Better Off Ted, Lost

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

05.30 Better Off Ted
06.00 Lost
07.00 Lost

Better Off Ted. Season 2, Episode 7. "Change We Can't Believe In"

Lost. Season 5, Episode 3. "Jughead"

Good, but you are acutely aware that there are people you want to see that aren't being featured.

Lost. Season 5, Episode 4. "The Little Prince"

This was great. Everyone was in the mix. And every story seemed to be going somewhere. I enjoyed this much more than on first viewing. I think the constant time jumping was bugging me, the first time around, but this time I was fine with it.

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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Better Off Ted, Lost, The Good Wife, Barney Miller

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

06.00 Better Off Ted
06.30 Lost
07.30 Lost
08.30 The Good Wife
11.30 Barney Miller

Better Off Ted. Season 2, Episode 6. "Beating a Dead Workforce"

Lost. Season 5, Episode 1. "Because You Left"

Messy, chaotic. But a lot of fun.

Fun to see Ben lying about his last time to see Locke. Fun to see Sayid kicking ass. Fun to see Daniel meeting Desmond.

Lost. Season 5, Episode 2. "The Lie"

Still a mess. Still fun. Lots of Hurley in this one. Lots of stuff about honesty.

The Good Wife. Episode 12. "Painkiller"

Barney Miller. Season 2, Episode 7. "Grand Hotel"

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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Better Off Ted, The Good Wife, Hunter, Barney Miller, Space: 1999

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

05.00 Better Off Ted
05.30 The Good Wife
06.30 Hunter
07.30 Barney Miller
02.00 Space: 1999

Better Off Ted. Season 2, Episode 5. "The Great Repression" Sexual Harassment.

Lots of goodness here. As usual it's very funny, and - as usual - it's a dead-on satire on the corporate world. Andrea Anders has some great scenes in this one, running around sexually harassing everyone in sight. Delightful.

The Good Wife. Episode 11. "Infamy" Two cases: TV guy & a divorce.

Part of the fun of watching The Good Wife is sitting down and wondering what form this week's episode will take. No two episodes are structured the same, and this one is yet another deviation. Alicia takes more of a back seat than ever before, and all of the regulars get quality screentime. Will and Diane, who were ignored at the start of the season, are front and center for a lot of this episode. And it makes the show a better show, even though Alicia is still the character we care about most, because "The Good Wife" of the title isn't the only strong/interesting character on display. Will fascinates me. I like him, but I don't trust him.

This show always reminds me of The Guardian, but this one was even more like The Guardian than usual with Alicia being pulled off one case (one that meant a lot to her) and placed on another. Even worse, for Alicia, she wasn't needed on the other one. Not really. She was there for who she was, as a bargaining tool. And a very useful one, as it turned out. Great to see Zach Grenier and Jessica Hecht on the show, by the way, as they are two of my favourite performers. It was an interesting storyline. Firstly, on it's own merits, it was an interesting tale of a marriage coming to an end. Then, as part of the show's overall story arc, it was full of nuggets of interest. Finally, it was interesting to see Alicia being completely impotent in a storyline. She, as a person, really contributed nothing. She was being used by everybody at the table. Yet, much to our delight, she basically came away as the only winner.

All along I've loved the way this show has used Alicia's kids. Making them privy to information that Alicia does not have, and making them part of the conspiracy. This episode sets in motion the events that will bring that to an end, I fear. Alicia has been told that stuff has been posted to her apartment. She's asked one question about it. But I'm sure that that will not be the end of it.

Titus Welliver and Chris Noth get great screentime together in this one.

Hunter. Season 3, Episode 8. "Love, Hate and Sporty James" Witness to a killing.

Not much Hunter/McCall in this one, but Sporty carries the tale pretty well, there's a quick appearance from Jack Bannon and the story is very good.

It's one of those stories that Hunter does really, really well where the character behave in interesting ways and propel the events in unexpected ways. It's also an episode where we know more than our heroes, but they do a damn fine job of putting the pieces together.

When Sporty James (who is a semi-regular on the show) follows some hoods into an alley way he witnesses a murder and decides to make some money off the back of it. This says a lot about Sport and, indeed, a lot the world that he inhabits. As events unfold, we get to meet his girlfriend and a friend of his, trying to help his buddy by keeping his location a secret. It's an interesting world they inhabit, where everybody knows everybody and everybody knows somebody who is connected - somehow - to the world of crime. McCall even gets some good lines about it, as she drives around town, wondering who all these people are, where they come from and where they disappear back to?

Where indeed? One, at least, dies in the course of this story. Sporty sends his lady into the lair of the bad guy to make a deal for him and, next morning, her battered body is found in an alleyway. Nice work from Garrett Morris here, as Hunter and McCall take him the bad news of what's happened. Most of the time Sporty comes across as a one-dimensional supporting character but, in this tale, we really do get an insight into what makes him tick. The script doesn't judge him, just lays him bare. Flaws and all. He's greedy and selfish, doesn't really have much of a moral center, and his irresponsibility leads to the death of a woman. In the end of the tale, Hunter and McCall are sidelined and Sporty gets to go one-on-one with the mastermind bedhind everything. Usually 80s cop shows use moments like this as an excuse to have the hero show up and be the voice of morality that allows the wounded one to make the 'right choice' and lower their weapon before taking a lift. Not on Hunter. Here, as soon as Sporty gets the upper hand he shoots and kills the man who's been ordering deaths all along. The script allows just the right amount of weight afterwards, as Sporty thinks about what he has just done.

But he gets away with it. And, it is strongly implied, he gets away with a million dollars of the bad guy's money, too.

Barney Miller. Season 2, Episode 6. "The Arsonist"

Solid, unspectacular episode. Much is made of Wojo being late, from being out on a date, but nothing ever comes of it. Fish is depressed over his years on the police force. Much is made of that, too, but none of it goes anywhere. It just is.

