07:30 Columbo
09:30 90210
Columbo. Episode 12. "The Most Crucial Game" Very enjoyable. There's no real cat-and-mouse game, but we get to see lots of great Columbo moments where we see him noticing things and react while nobody is watching him. This episode also boasts one of the very best endings. The ending is moderately clever and satisfying, but the way it is shot and edited raises it up towards being magnificent. The revelation is followed by no dialogue, just multiple close-ups and silence until the eventual fade to black.
Robert Culp returns to the show to play the killer again, but he and Peter Falk share very few scenes. Instead, the rumpled detective behaves more like a typical TV detective and spends a lot of his time with other people: a football coach (James Gregory), a private eye (Val Avery) and a prostitute (Valerie Harper). All three guest stars are terrific and these scenes allow us to see another side of Columbo: the tough detective. He's not bumbling with he lays a trap for the pi or when he forces the call girl to give him some info. And every step of the way he's the clever observer we know and love. This movie is filled with great Columbo moments (the water, the telephone, the off-switch, the clock). Time and time we see that this is a clever guy and we root for him.
90210. Episode 6. "Model Behavior" Some elements are good, but most of this one is plastic nonsense. Only in the crazy world of 90210 could this happen: a fashion photographer desperately needs Debbie's help for a fashion shoot/show and - soon - all the kids are involved. Nonsense. Normally I will accept this if the she can throw something good into the mix, but there is little to enjoy in this one. Best bits? The Kelly/Brenda fight over Dylan, Adrianna's problems and the stuff between Naomi and her boyfriend. Their break-up scene in the car was wonderfully underplayed and rather heartbreaking. The show needs more of this and less of the "I desperately need your help with this fashion show" crap.
Highlight? Columbo (clever hero)
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Sat, Oct 4, 08 - Columbo, 90210
Thurs, Sep 25, 08 - It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Knight Rider, 90210
09:00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
11:00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
12:00 Knight Rider
01:00 90210
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 2, Episode 10. "Dennis and Dee Get a New Dad" One of the best episodes. There are several highlights in this one: Danny DeVito going nuts in a very public place after being told that his kids aren't really his kids, Charlie & Mac attacking Stephen Collins in a car park and Dennis & Dee going onstage to sing with their real father are three of the best sequences the show has offered so far. Hilarious.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 3. "The Mousetrap" One of the best episodes. Unlike last week's case-of-the-week type story this one is completely driven by how the characters react with one another. Cromartie kidnaps Michelle which sends Charley to Sarah for help. She and Derek respond but all is not what it seems. Meanwhile John tries to find distance from Sarah and Cameron, which means more time with Riley and - unfortunately - leaves him wide open for an attack from Cromartie. Ellison, meanwhile, finds himself face-to-face with Catherine Weaver for the first time.
So... here's a show where all the conflict/drama comes from within. The character's relationships are enough to drive the show at the moment and that is a fantastic strength in any television series.
John continues to be my favourite character. Watching him grow into manhood continues to be great television. I love having Busy Philipps on the show. I've adored her ever since her awesome Love, Inc. sit-com and she seems to be a great addition to the mix on this show. Her baby, I assume, will have some sort of impact on Cameron's continuing growth. Gonna be cool to see that. It's cool watching Cameron here, too. What is really going on in her head, now, with regard to John?
This episode, however, is devoted to Charley, Michelle and Sarah. Cromartie's plan is very, very clever (except for the last part, of course. Why did he choose the pier?) and there is some great drama to be had from watching Charley, Michelle and Sarah deal with the trap and it's horrible aftermath. Rarely has a show managed to impact on me so much with the death of a minor recurring character. There is no dialogue from any of the regulars in any of the final scenes, you'll notice. Images tell the story. It's a sad story. And this is a supremely skillful television series.
Knight Rider. Episode 2. "A Knight In Shining Armor" Appalling television. Seriously. This is, like, some of the worst TV I have ever seen in my life. The story is badly constructed and non-sensical. Changes in tone are jarring and un-natural (as if we are watching clips from different episodes). Minor-characters (plus attempts at comedy) are absurd and hateful. KITT defies the laws of physics at every turn and the whole show is inept and embarrassing.
