TV Round Up

I wanted to give some TV shows more than one showing BC I figured that some would get better. Some shows I gave up on right away and the rest are really great. I want to say that the resounding theme for this TV year is that there is a major British Invasion. It really seems to be a growing trend that Hugh Lurie (House) has started and probably does the best. I am glad the networks have been open to hiring British people BC they are awesome and Hot. I could say something really convoluted and "smart" but I figure why waste the words when I want to say "their just HOT!!"

I will start off with something I learned from Entertainment Weekly. I am actually surprised that they haven’t made the comparisons yet.

Chuck and Reaper are almost the same show if you look closely. The truth is you don’t even have to look that closely. The camp on each show is a part of the charm. They both have goofy, funny best friends. Just one is skinny and one is fat. Both work for low-level sales people who have managers that want them to do better by being assistant managers. Chuck while have a Stanford education is directionless and doesn’t really mind. While Sam has no higher education claiming that “college made him sleepy”, he is the true meaning of a slacker. Chuck lives with his doting sister and “captain awesome” who only push him to find a girl.
Sam lives with his doting parents who push him to do nothing. Both work for chain stores, one in electronics and the other in an all-purpose store. They both have the DEVIL as the boss. While Chuck works for the government, Sam works for the ACTUAL devil. Both have hot girls on the show that are only interested in the leads as friends (maybe). The lead actors on both shows (Chuck – Zachary Levi & Reaper – Bret Harrison) are undeniably charming in a geeky sort of way. The final grade is Chuck gets a solid B while Reaper is easily an A-. Reaper makes me laugh out loud several times during the show and that’s what I am looking for in a show that is campy and fun.

Journeymen – This show has a lot of holes in it. I won’t deny that. But it is still soooo good. There are rumors that maybe it would be canceled and that would be a shame BC is it better then other shows, i.e. Bionic Woman. Kevin Mckidd, Scottish import, plays for all intensive purposes a time traveler. We have no idea why this is happening but he has to go back into time and save people. It’s a very interesting concept. It’s little part Quantum Leap, Dr. Who with no TARDIS, and Back to the Future. It seems like it is also somewhat like the book "The Time Traveler's Wife" which I just started reading today. Give this show time to meld together, flush out some of the characters and it could be a very long running opportunity for NBC. Final Grade = -B

Pushing Daisies – This could very easily be the best new show on TV right now. Lee Pace (who I have loved ever since Wonderfalls) is so quirky and cute in this show as a pie maker that brings the dead back to life. He is very hard to resist. Chuck, played by Anna Friel, (Life Partner of David Thewlis; which is a connection to Harry Potter) is British in real life but you would never know because her American accent is so good. She is sweet and adorable and compliments Lee Pace very well. The colors and clothing are so bright and retro that is reminds me at times of “Edward Scissorhands.” It’s also a big plus that they have Jim Dale doing the narration (Dale does the “Harry Potter” books on tape). Chi McBride and Kristen Chenoweth are also very cute and funny playing their supporting characters at perfect pitch. Final Grade = -A

Dirty Sexy Money – I was surprised how good this show actually is. It is about a too rich family, The Darlings. They are everything that is wrong in the society in which we live. They have the morals of, I don’t even know what. But it’s hard to turn away. To the priest that has a wife, daughters and an illegitimate son, to the politician who is in love with a transsexual and to the twins who are just living off the families money makes you feel that you are really watching something that we see on "Access Hollywood" everyday. It feels weird that you find yourself rooting for the family to have things work out at the end, even if they have to literally pay for it. Final Grade = -A

Life – Damien Lewis another British import plays a Zen detective who was put in jail for 12 years for wrongly being convicted to murder. Now free he wants to find out who framed him. Detective Crews now living off the settlement that the state agreed to for putting him in jail for something he didn’t do. He works for the same department and solves crime while looking for clues to see who really committed the crime that put him in jail. In between all the crime solving and clue finding he also has time to frequently pull over his ex-wife’s new husband and eats tons of fruit. Trying to live a very Zen life he doesn’t want to be attached to “things” but finds himself often attached to fast cars. Damien Lewis looks amazing in the show with nice suits and form fitting bulletproof vests. Even though his character wakes up to a different woman everyday he is still charming. The supporting cast is exactly that. The show does not focus too much on them except for a drinking problem that his new partner has. Final Grade = B+