One thing the episode does really well is paint a picture of the city. A store owner appears a couple of times and, we are told, his store is regularly robbed and vandalised. It's the price he pays for living/trading in New York City.

Space: 1999 Episode 10. "Alpha Child"

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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Friends, Better Off Ted, The Good Wife, Flight Of The Conchords, Barney Miller

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

05.00 Friends
05.30 Better Off Ted
06.00 The Good Wife
07.30 Flight Of The Conchords
11.00 Barney Miller

Friends. Episode 14. "The One with the Candy Hearts"

Better Off Ted. Season 2, Episode 4. "It's Nothing Business, It's Just Personal"

The Good Wife. Episode 10. "Lifeguard"

Flight Of The Conchords. Episode 1. "Sally"

Barney Miller. Season 2, Episode 15. "Happy New Year"

Highlight? The Good Wife
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Better Off Ted, The Good Wife, NCIS

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

08.00 Better Off Ted
09.00 The Good Wife
10.00 NCIS

Better Off Ted. Season 2, Episode 3. "Battle of the Bulbs" Khandi Alexander as Lem's mom.

Khandi Alexander isn't my favourite performer, by a long shot, but she's watchable in this typically brilliant BOT episode. Maz Jobrani, however, is a treat. The show has a core cast that is worth their weight in gold, but it has a couple of wonderful semi-regulars also.

The Good Wife. Episode 9. "Threesome" Boss in trouble.

Kevin Conway guests as Alicia's third boss, and makes a terrific impression, as he need her help in court. I hope we see more of this character. He really shakes things up at the law firm.

The evolution of his relationship with our heroine is the best part of the episode. Watching her quietly earn his respect is a joy. Alicia conducts herself with a quiet dignity that makes her the best new hero of the TV season.

The plot, too, has a nice twist at the end. Not quite as weak as some of the 'only on tv' endings that they use. It nicely gets the boss off the hook, though, and ensures a complex (almost downbeat) ending. I love those.

The boss also has some great scenes with Diane (the Christine Baranski character). In the heat of battle, he dismisses her - and her talent - by saying he only hired her because she was a woman.

Later on, at the very end of the episode, he retracts that comment. She doesn't need him to. She knows she was the best lawyer working for him in the old days, and she says it. And she means it. The subtext is clear. His approval isn't important to her, she has her own self-respect. That, to me, is great storytelling. I love it.

NCIS. Season 6, Episode 11. "Silent Night" Christmas.

Peter Coyote guests in a sweet NCIS with a great ending. Part of the fun of watching NCIS is in watching a group of people who work together and who love being with one another. Concocting an episode where they spend Christmas Day together is a fanboy's dream.

Highlight? The Good Wife
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Better Off Ted, Friends, Barney Miller

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

05.00 Better Off Ted
05.30 Friends
11.30 Barney Miller

Better Off Ted. Season 2, Episode 2. "The Lawyer, The Lemur and the Little Listener" Lem's lawyer lover, Linda's lemur book and Ted's daughter drive this episode.

It's not quite the masterpiece that the one that aired before it was, but it's still a very funny half-hour. The scenes where the employee's are fired are especially funny.

Friends. Episode 7. "The One With The Blackout" Chandler is trapped in an ATM vestibule with a hot model, while the others meet Paulo just as Ross was about to make his move.

One of the best of the early episodes. There's lots of very funny stuff in this one.

Barney Miller. Season 2, Episode 5. "Heat Wave" Park rapist, spousal abuse.

Another episode without bad guys in the holding cell, but still a good episode. Linda Lavin returns and her character has some good scenes with Wojo.

The storyline with the woman who comes in to complain about her husband beating her is typical of what this show could do. It's funny in places, but mostly serious and the ending is a genuine surprise.

Highlight? Better Off Ted (funny)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Better Off Ted, Melrose Place, The Good Wife, Barney Miller

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

05.30 Better Off Ted
06.00 Melrose Place
07.00 The Good Wife
11.00 Barney Miller

Better Off Ted. Season 2, Episode 1. "Love Blurts" Ted leads his new girlfriend to believe that he is of Indian descent.

One of the craziest, and funniest things, I've ever seen. The show uses one central idea (the company dictates dating/mating policy) and uses it to give all the characters something funny to do.

Jay Harrington has never been funnier.

And I love episodes where Veronica stops being a corporate cog and defends her team. Really cool.

Best line? Truly impossible to pick one.

Melrose Place. Episode 12. "San Vicente" The killer is revealed.

And I'm happy with it. It makes sense.

More important, Ella and Jonah get together. They are my favourite TV Couple of the moment and I love that fact that the show put them together. Katie Cassidy was great in their final scenes together. She lifts the material and makes it sing.

The Good Wife. Episode 8. "Unprepared" Arson.

Another one of those "only on TV" ending, but it doesn't take away from the fact that this is a superb show.

Julianna Margulies owns this show. Often without saying a word.

Scene one, here, is devoted to Chris Noth, scene two is driven by Josh Charles while Matt Czuchry is the center of the third scene. Three actors with considerable screen presence. Julianna Margulies barely speaks in these opening scenes, yet our attention never wavers from her and from her perspective. We are always invested in her, no matter who else is on screen or speaking.

Man, they lucked out when they cast her.

Aside from the case-of-the-week, which was basic and fine, we got some great material on the conspiracy storyline. I love the way the show has chosen to make the children the investigators. Clever. Loving it.

Barney Miller. Season 2, Episode 4. The cops walk into an "Ambush"

Much weaker than usual. There are no crooks on screen, for a change, and - therefore - no stories to tell. It's all about the cops and, I suppose, a bit too self-conscious.