90210. Episode 5. "Wide Awake and Dreaming" One of the best episodes. Driven by three strong stories and a really likable cast this one is a real pleasure to watch. Jessica Lowndes is amazing as her character's drug problems come to a head and force her out of the school show. Fascinating character (finally) taking center-stage and - wow - can that lady ever sing!!
Naomi's family falls apart around her and... I care. AnnaLynne McCord has made me like the character and want to see how things go for her.
Harry Wilson is no Coach Taylor but I enjoyed seeing him come to terms with his daughter's awakening sexuality. Annie's hasty decision to sleep with Ty, her quest for a condom and the sad end of her evening all made for good viewing.
Sure, it's a far cry from Greek or Friday Night Lights but it's not trying to be either of those shows and it's a pretty good sequel to the original. I'm a fan. I'm in this for the rest of the season.
Highlight? The Sarah Connor Chronicles (death in the cast)
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Sat, Sep 20, 08 - Closer, House, Columbo, 90210, Beverly Hills 90210
01:00 The Closer
02:00 House
08:00 Columbo
10:00 90210
11:00 Beverly Hills 90210
The Closer. Season 4, Episode 6. "Problem Child" Dark stuff. He might only be 13 but the child at the centre of this story is a disturbed individual. He's the victim. And, as the team investigates, they discover that a lot of people had a lot of very good reasons for wanting him dead. In many ways it's more like a Without A Trace episode than an episode of The Closer, because the story really paints a full picture of the victim and who he was. Superb storytelling.
The final scene, where Brenda and her boyfriend talk about a new house (but are really talking about whether they will have kids or not) is heartbreaking and masterful.
House. Season 5, Episode 1. "Dying Changes Everything" Great opening episode. Thirteen takes the lead with the case-of-the-week and it plays wonderfully into her own life and illness. House and Wilson are on speaking terms and nobody is laying any blame for Ambers death at House's feet. Least of all House. At least that's how it starts: Wilson decides to quit and leave, so House blackmails him into stay by abandoning his own patient and leaving her to die.
Only on House!
I love the way the show was able to deliver the conflict we expected, but not in the way we expected.
Columbo. Episode 11. "The Greenhouse Jungle" Clever and very satisfying. No real game of cat-and-mouse this time out but lots of funny scenes of the great detective doing his thing. It's one of the break-with-forumla episodes as: it's a kidnapping not a murder, the victim is alive for most of the story and - without knowing he will ultimately be killed - he helps the killer plan and execute the whole thing. Also, the twist at the end has nothing much to do with any mistakes made by the killer. It's just a case of Columbo being a very good detective, being willing to do a lot of paperwork on his suspects and - in this case - getting very lucky.
90210. Episode 4. "The Bubble" Really enjoyable. Probably the best episode so far. I adore Naomi. She's so sweet and quaint. A spoiled rich teen in a spoiled rich world who is horrified by the thought of her father's cheating on her mother. I should roll my eyes at this storyline, but the actress sells it and... I care. Meanwhile the flirtation between Dixon and Silver steps up a notch and - for the first time in the series - I really liked Silver. Her confidence (in Dixon's attraction to her) is cute, funny and likable.
And now we know who fathered Kelly's child! Wow. I gasped with shock. In hindsight, it makes sense.
Beverly Hills 90210. Season 7, Episode 3. "A Mate for Life" Kelly gets the best storyline (by far) but all the tales in this outing are worth tuning in for. It's Nat's wedding and his wife's hot daughter (who happens to be an exotic dancer) is in town, and in Brandon's arms/bed. It's a cute and fun storyline. Valerie (my favourite character) is still dealing with that latest bad boy love-interest of hers (he's married, the lying so-and-so) while David and Donna (my favourite couple) are having a tiff, because - suprise, suprise - he's being a jerk to her. Jerk!
It's lightweight fun. And the Kelly storyline really shines: she's working at an AIDS hospice. Nothing dramatic or silly happens, but she befriends one patient and he gives her some good advice about liking yourself and avoiding melancholy. And it's very good indeed. The advice, and the episode.
