07:00 The Middleman
08:00 Supernatural
12:30 Greg The Bunny
01:00 Good Morning Miami
The Middleman. Episode 6. "The Boyband Superfan Interrogation" The best episode so far. It had the best story and was the funniest episode. The idea of banished dictators/criminals arriving on Earth and posing as a boyband is hilarious. The idea that the foul-mouthed soldier that comes after them should appear to be a 14-year-old girl named Cindy is even better. I love this show's habit of bleeping out foul language with on-screen graphics as well as beep sounds. It cracks me up every time. But never more so than with Cindy and her constant swearing.
Matt Keeslar did some of his best-ever work in this episode. Not only was all the stuff when he was mourning the loss of Ida great, but I loved his scenes interrogating Cindy. Him and Eden Sher yelling and shouting at one another like it was some dark police thriller. He was pitch perfect every step of the way. A great actor.
Supernatural. Season 2, Episode 8. "Crossroad Blues" A great case-of-the-week episode. It opens with a very stylish flashback to the 1930s and all scenes set there look great. The present day story (of ordinary folk achieving greatness by making a deal with a demon) is much better than it has any right to be. It's an old story. But the show finds a way to make it top notch entertaining. Firstly the people who's lives are affected by the Demon are interesting (especially the painter who asked for talent, not fame/fortune, poor schlub) and secondly the show ties this week's story into the backstory of the show (the brothers talking about the deal their dad made for the first time).
The death scene where the invisible hell hound killed the doctor lady is one of the scariest scenes they have ever had on the show. And Jeannette Sousa joins Nicki Aycox as one of the very best foes/demon girls the guys have ever encountered. She was mean with a capital M (and hot with a capital H). The climax with Dean matching wits with the demon was fantastic. The great thing about this show is that even when we know Dean is lying about his Dad in order to set a trap we also know that he means every word. That's great writing.
Greg The Bunny. Episode 11. "The Jewel Heist" Superb. Although dragged down somewhat by having to be "about something", in this case "the friendship between Greg and Jimmy", this is still an episode filled to the brim with laugh-out-loud moments. While the girls get obsessed with a paintball game, most of the guys skip out on it and head over to Greg's to help him deal with a dangerous dog (belonging to Jimmy's new girlfriend). The solution? Junction Jack performs surgery, replacing a vital part of the dog's anatomy with novely eyeballs that make a tune when banged together.
Good Morning Miami. Episode 7. "The Way to Dylan's Heart" This is a story told in very broad strokes, but the ending is so good that it makes it work. Just. Dylan sets Jake up on a date and the two couples (Dylan/Gavin and Jake/Cindy) go on a double date. The double date is a nightmare, with Jake being all over Dylan and totally ignoring Cindy. So (because this is sit-com world and such things happen here) the girl agrees to give Jake a second chance. The second date is also a nightmare for different reasons: Jake is all over Cindy this time. Too attentive and adoring for a first/second date.
All of this is unlikely, but amusing. What saves the episode is a truly wonderful climax. Dylan decides that she needs to teach Jake how to behave on a date (no kidding!). So they have a pretend-date over his desk in the office. At the end of the "date" she tells him he must pay her a compliment. And he does. Of course, he digs deep into his very real feelings for her and come up with something wonderful that blows her away. And studio audience. And me. A lovely moment in a so-so episode. And a series-high.
Highlight? The Middleman (Cindy)
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Sun, Aug 31, 08 - Middleman, Supernatural, Greg The Bunny, Good Morning Miami