Highlight? Better Off Ted (funny)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Better Off Ted, The Closer, Flashpoint, The Incredible Hulk

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

05.00 Better Off Ted
05.30 The Closer
06.30 Flashpoint
01.00 The Incredible Hulk

Better Off Ted. Episode 13. "Secrets and Lives" Veronica as a magician's assistant. Linda setting up Ted with her friend Rachelle Lefevre (why don't my friends do stuff like that for me?)

Another awesome episode, that made me laugh from start to finish and left with a big happy, grin on my face when it was all over. Seriously, Better Off Ted gives new meeting to the phrase Feel Good Television.

Portia de Rossi proved that she is even more awesome than I thought she was by showing us another side of Veronica. The show takes a risk by doing this, since part of the character's appeal is her total lack of a soft/human side. Having said that, the show has - in many occasions - hinted that Veronica has a soft side and cares about her friends. But it's always been a throwaway scene. Here, for once, we get a whole storyline devoted to the fact that the scary blonde lady has a secret lover and a secret passion for life on the stage. Even more: she's terrified that everyone at the office will find out her secret.

Once they show us this side to her, will we ever see Veronica the same way again? Probably not. But it's doesn't matter. The character is now strong enough to withstand a bit of character depth. And, more important, it just makes her funnier.

Lem meanwhile finds out that he has a twin called Byron. News to him, yes, but fans of Andy Richter Controls The Universe have known all along that somebody called Byron looks just like our dear Lem.

The Closer. Season 5, Episode 3. "Red Tape" Did Gabriel shoot an unarmed kid?

The Closer takes one of the most often-used storylines of TV cop shows and turns it into pure gold. While the mechanics of the case were a bit basic and a bit lame, the character aspects of the story were simply superb. The complex relationship between Brenda and Gabriel got a major going over in this one and it was a joy to watch.

Also a joy to watch: Mary McDonnell as Captain Raydor. TNT, can Raydor have her own spin-off? Please? Pretty please?

Flashpoint. Episode 18. "The Perfect Family" Kidnapped baby.

Another pitch-perfect heartbreaker. One of the main reasons this show works every single week is Enrico Colantoni. He projects compassion and empathy in every word he utters. In every episode, but particularly in the closing scenes of this one where he is mere feet away from a soon-to-be-dead kid.

Some weeks the show ends with everybody living, and some weeks somebody dies. And you never know what way it will go. Except this week. This week, the air of doom and sorrow was over-powering from the get-go and it was obvious that poor kid would die by somebody's hand before the hour was out.

Consistently remarkable television.

The Incredible Hulk. Episode 8. "The Hulk Breaks Las Vegas"

A badly-made episode with lots of very strong elements.

The biggest flaw this episode has is all the obvious dubbing in of expansionary dialogue. Nearly every second line of dialogue heard in the first quarter of the episode was added in post-production. And sounds like it.

Another thing about that first quarter of the episode... it's painfully slow. And boring. The whole thing is handed over to two guest characters who talk, and talk, and talk.

None of it very entertaining...

But there is entertainment to be had here. Lots of it. In the later stages of the episode.

David gets mixed up with gangsters in Las Vegas. Merely by walking past as a man is getting run down by a passing car. The man asks David to deliver a package to Jack McGee. It's a crazy co-incidence, sure, but what a great dilemma: David being asked to go talk to the very man who has been chasing him all over America.

How David sets about doing this, and helping McGee in general, says a lot about his character and makes for great viewing.

The sequence with the Hulk running around a casino is mild and inconsequential. This is definitely one episode that only needed one Hulk-Out sequence to make it work.

The final quarter of the episode is great. David and McGee are about to die side-by-side. McGee is unconscious, so he's not seen David. Eventually the Hulk saves everyone and the episode ends by giving us a great meeting between McGee and the creature. Their first-ever meeting and, as such, a real highlight of the series.

Highlight? The Closer (Mary McDonnell)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Better Off Ted, Arrested Development, Law And Order, Raising The Bar, Harvey Birdman, Wings

Monday, August 24th, 2009

07.00 Better Off Ted
07.30 Arrested Development
08.00 Law And Order
09.00 Raising The Bar
10.00 Harvey Birdman
10.15 Harvey Birdman
01.30 Wings

Better Off Ted. Episode 12. "Jabberwocky" Ted lies about the existence of a secret project, and everyone believes him.

A very basic idea, but it works and it's funny. Some of the scenes are like painfully bad chess, between clueless people, and it's very funny because of that.

Best bit? The scene where Veronica speaks to her superior about the project, having just heard about it for the first time.

Arrested Development. Season 2, Episode 9. "Burning Love" There's a wolf on the loose.

A wolf? I love Arrested Development and I'm willing to take the occasion leap to make the logic of the show/jokes work, but this episode is asking a lot. Especially the part where Tobias shoots his wife in the mistaken belief that she is the wolf.

Events over in the Michael storyline also stretch credibility. Plus plots about Michael work best when they are tied back to the family in some way, or there is an inherent awkwardness about the situation he finds himself in. Here, it seems as if fate is simply conspiring against him. And that's just not as funny.

But there is good stuff in here: everything with Gob his new/old lady is great and Jeffrey Tambor is hilarious as George Sr. recovers from the effects of the Hot Tub.

Law And Order. Season 19, Episode 11. "Lucky Stiff" Trucking Company. Going Green. Russian Mob. Incest (kinda).

A fast-paced and enjoyable tale. It could have worked as a two-hour episode. The cops have caught the killer and the trial is over by the mid-way point. There there is a further murder and the cops come back onscreen again. So, it's a complete departure from formula. And, even better, it's a strong story that merits this kind of special treatment.

Raising The Bar. Episode 8. "Out on the Roof" Trying to help his friend might get Charlie in trouble, so he turns to Jerry, and Bobbi meets a family with a corrupt sense of family honour.

