Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007
07:30 The Big Bang Theory
08:00 Rules Of Engagement
08:30 Friday Night Lights
09:30 Californication
10:00 Prison Break
11:00 K-Ville
12:00 Chuck
The Big Bang Theory. Episode 2. A second outing for the four-nerds-and-one-babe sit-com that is even funnier than the pilot was. One of the nerds decides to break into the babe's appartment one night to... tidy it up. To be fair, it is a bit of a mess.
Rules Of Engagement. Season 2, Episode 2. The first episode - I think - to completely deviate from formula. For once the laughs don't come from Patrick Warburton being stubborn, instead the writers pair David Spade romantically with guest star Heather Locklear and the laughs continue to flow. I don't really get why Spade's character hangs out with the others, but Spade is funny so I try no to think about it too much.
Friday Night Lights. Episode 16. Too many highlights to mention. Here's one: Julie and Tyra have become friends at this stage in the first season, and Julie's parents are freaked. The confrontation scene - with Aimee Teegarden giving attitude, Connie Britton screaming in anger and panic, and Kyle Chandler staring silently off into space - is one of the best the series has given us. You'd not know it from Emmy Nominations but these three are giving the best performances of their career. And Teegarden just turned 18! How will she top this show?
Californication. Episode 6. Hank is back to one night stands. But the sleazy, desperate nature of the encounters (from episode one) is muted a little bit. Most of the episode shows him in decent light: adoring his daughter, going to 'rescue' his 16 year-old stalker, and having a sweet conversation with his ex. By the end of the episode, he is back in the arms of this week's random woman and the voice-over draws attention to the sadness of the whole dance. Californication is now clawing it's way onto my All-Time Favourite Shows list.
Prison Break. Season 3, Episode 3. Some of my friends (one of the very closest I have, in fact) is contemplating parting company with Prison Break. I'm not. Which got me thinking. We all watch it for different reasons, I guess. All of us. And the elements that enthrall me are still in place (I hope). I like seeing the various bonds form between this group of Alpha Males, I like the way the scripts can - first - mis-direct me and - second - surprise me. And, of the three locations we've had in the show (Fox River, America, this Panama Prison), the current one is easily my favourite. I love this dirty, grimy place and I can't wait to go back next week and find out what Michael has discovered.
As for what's in the box? My guess? The head of the guard that couldn't stop Linc.
K-Ville. Episode 2. Any reservations I had about K-Ville have been obliterated by this outstanding second episode. Focus shifts completely to Trevor Cobb (Cole Hauser) and he is a superb leading character. In many ways, he's a TV cliché (the tough cop) but his unique back-story seperates him from the pack, and makes this a show I'll watch to the end. While the story in this episode has been done on cop shows before, they found a great fresh way to tell it. It blew me away.
Chuck. Episode 2. Any reservations I had about Chuck have been re-inforced by this mediocre second episode. I don't get "Chuck". I don't get it, and I don't get the buzz that surrounds the show. I don't buy Zachary Levi as a nerd. His performance is too forced to win me over. I don't buy Yvonne Strzechowski as a hot/cool secret agent. And, most of all, I just don't buy the premise. I mean, I watch Prison Break & 24 and I still can't take the leap of faith required to enter this odd little world that Josh Schwartz is presenting us with. The nerds from "Big Bang Theory" (who did such an amazing job of ripping Superman to shreds) would have a field day with the absurd idea's on display here.
The only good thing in the episode was a funny dinner-party sequence, but it was a two-edged sword. It was funny, yes, but it put Yvonne Strzechowski and Sarah Lancaster in the same scene. Together. Highlighting the fact that while Yvonne is incredibly pretty, Sarah is drop-dead gorgeous. She should be playing the spy. And, while I'm at it, Joshua Gomez should be playing Chuck. Joshua & Sarah have chemisty. The actual leads? Not so much.
Highlight? I had a ball with everything, except god-awful Chuck, and I'm thinking K-Ville beats even FNL as the most entertainment I've had tonight.
The Big Bang Theory, Rules Of Engagement, Friday Night Lights, Californication, Prison Break, K-Ville, Chuck