Highlight? The Closer (dark story)
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Wed, Sep 10, 08 - Veronica Mars, Privileged, Sons Of Anarchy, 90210, The Sarah Connor Chronicles
06:30 Veronica Mars
07:30 Privileged
09:00 Sons Of Anarchy
11:00 90210
12:00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Veronica Mars. Episode 7. "The Girl Next Door" is one of my least favourite episodes. I don't know, I just don't like the idea of Veronica stumbling into a case right next door. I've never liked it when private eyes (like Magnum) spend time helping friends and not actually taking cases. Plus, it's a fairly ordinary story and it doesn't really give much scope for Veronica to be clever and impress us.
Jason Dohring is the best thing about the episode. Logan is funny and interesting in every scene. He and Eli spend the episode in detention sparring with Mr. Daniels and becoming a little closer in the process. All of this is good. The rest of the episode... not so much.
Privileged. Episode 1. "Pilot" Not funny enough or interesting enough. A female writer (who is from the Ally McBeal school of TV females) becomes a tutor to a couple of spoiled heiresses. There were many bits here and there that were obviously supposed to be funny, but did nothing for me.
Sons Of Anarchy. Episode 1. "Pilot" A biker club gets the Sopranos/Shield treatment. Watching them ride around, towards the end of the show, being all 'cool' and 'menacing' I could not help but think that The A-Team would easily defeat them if they were to, for instance, threaten a small town. No small-towns for this gang, though. Mostly they are concerned with selling guns and - in this first story - getting back some guns that have been stolen from them. Series-star Charlie Hunnam has an alarming habit of swaying from side to side when the script calls for him to walk away from/towards the camera in dramatic fashion. It's quite distracting. I kept expecting him to fall over. But he didn't.
Katey Sagal, Ron Perlman and Ryan Hurst were the best elements about this pilot. I liked all of their characters. Everyone else left me cold. I'm not that concerned about any of them, and won't lose any sleep if I never see them again.
90210. Episode 3. "Lucky Strike" Three episodes and I'm still watching. I watched this as part of a group and everyone in the room was interested in the Ryan Eggold/Jennie Garth storyline and totally rooting for Mr. Matthews to win her heart. The only teenage girl in the room (19) felt that the show as too depressing for her to watch it every week. Easy to understand with Erin Silver being afraid to go home because of her drunken mother (how cool to see Ann Gillespie again!) and Naomi discovering that her 'family' is a sham. Sad. I really like Naomi now. And Ethan. The Wilson kids impress me less and less every episode. I don't dislike them (gosh, who could dislike those smiles, huh?) but they get pushed further and further down the list of interesting characters, that's all.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 1. "Samson & Delilah" It took a while to get going (and I'm not sure, yet, about Shirley Manson) but this was a great episode. Largely because of the final scenes where Cameron started to plead for her 'life' and the part where John stood up to his mother and opted to trust the terminator with a second chance at life. That was a cool scene. It felt like John Connor manning up. I really love that guy. And all of these characters. And this journey that they are on.
Highlight? Sarah Connor (...is back. Yay!)
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Tue, Sep 9, 08 - Prison Break, Californication, 90210, Sarah Connor
07:00 Prison Break
08:00 Californication
09:00 90210
01:00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Prison Break. Season 4, Episode 3. "Shut Down" Just when I thought I knew how the episodes were going to play out the show surprises me. It was a great episode. I feel a tiny bit cheated because the new status quo was fully intact when the closing credits rolled but it was still an intense and wonderful episode.
I worry for Bellick and Sucre. Is there a place for them in the new show as more than legmen? They both need plots of their own to keep them interesting. It's fun to watch Bellick moan and complain and try to escape but, in the long run, he will need more to do. Hopefully the writers address this. He has every reason to be on the team, but on the show...
This was a great episode for Alex. He was awesome from start to finish. I love when the show reminds us that this guy is as smart as Michael. I was surprised that his wife is still alive. Surprised and delighted. It means there is a (slim) chance for him to have a happy ending.
Best bit? The final scene where Linc put aside their past and swore to help Alex find his son's killer. That was beyond superb. Primal stuff. Quintessentially masculine. And great TV.
Californication. Season 2, Episode 1. "Slip Of The Tongue" Great opening episode. Now that Hank has everything he has ever wanted, all we can do is sit back and wait for him to frak it up. I love the way they addressed this in the episode, and his conversations with Mia and Becca were wonderful. Very typical of this show. There were many laugh-out-loud moments and a few to make you wince in pain/embarrassment.