While the Charlie storyline is easily the best (it's superb) this is a strong episode across the board, with great stories/scenes for pretty much everybody in the cast.

Jonathan Scarfe dominates the episode completely, showing us everything that Charlie is going through, as he deals with the return of Rafael, this time in jail. Wilson Cruz is terrific, too, of course.

Once again Jerry is written/played as the ultimate White Knight and I'm fine with that. This character has really grown on me. He's a television archtype.

Harvey Birdman. Episode 10. "SPF" Harvey has a mole, so he has to use sunblock.

The Harvey-is-addicted-to-sunblock stuff goes on and on and on, long past the point where it is still funny or interesting. It does get very surreal, however.

The case-of-the-week, though kept to the background, is funny.

Harvey Birdman. Episode 11. "The Devlin Made Me Do It" A kid is injured imitating a motorcycle stunt.

Priceless. A flawless episode. Hilarious from start to finish, with some truly inspired gags. My absolute favourite is the instructional video which specifically uses the kid's name ("Comma Bobby"). Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Wings. Season 2, Episode 19. "All in the Family" Brian dates Kenny's mom.

Joe and Helen are one of my favourite TV couples. They are cute, clearly in love with one another and - thanks to Crystal Bernard's spunky performance - they have a lot of sparks flying between them. Such as here, when secrets become the topic of much (funny) discussion.

The main storyline plays to Brian's strengths as a character and the ending once again shows that Wings (like Cheers before it) will write to the character, not to the joke, as a means towards delivering a much better episode.

Loved it.

Highlight? Raising The Bar (Charlie)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Arrested Development, Better Off Ted, The Unusuals, Barney Miller

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

08.30 Arrested Development
09.00 Better Off Ted
09.30 The Unusuals
02.00 Barney Miller

Arrested Development. Season 2, Episode 8. "Queen for a Day" Michael buys a car, everyone in the family sells their stock in the company. Except Buster.

The stuff with Michael being indecisive about buying a new car is funny, but I fail to see how it pertains to his character. It's funny. But it's filler, isn't it?

Lucille Austero returns. She is not introduced in any way, or described as being an ex of Buster's. For fans, like me, that doesn't matter but for new viewers this is bound to be confusing. She shows up and plays a large part in the episode and (unless you've seen Season One) you won't have a clue who she is or how she fits into the bigger picture. This doesn't bother me in the slightest, and I don't think that TV should talk down to it's audience, but I hold it up as an example of how AD 'lost' the casual viewers. People tuned in, didn't understand what was happening and never came back...

Better Off Ted. Episode 11. "Father, Can You Hair Me?" Hair-growth formula, and Veronica's dad shows up.

This one really blew me away. Not only did they successfully generate laughs using a terminal illness to drive the story, but they avoid anything even remotely mawkish or sentimental and managed to end the tale on a true high note that brought a tear to the corner of my eye. It was wonderful. Simply wonderful.

Likewise, the (apparently simple) Ted-storyline ended on a very touching high point. Neither of these stories took the usual route taken by this type of story on TV. And both were hilariously funny.

As a total sidebar: I love when the show writes Veronica and Linda in a conversation. I can't think of very many shows that put women in conversations. Conversations that are friendship-driven, and have nothing to do with romance.

The Unusuals. Episode 7. "The Tape Delay" A rich guy is kidnapped, and an old guy goes on a crime spree.

Treena Hancock and Melissa R. Byer deliver a very pedestrian episode. Rich guy fakes his own kidnapping? Seen it before! Old guy on crime spree talking about living life to the full? Seen it before! Girl chastises boyfriend for stuff that happened in a dream? Seen it before! Delahoy and his 'doctor' inching towards romance? Seen it before! Or, at the very least: expected it to happen before it did.

This one didn't dazzle, even if the characters did, and - for that reason - it was disappointing.

Barney Miller. Episode 11. "Escape Artist" The guys arrest a guy who has made a reputation for breaking out of prison.

I've seen Roscoe Lee Browne in many roles, but this must be his finest. This one really impressed me. Charlie Jeffers is written/played as a very wise, very dignified man. His observations on the world are profound and it's easy to see why the guys in the squad room fall under his spell. I did.

Also in the cell is Leonard Frey as a man who says that he can fly. Both are dreamers. And the script (by Danny Arnold, Chris Hayward and Howard Leeds) knows how to write them and make them affect you.

Other stuff happens, too: Harris mentions his novel for the first time ever, and Fish gets all the best one-liners (that guy cracks me up).

But the episode belongs to Roscoe Lee Browne as Charlie Jeffers. Profound stuff.

Highlight? Barney Miller (profound stuff)
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Better Off Ted, Barney Miller

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

11.00 Better Off Ted
12.00 Barney Miller

Better Off Ted. Episode 10. "Trust And Consequences" Lawsuit.

About five minutes into this episode, of Better Off Ted, all of the regular character have to step into a meeting and give a deposition, under oath. This is the best illustration I have thus-far seen, in the show, of what a truly superb cast it has. Not only have all five characters been extremely well-defined, but all five cast members can be hysterically funny when given great material.

This is yet another wonderful episode. Story-wise, it's about a test of the bond of trust between Ted and Linda which is resolved when (as is often turning out to be the case) Veronica does something nice behind-the-scenes to look after her team member. Veronica is easily the show's best character, her deposition scene alone will make you laugh for a half hour. But there is more to her than that. She's funny, yes, but she's also very, very interesting. What makes Veronica tick?

Barney Miller. Episode 9. "Vigilante" Inspector Luger appears for the first time, as Barney's men deal with a well-meaning vigilante.