Private Practice – All is have to say is PAUL ADELSTEIN!!!! He is amazingly cute. I can’t take it. Kate Walsh feels like Meredith (From Grey’s) with her quippy phrases and her feelings of “missing magic”. I think she needs to detox herself from Seattle Grace so she can find her spot in LA. There is a lot of chemistry between Kate Walsh and Tim Daly. Amy Brenneman as a stalking therapist is something I think we can all relate to. Paul Adelstein as the over sexed pediatrician is perfect. Why they always make pediatricians over sexed is beyond me, if you remember Doug (George Clooney) on ER, he was another over sexed pediatrician. It’s like they are supposed to balance each other out so you don’t hate them completely. Even though they are having sex with anything in a skirt, they are really good with kids and that makes is better somehow… I guess it works because I absolutely love Paul Adelstein in this role. I also really like Audra McDonald as the replaced cast member. Let us not forget the hotness of Taye Diggs. When he smiles my mind gets mushy. I think this show will do well and I look forward to Wednesday to see some Paul Adelstein being adorable. Final Grade = B+

Bionic Woman – Truth time… this show is not great. If it were up to me I would do something quick before it becomes a money pit. Yet another import from England, Michelle Ryan, one would think it might be better. It's slow moving and is not cohesive. The action sequences are fun but the story falls flat. It got a little better with Isaiah Washington joining the cast but not that much better. This show could be great. With the supporting cast I feel that they just needed to dump these actors somewhere BC their previous shows were finished and didn’t know what else to do with them. Which is a shame BC some of them are good actors. I will probably watch a bit more but my patients is waning. Final Grade = -C

Carpoolers – I watched the first one and didn’t laugh once. The weird son of one of the carpoolers, played by TJ Miller, was the only interesting part of the show because he is so weird. But I think I have given up on the show and I don’t expect it to last long. Final Grade = D

Back To You – I watched the first one and laughed. Once. I have given up on this show and have no interest anymore. Final Grade = -D

Heroes – This is still a great show. I like that it is turning a bit into Lost with all the different theories. At times it's funny, sweet and mostly Kick ASS!! Milo Ventimilgia not wearing a shirt is also always a plus. Having EX – Sark, AKA David Anders on the show was a stroke of hot brilliance. (He’s the opposite; playing a Brit when really he’s from the Midwest!! LOVE IT). I like all the new character’s thus far and I have no complaints about this show at all. Keep rockin’ Heroes, I can’t wait to see what happens. Final Grade = A

The Bachelor – So far, so good. I know I am a huge sap for watching this show still. But I like it and I can’t help it. I am sure that no one else care about this show, so I won’t get into it, but the bachelor this year is actually good looking and seems to have good taste. Final Grade = -B

House – The pioneer of British playing an American. He is brilliant, both Dr. Gregory House and Hugh Laurie. I love the first episode when his guitar was taken hostage. House is looking for a new team this year since his old team no longer works for him. I like that he has them all competing against each other. House is running with this idea and it’s quite fun to watch. Final Grade = A

Brothers and Sisters – I love this show. Every time it’s on I always say, “I could watch 4 hours of this show. I wish it was on for a longer time.” Every single character is full, strong and real. Watching them together you feel that they are really family. They bicker back and forth, fight together against anyone who tries to hurt them and incredibly love each other. I cry with them, laugh with them and feel for them. Ron Rifkin is the sweetest man and best uncle in the world. It's a far cry from his Alias role as evil Arvin Sloan. Don’t get me started on the hotness of Matthew Reiss crying (another hot British man playing an American), David Annable crying, and Rob Lowe fitting in nicely with the show. I was happy that Sally Field won the Emmy she well deserved it. This is a great show that everyone should watch. Final Grade = A

How I Met Your Mother – Neil Patrick Harris is brilliant as the womanizing businessman (maybe he’s an attorney – he’s rich but no one knows what he does). This show is smart and funny. Like “Will and Grace” the supporting cast out shines the leads. You can tell that they are all friends and they really have a good time together which makes it fun for the viewer. Good times. Final Grade = -A

NCIS - I only really started watching this show in the summer and now I am hooked. Mark Harmon is really good. It’s sort of another CSI but not. There really isn’t anything else to watch on Tuesdays at 8pm so I recommend this show. Final Grade = -A

Criminal Minds – Again I didn’t start watching this until the summer and found myself hooked. I am probably the only one in the world, but I really like Mandy Patenkin. I am sad to see him go, but what are you gonna do? The rest of the cast is really strong and the stories are very good. They can be graphic but they are always interesting. It’s up against Private Practice and Bionic Woman which might win the time slot, but I have to say that it’s kind of a better show then both of these shows (and I like Private Practice). Final Grade = A

Ugly Betty – Love this show. Love America Ferrera. Love the camp. I just love this show. Is there really anything else to say? I think not!! Just Watch!! Final Grade = -A

