Wednesday, September 23rd
06.00 Arrested Development
06.30 Melrose Place
07.30 Cupid
08.30 The Good Wife
09.30 The Forgotten
Arrested Development. Season 3, Episode 4. "Notapusy"
Strained. For once. It's a long time before the hearty laughs arrive, and when they do arrive they are scarce.
Rita appears very briefly and - as a consequence - works much better. But she's still not funny.
Melrose Place. Season 8, Episode 3. "Grand"
I was really looking forward to this all week. So, I guess, that means I'm becoming a fan.
I like the way Lauren, David and Michael are interwined (in the same storyline) now, with Lauren and Michael both trying to use the connection to David for different ends.
And I love the way Ella is interested in Jonah and he's unaware of it. They make an adorable couple, really. The bitchy and bitch and the nice guy.
Cupid. Episode 3. "The Great Right Hope" Trevor meets a kid who is trying to get his parents together. They have never met before, but the guy donated his sperm many years ago...
Better than #2, but not as good as the pilot. The guest casting is simply fantastic, Lee Tergesen, Constance Zimmer, Julie Hagerty, but the story (while pretty good) doesn't tug on the ol' heart strings.
The Good Wife. Episode 1. "Pilot" Alicia goes back to work.
I had no high expectations going into this, and I found that I really enjoyed it. I found myself rooting for the lead character very early on. When I read about this series I assumed I would not like her. I thought they wanted me to like her because of what had happened to her and the choices that she had made afterwards. But, instead, I liked her because everything in her world was stacked against her.
The Forgotten. Episode 1. "Pilot" Who is the dead girl?
The premise is absurd, and the execution is inept.
I have a great difficult in buying this concept: ordinary people find the time to solve murder cases. While holding down jobs and (I presume) personal lives of some sort.
But, even if I could get past that, I wouldn't have bought the dopey story they told in this first outing. Seldom have I seen a cop show where the revelation at the end was as unsatisfying and weak (murder over a cancelled move to LA?), and seldom has the route to that revelation been so convoluted (a sister who wrote down three years worth of wrong numbers!! Really??).
Highlight? The Good Wife (I really enjoyed it)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Arrested Development, Melrose Place, Cupid, The Good Wife, The Forgotten
Bored To Death, Melrose Place, Cupid
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
05.30 Bored To Death
06.00 Melrose Place
07.00 Cupid
Bored To Death. Episode 1. "Stockholm Syndrome" A guy, on an impulse, places an ad where he claims to be a private detective and... he takes a case.
Not sure what to make of this. It didn't make laugh. But it is mildly amusing. I think. Maybe.
It's not dramatic. I'm sure of that. And I'm pretty sure that I'm not supposed to take any of what happens very seriously, so I guess that leaves it as a comedy.
An unfunny comedy.
But I liked the central idea a lot. And I liked the supporting cast (Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis).
More than that I cannot say. Wish it had made me laugh. Even once.
But it didn't.
Melrose Place. Season 8, Episode 2. "Nightingale" Ella tries to sign a major client, Lauren turns prostitute one more time, Riley gets jealous over Ella, Violet confronts Sydney and Auggie fights with Sydney.
More fun than episode 1 as the show finds it's groove somewhat. The Lauren storyline is my favourite, it might be predictable but it is a classic Melrose storyline.
Ella is a lot of fun to watch in action (much like Amanda was, really) and despite the fact that her own storyline had false tension written all over it she made a strong contribution to all the other characters storylines.
Violet was a much more interesting character this time around.
Jonah is still a drip, but I like the fact that Ella likes him.
Cupid. Episode 2. "Live And Let Spy"
Oh dear. A big step down from the pilot. Sadly predictable and lacking in charm. Great cast, yes, but the magic of the original series is missing here.
Highlight? Melrose Place (fun)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Arrested Development, Melrose Place, Cupid, Barney Miller
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
05.00 Arrested Development
05.30 Melrose Place
06.30 Cupid
01.00 Barney Miller
Arrested Development. Season 3, Episode 1. "The Cabin Show" Everyone heads to Reno.
Very strong opening to the third season. Particularly in the George Michael and Maeby storyline, where they are now on the verge of Pop-Pop (or so George Michael thinks).
Melrose Place. Season 8, Episode 1. "Pilot" A dead body is found the pool, and anybody could have done it.
Not completely awful. Not as much fun as Original MP, but I did end up liking some of the new characters and if I have a free hour next week I'll watch episode two.
Cupid. Episode 1. "Pilot"
Bobby Cannavale is no Jeremy Piven, and Sarah Paulson is no Paula Marshall but - to my surprise and delight - the new Cupid show is good. I liked the characters and I liked the story-of-the-week. Count me in!
Barney Miller. Season 2, Episode 1. "Doomsday" William Windom guests as a man who straps a bomb to himself and takes everyone hostage.
Abe Vigoda steals the show out from everyone (even a typically strong Windom) and Fish is simply one of the funniest/greatest TV characters I have ever seen. Vigoda's slow dead pan delivery is a total joy to behold and his every utterance is laugh-out-loud funny.
The early part of the episode establishes that Fish is constantly going to the bathroom, then later (just after the mad bomber has unveiled his device) Fish calmly raises his hand and asks if he may leave the room!!
I laughed and laughed and laughed.
Wonderful stuff.
The story, meanwhile, is grim with a guest shot from Steve Landesberg (as a fake priest) proving the only laughs as the Windom character paints a very bleak view of the world.
This is also a great episode for Barney the character, and Hal Linden the actor, we get to see Barney acting like a true selfless hero and later thinking very deeply about the stuff that the mad bomber said to him.
It really doesn't get any better than this.
Highlight? Barney Miller (Fish)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