Another example of why I love this show. It's funny, yes, but the best stories are driven by obvious dramatic concerns. The vigilante in this episode is a sympathetic character, and Barney and his men obviously like the guy and (while wanting him to stop) do not want him severely punished for his 'attacks' on muggers. Yet, the D.A's Office has it's own take on things and the cop's hands are tied.

Luger's appears for the first time, but it's not his best episode. The character takes up a little too much screen time and goes on for a little too long. However, this is a minor complaint about another strong episode.

Highlight? Better Off Ted (deposition scenes)
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Wed, Jun 24, 09 - Arrested Development, Better Off Ted

08.30 Arrested Development
09.00 Arrested Development
09.30 Better Off Ted

Arrested Development. Episode 1. "Pilot" Shorter version of the pilot, with swear words beeped out.

It cuts out the Cowboy references, pardner, and seems to push the (lack of) bond between Michael and his twin sister a tiny bit more.

Arrested Development. Episode 8. "In God We Trust" The Living Classics Pagent.

John Michael Higgins and Henry Winkler join the show in this episode for the first of several appearences. Both are hilarious. Interesting to see a show with 9 strong/funny regular characters being able to add two to the mix, for an episode, and not miss a beat.

There are some wonderful Michael/Lindsay scenes in this one. AD is not a warm and fuzzy TV show, thank goodness, but the sap in me still likes it when the character behave as if they do like each other once in a while.

Buster has now come into his own, now, as a character. The love affair with Lucille Austero really served to define the character.

Better Off Ted. Episode 8. "You Are the Boss of Me" Medieval Fight Club.

The most inventive episode so far, and probably the funniest. It's A+ stuff from start to finish.

Both plots are (cleverly) driven by the idea of underlings being friends with their bosses. In the a-plot, Ted pals around with Phil and Lem in Medieval Fight Club. Yes, Medieval Fight Club...

Meanwhile, in the b-plot, Veronica befriends Linda and showers her with her most intimate secrets, causing Linda to fear that she will be fired because she 'knows too much'. It's a wonderful, wonderful storyline. For a start it's great to see any show (comedy or otherwise) casting two women in a tale that has nothing to do with romance, rivalry or anything that defines them in relation to men. Secondly, Andrea Anders and Portia de Rossi are two of television's funniest performers. They could make anything funny. And this script is a delight. At one stage, Andrea Anders declared that she was 'fit shaced'. That's perfection.

Finally, Anders ends the episode dressed as Xena, Warrior Princess. I can die happy...

Highlight? Better Off Ted (Anders as Xena, fit shaced, etc.)
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Wed, May 6, 09 - Better Off Ted

07.30 Better Off Ted



Better Off Ted. Episode 7. "Get Happy" Veronica comes up with ways to make the staff 'happier' and make them like her more, while Ted tries to be liked by a demographic group that don't like him.

Another winner. While Portia de Rossi dominates the episode/series and gets all the big laughs here, there are wonderful plots/jokes for Andrea Anders and Jay Harrington.

I honestly thought I would never see a show as good as Andy Richter Controls The Universe, or a show with as good a cast, but this show is a close second.

Now, are we going to get a second season?

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Thu, Apr 23, 09 - Parks And Recreation, Unusuals, Sarah Connor, 24, Better Off Ted

06.00 Parks And Recreation
06.30 The Unusuals
07.30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
08.30 24
01.30 Better Off Ted

Parks And Recreation. Episode 2. "Canvassing" Leslie, Tom and the gang head out on the street to hear from local residents about the proposed park.

Definitely not as funny as the first episode. I like Leslie. A lot. But when she speaks I hear Michael Scott. And, apart from her, there wasn't much to laugh at in this episode.

The Unusuals. Episode 3. "One Man Band" Casey calls in favours to get a rich kid out of prison, Banks and Delahoy work inside a 'Murder Shop'.

Banks and Delahoy are two of the coolest cops I've ever seen on TV, and this is a fantastic show. Every story, every scene, every character is full of invention and creativity. This is one of the freshest and most exciting cop shows to come along in decades. It is taking the genre and shaking it by the balls.

Never in a million years would I have paired actors like Adam Goldberg and Harold Perrineau, but they are awesome together. And both characters are fascinating. As are all of the regular characters. Noah Hawley has created something special here. I hope it lasts.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 20. "To the Lighthouse" Sarah and John stay with Charley, while Cameron and Derek work together and John Henry faces a very surprising attack.

Wow. A lot of powerful surprises in this very strong episode. Yet, despite all the developments, this is still a completely character driven installment. Many of the scenes are just the characters sharing small private moments, or not speaking at all. And when they do speak, much of it appears inane. It's not, of course. The show is so bloody subtle in it's characterisations that you only appreciate the significance of what is happening when you've watched all the episodes.

I watched this with someone who has never seen the show before. Indeed he had never heard of it. A die-hard fan of shows like Heroes and Smallville, he wasn't at all impressed with Sarah Connor because nothing much happened. Yet, to a loyal viewer, this was significant episode from start to finish (watching Sarah turn to Derek, watching Cameron talk with Derek, etc.)

The ending was action-packed and brutal. Charley's death hit me hard. For many reasons. His place in Sarah's heart was clearly established. And John loved him, too. First Riley, now Charley. John Connor is headed for some very dark places.

And then there was all the stuff with John Henry. That was a total shock to me. I thought the story was headed in a very different direction. Now, I'm confused. And eager to see more...

24. Season 7, Episode 19. "2AM-3AM" Jack vs. Tony.

24 deals with it's biggest-ever twist in superb fashion. I was anxious to see Tony unmasked, but the show wisely allowed us to see more of his machinations before Jack began to put the clues together.

The detective work, when it finally came, was extremely well handled. The show uses events we never saw (but assumed to have happened) against us in spectacular fashion. We trusted Tony, so we accepted his word about things that were said to have happened off-screen.

