Notes From The Underbelly, The Unusuals, Kojak, Barney Miller

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

06.00 Notes From The Underbelly
06.30 The Unusuals
01.00 Kojak
02.00 Barney Miller

Notes From The Underbelly. Season 2, Episode 4. "Not Without My Noodles"

"Women are crazy, men are wimps" is the underlying theme of this show, it seems. But, as off-putting as I find that, I have to say the show can be very funny. Sometimes.

This is a funny episode. There are two plots. One tied nicely into the premise of the show, and another one which could be used on any situation comedy.

The friendship between Lauren and Cooper (my favourite character, and the funniest character) shows major strains as Lauren gets more and more involved in the world of babies and all that lark. Rachael Harris and Jennifer Westfeldt are very funny (particularly Rachael Harris) and Leslie Grossman is a great guest star, as Cooper's spur-of-the-moment revenge-friend.

While all of that stuff is going on, Lauren's husband is involved in a plot that could be used on any sit-com: his friends (and series regulars) Julie and Eric hire him to work for them, which leads to all sorts of 'hilarious' conflict. This plot only really works if you buy the fact that Julie is flat-out crazy and Eric is too much of a wimp to assert himself and calm her down. It's fine. The best bit of this plot is the final seconds of it. A nice twist, and funny.

The Unusuals. Episode 8. "The Dentist" Alvarez is in charge when the precinct is robbed. Banks gives up on the outside world and decides to stay in his appartment full time.

Back on form. Jorge Zamacona's script is one of the best the show has used. Delahoy is side-lined (boo!) but this is still an A+ episode all the way. The two stories are superb and the writer knows how to present Alvarez and Banks in an interesting way and make us care about them.

The amazing David Costabile makes a very welcome guest appearence. This guy morphs from role to role so you really have to be alert to spot him. I hope somebody builds a TV series around him soon.

Kojak. Season 2, Episode 12. "The Best War in Town" Rookie Cop stumbles into the middle of mob hit, which leads Kojak and the squad into the middle of a complex war for territory.

Written by Burton Armus, and directed by Richard Donner, this is a truly superb episode of Kojak.

When you watch this you get three things: a strong story of a mob war, a strong character study of Theo Kojak, and character sketch on a guest character.

The plot involves what appears to be a turf war between two mob lieutenants, but - from the viewers perspective - is actually a clever outsider trying to play two factions against one another. We know this. But the detectives in the story have no reason to suspect it until the story is nearly over. Very enjoyable storytelling from start to finish.

Mark Shera guests as a young cadet, reporting for his first day in Kojak's squad room when he walks into the middle of a mob hit. He tries to help, but makes mistakes and an innocent woman is killed by the hitmen's getaway car. As the story unfolds we get to see his indecision over whether to remain with the police or not, as he battles with Kojak and battles with his mother and - in the end of the story - puts his life on the line to see justice done.

The character of Kojak dominates this episode as he investigates the mob way and deals with the young police cadet who wandered into the middle of the mess on his first day on the job. Kojak isn't particularly nice to him. In fact, he spends most of the episode treating the kid like an annoyance that must be dealt with. And when they do speak they tend to yell at one another. Some of these scenes (particularly the one in the young guy's apparement) are superb. Dramatic stuff at it's best. Telly Savalas blows everybody off the screen, of course, but Mark Shera does a damn fine job of standing toe to toe with him.

If you never saw Kojak before, this is a great place to start. When this hour is over, you will see him in all his glory, and with all his 'flaws' on display. If you watch this you will understand why I've loved this character since I was a kid. He's not going hard on the kid to make him a better cop, or anything like that, he's going hard on him because he made mistakes. And there's more to it than that. It's part of who Kojak is.

Great stuff.

Barney Miller. Episode 12. "Hair" Scruffy new cop joins the squad, while Bernice shows up to check on Fish.

Another episode where the regulars cope with an outsider in their midst. Barney enforces the dress code, for instance, as means towards making the new guy conform. Turns out that under his big beard he sports a baby face.

Bernice, meanwhile, shows up (again) and we discover that Fish visited a massage parlour that afternoon.

It's a good solid episode. Nothing spectacular. Things take a very dramatic turn at the very end when two of the cops are injured in a shoot out. So, the flavour of the show is captured but not really showed off in all it's glory.

Highlight? Kojak (truly superb)
Yet Another TV Review Podcast
Yet Another TV Review Book
Yet Another Film Review Blog
Follow Me on Twitter
A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Wed, Jun 17, 09 - Notes From The Underbelly, Unusuals, Barney Miller

09.00 Notes From The Underbelly
09.30 The Unusuals
10.30 Barney Miller

Notes From The Underbelly. Season 2, Episode 3. "Heather's Visit" Lauren's sister visits.

A story which has nothing to do with the premise of the show. Any sitcom could do this one. And Notes does nothing special with the idea.

Peter Cambor raises a few good laughs, as Andrew tries very hard to keep up with his sister-in-law's need to party-hearty.

The Unusuals. Episode 6. "The Circle Line" A cop shows up with amnesia, did he commit a murder? Meanwhile Delahoy and Banks (best cops on TV right now) must deal with identity theft.

Delahoy is just gonna haunt me when this short-lived gem of a series is finished. His journey towards death is an example of the way fiction comes into our lives and allows us the chance to vicariously live through the most extreme of situations. And Adam Goldberg has never done better work. He is fantastic.