90210. Episode 2. "The Jet Set" Oh dear. The second hour was a lot less interesting than the first. Annie went on a date to San Francisco and I was bored. Dixon bonded with his teammates and I was bored. I wanted to see more of Kelly and Brenda and know a bit more about their lives, but the episode sold me short. I'm certainly rooting for Mr. Matthews in his attempts to woo Kelly. Among the young kids, I'm still interested in Naomi and Ethan. Jessica Stroup was worse in this episode than the first (hers is the only character that I hate) and what exactly is going on with Adrianna? Going to the audition and flaking out? Then lying about it? Hmm.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Episode 9. "What He Beheld" Kick-ass cool. The best episode of the season is still fantastic on second viewing. The choice made to show the big battle from underneath the surface of the swimming pool was pure genius. And the scene where Derek killed the bad guy, while threatening the little girl, was amazing. Iconic stuff. Stuff you remember and talk about for years.
Highlight? Prison Break (Linc and Alex, together at last)
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Mon, Sep 8, 08 - Big Bang Theory, 90210
08:30 The Big Bang Theory
09:00 90210
The Big Bang Theory. Episode 13. "The Bat Jar Conjecture" In much the same way that Rules Of Engagement relies too much on the idea that Jeff is a boor to drive too many of it's stories, this show is relying too much on the idea that Sheldon annoys the other characters. It's fine once in a while, but every week? Seriously?
Sara Gilbert gets all the laughs in this one (about a quiz). Except at the end, where Simon Helberg does a great slo-mo strip. Too funny.
90210. Episode 1. "We're Not in Kansas Anymore" Is it any good? Yes. Is it a worthy sequel? Yes. What's the best thing about it? Jessica Walter, without a doubt.
Those are the only important questions, really, when it comes to the new 90210. I sat down to this hoping that I would like it. And I did. Jeff Judah has been quoted as saying: "We're leaning more towards the old model of people who are friends but have different ways of looking at things." This is what I liked about the original show, and this is the vibe I got from this one-hour pilot. Yes, there was some character conflict but you can't get away from the fact that these are all likable people and they are - consequently - easy to hang out with. Easy to like.
Shenae Grimes and Tristan Wilds make likable leads. Grimes, in particular, was compelling as we watched her character's journey into her new life in Beverly Hills. Dustin Milligan and AnnaLynne McCord were probably the best cast members in the young cast. McCord was a lot of fun to watch as the "bad girl" of the piece and Milligan almost stole the pilot from Jessica Walter as the weight-of-the-world-on-my-shoulders bad boy (cheating on his girlfriend, and stealing the heart of our central character as well). Milligan made the character likable, and made me want to watch him again to see where it all goes.
So, I'm happy with the main four character. I have mixed feelings about their sidekicks. They didn't get a lot to do, so they - mostly - failed to impress. Jessica Stroup was the one I most wanted to see (because I liked her on Reaper) but her character was awful. And her story arc was awful, too. Roll your eyes only-on-TV crap. The only misfire in this rather good pilot.
The adult cast (and indeed the show) was dominated by a funny performance from Jessica Walter. But, across the board, this is a fantastic cast. Jennie Garth didn't get enough to do, and this needs to be addressed in future episodes. Majorly. Kelly needs to have a main storyline in this. Apart from her (and Walter) I was most impressed with Ryan Eggold who says and does everything with an agreeable smirk.
This was a really good pilot. I'm outside the target demo, but I don't care. If they can tell good stories and make me like the characters I'll watch every episode. I watched this with another guy in my age-bracket who wouldn't normally be interested in shows like this but he loved it too. We both laughed every time Jessica Walter did anything and we were both impressed with the way it all ended: Naomi finding out that her boyfriend had cheated but not making a scene, instead she sucked it up and pretended to enjoy her party. While all the regular character watched and felt bad for her. That, to me, is much more interesting that over-the-top histrionics and "tv behaviour". Fact is, when the pilot was over I liked Naomi a lot, for all her faults.
I liked the show, too.
Highlight? 90210 (nice show, nice people)
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