I am not at all happy that Tony has turned bad, but I will be the first to applaud the masterful storytelling that got us to this place. I am not all happy that Tony has turned bad, but - in the context of the way they have told the story - I see how it was happening all along. That's some feat.

The only downside? Jack's illness has become an annoyance. Since we know that Kim will save his life, the delay in getting it done is starting to bore me. We know he will accept her help and return to full strength for the final hours of Day 7, so the fake waiting is boring me at this stage. Surely Kiefer has his Emmy submission tape in the can by now, let's get Jack back to 100% strength. We need him now more than ever!!!

Annie Wersching once again displays considerable acting chops. Her reaction to Larry's death and the following scenes were superb.

Best scene (that had nothing to do with Tony)? The revelation about Kim's baby (and her name being Teri) brought a lump to my throat. Can't wait for Jack to hear about that.

Better Off Ted. Episode 6. "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" Ted is wiped from the company database.

Another winner. This show has a great sensibility. Very anti-corporations. And some of the lines are comedy gold.

A show this good deserves to be a hit.

Highlight? 24 (Jack vs. Tony)
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Thu, Apr 16, 09 - Unusuals, Lost, 24, Office, Better Off Ted

06.00 The Unusuals
07.00 Lost
08.00 24
11.00 The Office
11.30 Better Off Ted

The Unusuals. Episode 2. "Boorland Day" A family with crime in the blood.

Everything I liked about the pilot of this show is back, and re-enforced in this superior first regular episode. This one is a keeper. A really good story with a lot of interesting invention when it comes to the details.

Lost. Season 5, Episode 13. "Some Like It Hoth" Miles' story is told.

It's mild stuff. Very enjoyable, but a lot less frantic/eventful than the previous episode. Many of the key issues from last week are ignored, but it's a solid fill-in-the-blanks tale.

24. Season 7, Episode 18. "1AM-2AM" Tony kills Larry.

Damn. I did not see that coming. I am in shock. This is clever stuff. They opened the season with the revelation that Tony had gone bad. Something no true fan of 24 wants to see. And they quickly 'revealed' that that was not the case. And we embraced it. And... forgot about it.

Now it comes back to bite us on the ass.

This may be the best ever twist in the history of 24 (no mean feat) but it could also be a serious jump-the-shark moment. Every fibre of my being does not want Tony to be bad. So how they handle the remaining episodes of this season will dictate how I feel about 24 from here on in...

The Office. Season 5, Episode 20. "Dream Team" Michael sets about putting together his dream team for his new company.

Clever scripting. It opens with a shattered Michael being carefully put back together by a calm Pam (who only means about half of the things she is saying) and it ends with a shattered and broken Pam being carefully put back together by a calm and collected Michael (who only means about half of the things he is saying).

I love that kind of stuff.

Better Off Ted. Episode 5. "Win Some, Dose Some" Ted and Veronica compete, Linda is accidentally drugged by Lem and Phil.

Five weeks in and everyone has found their stride. This show is a delight. A major high point of the week and something I look forward to very much indeed.

So, of course, it will be cancelled very soon.

Highlight? 24 (shocking)
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Thu, Apr 9, 09 - Lost, 24, Better Off Ted

09.30 Lost
10.30 24
11.30 Better Off Ted

Lost. Season 5, Episode 12. "Dead is Dead" Ben returns to the island to face up to his past sins.

A rollercoaster of a ride. I watched this with a friend and - as we watched - we occasionally made predictions about what might be about to happen next.

Every time: we were wrong.

Man, this is some show. For instance, I was convinced that Ben had killed Penny ages ago. I was sure of it. And, in this episode, I really thought we were about to see Ben meet his final fate.

Hah! So much for my theories...

24. Season 7, Episode 17. "12AM-1AM" Tony in action.

A thrilling episode and fine example of 24's amazing ability to create a new status quo and evolve without any strain. Jack is now confined to FBI HQ and Tony is the action-hero of the show. I'm fine with that.

The Olivia storyline reaches - what I presume to be - a conclusion. I can't imagine that the show will devote any more time to her in it's final episodes so, I'm assuming, she's going to get away with everything. Typical 24, really. That's a huge part of the fun of the show. Sometimes stories have the 'wrong' ending. On any other show Olivia would get found out and Ethan would get his job back, because that's the 'right' thing.

Better Off Ted. Episode 4. "Racial Sensitivity" Motion sensors that do not see black people.

Which this show has been very funny from the very start, this is the first episode with huge chunks of rewatchable jokes. Scenes and sequences that get funnier when you press rewind and watch them again. Several times over.

I love this cast. They are all fantastic, but Portia de Rossi is the real stand-out. She steals every scene and is the best thing about the show.

Highlight? Lost (impossible to predict from moment to moment what will happen next)
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Thu, Apr 2, 09 - Lost, 24, Damages, Better Off Ted

05.30 Lost
07.00 24
12.00 Damages
01.00 Better Off Ted

Lost. Season 5, Episode 11. "Whatever Happened, Happened" Kate tries to save Ben.

The Hurley/Miles conversation was a bit forces, yes, but it was funny and it nicely echoed all the conversations I've been having with my friends all week. And, I suppose, it's the same conversation Lost-fans have been having all over the world: Can Ben die in the past? How does that work? Etc.

And, it's to the credit of the show that they can get non-sci-fi fans wondering this kind of stuff and - gasp - taking about it. Out loud. Nice work, guys.

This is our first Kate episode in quite a while. I like Kate. Not as much as I like Juliet or Charlotte, but I still like Kate. I'm aware, however, that there is a lot of Kate-hate out there. I wonder if this - heartbreaking - episode will get anyone back into the Kate camp?

24. Season 7, Episode 16. "11PM - 12AM" While Jack gets medical treatment, Tony and Moss go after the bio-weapon.

24 amazes me and reminds me, time and again, of why I consider it to be the best television show ever made. This episode is a perfect example of why the show entertains me so much.

