughter talking again, as Ruth tries to borrow Claire's pot. And Claire stands there in her business attire. Too funny.
Ruth, later, when are we going up to Topanga Canyon? to build our women's commune? should I meet you guys there?(long pause) Oh, you were kidding...
Brilliant stuff.
And the whole madness of Keith and David with their two wild boys underscoring the femaleness of this episode. Just beautiful.
Oh, and I totally forgot to mention (with the SFU episode just above) the amazing recreation of that Calling All Angels song. It's such a great thing when all women sing, especially that song. And to hear Ruth sing, when Claire had danced earlier was just incredible. What a great episode.
Grammy FYC: Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreak; Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.; John Legend, Evolver; Paolo Nutini, Sunny Side Up; David Guetta, One Love; Kelly Clarkson, "Already Gone"; Jordin Sparks, "Battlefield"; Kings Of Leon, "Use Somebody"; Maxwell, "Pretty Wings"
AKA, the episode I would have submitted for Kyra Sedgwick, had she not chosen "Fantasy Date." In hindsight, this episode lacks the single gut-punch money scene that "Fantasy Date" offers, but I still prefer the performance as a whole. I love the scene where she breaks the news to the mother of a murdered girl, and there's an even better one where she reacts to the autopsy. "Are you alright?" asks the coroner. "No, but thank you for asking," she replies -- she's pitch perfect in that scene.
She picks up range, during the interrogation scenes, where she unleashes anger at having been manipulated by the teenage murderer and his father. Her scene with the father ends with a great line: "Maybe you should stop thinking about what'll happen to your son, and spend more time thinking about what I'm gonna do to you."
But the episode's pinnacle is the great interogation scene that ends the episode, where she deftly manipulates the killer into confessing, which leads him to the beginning of what will be a long, miserable stay in Mexican prison. Sedgwick is so finely controlled in that scene, working wonders with one of the first season's best scripts. When it's over, she chugs tequilla and tells her FBI boyfriend, "I'm just too disgusted." What a powerhouse performance this is! All the praise I hear about Mariska Harigtay's work with procedural drama should be transfered right on over to Sedgwick, who shows us how it's done.
But she submitted "Fantasy Date," an episode that many advocated, so who am I to say that they (and Sedgwick for that matter) are wrong. All that matters to me is that Sedgwick is nominated, no matter what tape she uses to get it.
Next up on "The Closer" marathon is "Fatal Retraction," and another actor who deserves an Emmy nomination: Jason O'Mara.
"A movie is not good because it arrives at conclusions you share, or bad because it does not. A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it: about the way it considers its subject matter, and about how its real subject may be quite different from the one it seems to provide." - Roger Ebert, from the introduction to "Awake in the Dark" (2006)
Originally posted by Garner'sHusband: VM just seemed to setup the bus crash at the beginning of the season, then just left it til the end to actually approach it.
That is why I am excited about the three mini mysteries. The show needs that focus and having less time for the mystery will help.
Posts: 322 | Location: Louisiana | Registered: June 18, 2005
I really liked Veronica Mars first season. The Lilly murder storyline was so intense and I could not stop watching (I watched them from the dvds) and it kept me on the edge of my seat always wanting to see what would happen next.
I thought there were a lot more twists and turns that season.
Originally posted by Garner'sHusband: MicheBel, what's your status on Alias?
Well, I've been switching out DVDs. Some Six Feet Under, then some Sopranos, then some Rescue Me, then some The Closer. I stopped with Alias in the middle, but I keep wanting to get back to it. I have yet to see the finale (that would be up to the finale) of any series. Lost is getting close though (I only have three more episodes).
I'm scared of things like Boston Legal and Grey's Anatomy, cause I have damn near the whole season to watch yet.
The scariest, though, is Battlestar Galactica. If that sucka gets nominated, I have like four seasons to go through, plus the TV movie.
So, to answer your question, the last Alias I've watched was "Out of the Box." Maybe I'll view one tonight...
I'v recently seen season 4 of Gilmore Girls. I have to say it's probably the show weakest season(weaker than season 6). But i would have given hands down the best supporting actress award to Kelly Bishop. I think that was easily her best season.all the scenes about the crisis of her marriage were amazing and if nominated she would have had a killer duo of tapes in "Scene in a Mall" and "The Reigning Lorelai".Amazing staff from an amazing actress.
In 2009 the three best TV female performances in a drama series were all snubbed. Shame to Emmy voters for not nominating January Jones, Alison Pil and Chloe Sevigny.
The scariest, though, is Battlestar Galactica. If that sucka gets nominated, I have like four seasons to go through, plus the TV movie. [/QUOTE]
Don't be intimidated by BSG...it's well worth the investment of time and not nearly as duanting as most believe. Yes it's kicked off by a miniseries (3 hr run time) but it's a good watch...although the series exceeds the Mini in my opinion.
Season One is only 13 episodes (not the 20-24 of most network shows) and only the first half of Season Two is available on DVD (Netflix is your friend). The second half will be released in September completing a 20 episode stint for Season 2 before season three starts in October.
Don't be put off by the name or genre...I ask each Drama buff and anyone who loves good TV to just look past the name and give this show a shot.
On a side note: Netflix is my friend because it's just getting me hooked onto Alias and Arrested Development.
and I loved when zach tried to leave in a body bag and when the nervous guy found out... Dead People are supposed to be Dead 