Smallville – Lex is still hot and that is worth watching. But I really hate Lois. I can’t stand that actress and the character. I love Chloe and wish somehow she had a bigger role. Clark is meh and I don’t know how I feel about having his cousin arriving, unless she turns into “super girl” and that would be cool. Lana is back from China and we’ll see how that goes. As the season goes on the better it gets. Final Grade = B

Grey’s Anatomy – Oy this show. It’s at a weird point. Last season ended dark and awkward. It’s slowly moving back to normal. I don’t know how I feel about the new people. I will continue to watch and look forward to picking up it’s pace again. As always the medical stories are very good. Final Grade = -A

ER – I have to admit that I haven’t been watching steadily, but the prospect of Scott Grimes crying makes me want to tune in this week. Other than that I don’t really have any interest in the characters or the story. Final Grade = C+

CSI – I still like this show a lot. My only complaint is that I wish they would have killed off Sara. I can’t stand Jorga Fox. But I am happy that she won’t be on the show anymore as her character has switched shifts. No complaints other then that. They are still going strong and will for a long time. Final Grade = -A

Survivor – I don’t watch this show anymore. Something had to go and this was the weakest link. Final Grade = C (I have to give it something).

This is from my day out with Miriam when we saw Harry Potter and Spring Awakening. I was walking down the street and poor unsuspecting "Bianca" from "All My Children" was walking the other way talking on her cell phone. She got off the phone and she took the picture with me. She briefly told me that she is getting married but plans on returning to AMC, she never really left she just takes time off. I was very excited!!!

This is Shane and Me after the Damien Rice show at the WAMU Theater in MSG. He's great. I wish we were able to hang out longer but what are you gonna do. Look at the cuteness.

This is Brendan Buckley. Drummer extraordinaire. He was filling in for TomO (Tom Osander) who is the regular drummer for Damien Rice but was at the moment helping Lisa Hannigan (who's dating The Lighbody) with her new album!! AWESOME! Anyway, Brendan was amazing. I hate to say it bc TomO is my third favorite drummer of all time (after Carter Beauford DMB and Dom from Muse), but Brendan was so amazing that I barely missed TomO. Even Shane looked impressed during the show.

Well , well, well... The "sensitive" Damien Rice. I am so mean to him and I am not sure why. He's really nice in person. But I won't go into it BC I always go into it. But there he is NOT looking homeless. I have to say his hair is great. Nice jacket. Funky Orange chords. It's all good. Why he was wearing a ratty old baha from 1970 and torn chords after the show? It's beyond me. This is the potential he could have ALL the time... but what are you gonna do?

I am so proud that I caught this moment with my camera. I saw it coming and instead of the usual gawk of amazement I took a picture instead. This was from The Frames concert at Webster Hall. Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard. She sang a few songs with Glen from their movie "Once" and then joined the band to sing 2 songs or one song. I can't remember. But look how cute they are!!! THEY LOVE EACH OTHER! It's too much. At one point Glen leaned over when she was at the piano and kissed her. Right. On. The. Lips!! I freaked out. I think Honey was also a smidge beside herself. It was a really sweet moment. Look at this picture I found from a show (sort of) that they did in Derry promoting the movie. I mean really there is nothing cuter.

Ya see how good he looks? Damien needs to take some lessons in fashion from his Irish friend over here. This is the way to dress. Perfect jeans with the right belt, good shirt and a nice casual jacket.
This was a good show but Honey and I both agreed that the show from Town Hall was better. We went with Cara and met up with Ian (our irish friend from Damien Rice show). It was a nice day.


And finally a touch of adorableness. This is Kayla. I am her Auntie Hoppa - why I don't know but I am. She is Miriam's daughter and pretty much my neice. She really says the cutest things. She was drinking a cup of water and took a huge sip. After wiping her lips she said very matter of factly, "That was good coffee. Don't you think so Mommy?" She's 3 1/2 going on 16.

Also on a last note: I didn't think that there could be a worse movie then Alexander, but alas I have found a movie worse then that. I hate saying so BC it has Cate Blanchett and I love her. But "The Good German" is G-D awful!!! I mean really awful. It was painful to watch.

I also saw "The Last King of Scotland" and that was most excellent. James McAvoy was amazing. As was Forrest Witiker. It was slighlty disturbing at points that made it hard to watch. Overall it was a very well done movie. I'm not sure why James McAvoy wasn't nominated for an Oscar BC he would have won. But I am not an Oscar voter.

That 's all for now. Enjoy watching good tv.