I thought Jack was getting the 'All Clear' when the lady from the CDC took him out of quarantine. Wrong! He is infected. I did not see that coming.

I thought Olivia was going to be written as a one-note bitch for the rest of the series. Wrong! In this episode she is shown as being nice to Agent Pierce, as being shocked by the deaths in Sangala, and as being a valuable member of the President's team. Yes, her methods (in the previous episode) are pretty dark, but - judging from this episode - the writers are prepared to write/portray her as a well-rounded character. Which, of course, makes her more interesting and likable. I did not see that coming.

I thought Agent Moss was on the fast train to Deathville at the end of this episode. He'd had his big reconciliation scene with Agent Walker and - more than anything else - he was heading into battle without Jack Bauer by his side. He was doing it in a helicopter, too. I was totally convinced that that chopper was going to get shot down, as Jack and Agent Walker watched. I would have bet good money on it. Wrong! Instead, the mission goes ahead and reaches a dramatic, exciting conclusion without a shot ever being fired. I did not see that coming.

I thought Tony had some good intel, and I thought that that guy who was helping him was completely trustworthy. Wrong! He was just a delaying tactic. Of course, I know that Tony and Moss wouldn't get the bio-weapon back that easily, but the twist concerning Greg Seaton was something else in this episode that I truly did not see coming.

24 manages superb action sequences, it manages genuinely thought-provoking drama and - on many occasions - it manages to completely surprise you and take the story in unexpected directions.

Damages. Season 2, Episode 13. "Trust Me" Ellen and Patti have their final (?) confrontation.

There are about ten incredible twists in this final episode. And I am delighted with eight of them.

Two suck.

Why would Dave Pell tell Patti so much information in that meeting in the church? And how are we supposed to believe that Patti was bleeding to death from a stab wound the whole time she was talking to Ellen? That's just crazy.

I'm trying to focus on all the good stuff, trying to get away from the stuff that bugs me. In general, this was a terrific season finale. The show managed to completely resolve all of it's story lines and I did not think that that was going to be possible.

It's an amazing show. But two of those twists really bug me...

Better Off Ted. Episode 3. "Through Rose Colored HAZMAT Suits" Ted brings his daughter to work.

The cast are funny and likable, and the stories are fresh and different. It's a comedy unlike any other show on the air and if we lived in a sane world it would be a highly acclaimed hit...

Highlight? 24 (full of surprises)
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Thu, Mar 26, 09 - Lost, Flight Of The Conchords, Damages, 24, Better Off Ted

05.30 Lost
08.00 Flight Of The Conchords
08.30 Damages
09.30 24
10.30 Better Off Ted

Lost. Season 5, Episode 10. "He's Our You" Sayid and Little Ben.

Superb. I love when I make predictions and Lost proves me wrong. I did not think that Sayid would try to kill Little Ben. I was sure of it. I predicted - during the episode - that Sayid would reject his past and try to redeem Little Ben. And, of course, I was completely wrong. Sayid shot him through the heart and I had to concede (to my friend watching with me) that I was utterly wrong.

I love Lost.

Also, I love this guest cast. Reiko Aylesworth, Zuleikha Robinson, Jon Gries, Doug Hutchison and William Sanderson are five of my favourite performers. The presence of one of them, alone, would make me excited to see any episode of anything. And Lost nabs all five of them in the same episode!

I love Lost.

Flight Of The Conchords. Season 2, Episode 10. "Evicted" Uh-oh! The last-ever episode?

If this is, indeed, the last episode then the show went out with a bang and earned itself major cult-status immortality forever with it's (sorta) downbeat ending. This episode had some of the cleverest music the show has ever had. Not funny, for once. But all the music was really, really clever. And the song in the middle was dark. I loved it. Can't wait to have that on my iPod.

Great stuff on Mel and her husband in this one, too. Some of the best Mel scenes, ever, and - to my shock - a 'happy ending' to their story.

A wonderful episode all-round.

Damages. Season 2, Episode 12. "Look What He Dug Up This Time" Ellen gets tough with Tom, and Daniel confesses...

Glenn Close and Michael Nouri did some fantastic work in this one. Their fight scene almost had me diving for cover.

This was the first episode to show some of the stuff from the flashfowards in taking place in the 'the present' but I still can't see how they will show everything in the one remaining episode.

The revelations in the final minute were shocking. And an example of skillful storytelling. Even as we see one revelation, and reel from it, we are given another revelation that totally undermines the one that went before.

William Hurt would make a great lead in Harry O if they ever decide to remake it.

24. Season 7, Episode 15. "10PM - 11PM" Jack and Tony go to the docks and steal the bio-weapon.

You know that 24 is firing on all cylinders when the talky scenes are just as gripping as the action scenes.

This is the episode where Ethan resigns. And it is a fantastic (and reasonably long) scene. The scene is dramatic not because of the bond between him and the President (but it helps) but because we know that Ethan was right to trust Jack and should not be stepping down. This adds a sense of 'this is wrong' to everything and means the character drama is just as fantastic as the other stuff.

Also, taking Jack and Tony out of the narrative for ten/fifteen minutes shows that the series is making an attempt to make the real-time aspect of the concept work. Jack and Tony are travelling and... nothing happens. So we don't see them.

Speaking of Jack and Tony, the action sequences were top notch and the dilemma where Jack opted to save the life of the security guard was one of the best scenes the show has ever done. It reminded me of the time that Jack saved Chloe's friend (when it had nothing to do with the mission) and it shows that Agent Walker has had an effect on him. Good.

Finally, as Larry Moss gets smarter and smarter with each passing week (and more inclined to trust Jack) he gets closer and closer to becoming one of the best new Characters on 24.

Better Off Ted. Episode 2. "Heroes" I didn't realise that so much of the humour would be in the form of running gags. Sigh. I love it. And this episode made me laugh very heartily many, many times. But, if there is one thing we learned from Arrested Development, it is that people will not watch shows like this. No matter how clever or funny they are. So, all we can do is hope that ABC, at least, show all 13 episodes.

Highlight? 24 (saving the security guard)
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Fri, Mar 20, 09 - Better Off Ted, Listener, Conchords, Damages, 24, WKRP, Jason Of Star Command

06.30 Better Off Ted
07.00 The Listener
09.00 Flight Of The Conchords
09.30 Damages
10.30 24
01.00 WKRP In Cincinnati
01.30 Jason Of Star Command

Better Off Ted. Episode 1. "Pilot" I feel as if Victor Fresco has had a go at bringing back Andy Richter Controls The Universe. And I'm fine with that. This opening chapter is very, very funny and (just like ARCTU) has a fantastic cast.

I really like this.

So, early cancellation is likely :(

The Listener. Episode 2. "Emotional Rescue" Arsonist.

Yes, we've seen this done before (Early Edition springs to mind) and yes the plots are average. But...

I like it. The don't overuse the gimmick and - when they do use it - the use in in an intelligent way. The cast are great. The cop is written as being very smart and the hero is written as often being wrong. So, it's interesting to watch them working.

Also, the show looks fantastic. All the buildings seem lit with different colours, or something.

One major complaint. The Colm Feore scene was badly written. He popped up, delivered exposition, and vanished. Awful writing. And a dreadful waste of a truly fantastic actor.

Flight Of The Conchords. Season 2, Episode 9. "Wingmen" Bret falls in love.

Again. Oh dear. Why are so many of stories driven by the idea of being love with the babe-of-the-week? Yes, there are quirky ideas in here, and it's a fairly funny episode but they need to stay away from romance for story ideas.

Best gags? Mel teaching the boys how to be stalkers. Lovely.

Damages. Season 2, Episode 11. "London. Of Course." Claire Maddox makes a bid for power and Patti receives some photos...

Very strong episode. Claire Maddox has become one of my favourite characters on the show. The fact that she is outraged by the her boss' evil activities has taken me by surprise and I've been rooting for her over these past few weeks. I hope her defeat/firing this week doesn't mean she is gone from the show. Interesting, too, that the writers choose to bring about her downfall because of her sexuality. A powerful and smart woman being punished for being sexual.

The Ellen/Patti scenes were electric this week. Particularly the final scene where Patti revealed that she knew who sent the photos. That was rivetting stuff.

Two episodes left... Seriously, how can they cover enough story next week to bring us up to the flash-forwards?

24. Season 7, Episode 14. "9PM - 10PM" Jack goes to Mayer's house and searches his files. Morris works with the FBI to track Jack. Olivia and Ethan have a face off.

Another strong, action-packed, episode with many surprises and a very satisfying resolution to a couple of ongoing plots.

Season Seven is dangerously close to surpassing Season Five here. As the weeks go by, it seems less and less likely that they are going to stumble and fall.

I was surprised when Jack and Mayer began to work closely. Mayer emerged (in this episode) as less of a caricature, and more of a three-dimentional character. The resolution of his character arc (where he offered to work with Jack) was simply wonderful and not at all where I thought they would go with this plotline. When has 24 ever been this character-driven? Mayer has been akin to a moustache-twirling villain from the very start and we've been wait for his comuppance. For him to be proven wrong, or - even better - need Jack's help/methods to save his life (which is, in a way, what happened in the White House). But for the character's final episode they find a completely different way to end his conflict with Jack. That ballsy writing.

I was surpised by how much I loved the Olivia/Ethan stuff. Despite early worries, I'm really loving her now, and I'm very keen to find out if she's a bad apple or not. Bob Gunton and Sprague Grayden were terrific. You would expect an actor of his considerable presence and talent to eat her alive on screen. Not the case. The young lady more than holds her own. Maybe it's time for me to stop being annoyed by her.

The Olivia/Ethan stuff is great fun, but doesn't it weaken the President somewhat to have these two squabbling? Since they are her senior advisors. And part of me fears that bringing the President's daughter into the story is dangerously close to last season's debacle (with Jack's family). But, I'm not rolling my eyes in disbelief. Yet.

I was surprised/delighted to see Morris back for some major screentime. And helping catch Jack, no less. But it makes perfect sense. How else were the writers going to get Chloe out of jail? That has - honestly - been on my mind all week: "How do they get Chloe back?" Well, now I know. Clever.

Aside from the surprises, this was an episode of great fights and chases. The last fight, with the hitman, had a real rough-and-tumble feel to it.

And now we know where Tony has been all this time: drinking coffee someplace and hanging out. O-kaaaaay...

WKRP In Cincinnati. Episode 72. "Rumors" An episode with nothing very serious to say, and - oddly enough - the funniest WKRP episode in a while. Many, many laugh-out-loud moments and several cute plots where rumours fly around the station causing complications. The ending is too forced to be really funny, but it's a strong episode.

Jason Of Star Command. Episode 2. "Prisoner of Dragos" Sid Haig is fantasic. Jason spends this episode as a prison of Dragos and he discovers the evil despot's plan to send Clones back to Star Command to do his bidding. James Doohan is miscast, or something, but everyone else is great fun. Susan Pratt is much better in this episode. She gets more to do and she's good. She also wears a tight spacesuit in the manner of Erin Gray and it's very fetching :)

One thing: I'm starting to hate W1K1, the cute little robot. It's no so much him/it, but whenever he comes on to do his thing, they play stomach-churning cute music. And I hate it...

Apart from that... This is a fun show alright.

Highlight? Damages (Patti and Ellen chat about the photos)
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