There are two threads connected to Delahoy in this one: he is seeing a vision of his high-school sweetheart, and his identity is stolen by a man who (in his eyes) has made a better go at making a good life for himself than he has.

Conor Leslie made a great impression as the high school sweetheart (vision). In one scene she appears as every person in the room! But her best moments are in the final scene, as Delahoy stands in the snow and stares into the house of the man who is now living his life under his name. Both Leslie and Goldberg are great here.



Barney Miller. Episode 6. "Stakeout" The gang go on stakeout, from an empty apartment.

A change-of-pace episode. Normally the show never leaves the squad room, but this story is set completely in an empty apartment. Normally the show's stories come from the criminals and victims who cross paths with the regulars, but the people in this episode are not connected to crime, just a variety of folks who live near the apartment Barney and his men are using.

The style of comedy is a bit different here, too. The show is pushing towards farce with this episode. Lots of crazy interruptions, and an ending where Barney rushes from the building with nothing but a towel wrapped around him.

Fish gets a strong/serious storyline and Florence Stanley makes a fantastic debut as his wife. But, while I really enjoyed it, it just didn't feel like an episode of Barney Miller.

Highlight? The Unusuals (Delahoy)
Yet Another TV Review Podcast
Yet Another TV Review Book
Yet Another Film Review Blog
Follow Me on Twitter
A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Thu, Jun 11, 09 - Notes From The Underbelly, The Unusuals

09.30 Notes From The Underbelly
10.00 The Unusuals

Notes From The Underbelly. Season 2, Episode 2. "The Blackout" Panic over making the house baby-proof. Cooper tries to be more popular with her underlings at work.

The stuff involving the main couple is amusing, but nothing special. The show comes to life when Cooper (Rachael Harris) is on-screen. She's funny.



The Unusuals. Episode 5. "42" Cole's past catches up with him, causing Beaumont to get shot. Meanwhile, Delahoy and Banks (best cops on TV right now) must deal with a psychic.

It's a pity The Unusuals didn't catch on. The show is balls-to-the-wall superb and it's gives the cop show genre a much-needed boost. Suddenly we have a cop show that is... fresh and fun and inventive. I watched the Southland pilot and I liked it. But it was the same ol', same ol' from a hundred other gritty cop shows.

Not since Boomtown has an ensemble cop show impressed me this much.

Pity it didn't catch on.

In this episode, the writers opt to bring the major on-going story-arc to a conclusion. The guy who has been blackmailing Cole finally makes his move, we get some all-out action stuff and a dramatic face-to-face confrontation at the end. Great stuff.

The show has a great score, too. Not so much the background music, per se, rather it's the sudden guitar riffs we hear between scenes that really impress me.

But what I love most are the characters. The characters are fantastic. All of them. Delahoy and Banks are two of the all-time best cops ever to appear on TV.

And I love the fact that almost none of the regulars could face going into the hospital to see Beaumont. Walsh (who loves her) sits in his car outside. And various others join him there as the episode unfolds. None of them (except Cole, who feels responsible) can face going inside a hospital because they are haunted by their own personal demons.

Fascinating stuff.

Highlight? The Unusuals (best cops on TV right now)
Yet Another TV Review Podcast
Yet Another TV Review Book
Yet Another Film Review Blog
Follow Me on Twitter
A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

Wed, Jun 3, 09 - Nurse Jackie, Notes From The Underbelly, Friday Night Lights

07.30 Nurse Jackie
08.00 Notes From The Underbelly
11.00 Friday Night Lights



Nurse Jackie. Episode 1. "Nurse Jackie" A bike messager dies because a doctor doesn't listen to Jackie.

I like Edie Falco and I like the lead character. I'm not sure I'll go back to this hospital, though, to see the (grim) daily grind. Jackie is likable because of Falco. I'm not sure another actress could make me care about the character. And if it's not in the writing, should I bother going back for more?



Notes From The Underbelly. Season 2, Episode 1. "She’s Gotta Have It" Lauren wants Andrew to be more assertive. So he tries it. He likes it, and it turns her on.

Cute episode. It's funny and - what I really like about this show - makes you think about stuff.

Is Andrew a wimp? He's definitely a 'New Man'. And he definitely defers to what Lauren wants. Whether this is a bad thing or not is worth thinking about. But the end of the episode, Andrew has concluded that he only appears to be a wuss because he only picks the few battles that he cares about.

The pairing of Cooper and Danny, meanwhile, is hilarious.



Friday Night Lights. Season 3, Episode 12. "Underdogs" is the best episode of Friday Night Lights so far, and one of the best hours ever filmed for television. I say that not because of the characters or the story but because of the way the show affected me on a spiritual level. True art does this. Affects you. Profoundly.

In this episode we see the Dillon Panthers travel to "The Big City" to play in "The Big Game".

We also see Tyra striving to write a good essay as a means towards getting into college. After much blood, sweat and tears... she writes a great essay. She reads it out, to Landry, and we get to listen and watch a montage of all the characters as they prepare for the game.

When they lose, the team gathers and Coach Taylor gives a short heartfelt speech.

In these two moments the show captures real life like nothing I have ever seen on TV or in the movies. I have seen some great movies. When you look at European cinema like Amélie, Le Scaphandre et le Papillon or La Vita è Bella you sometimes find writers/directors who capture aspects of real life. Often they are the darker aspects of real life.

Friday Night Lights captures all that is profoundly good about the human spirit.

Tyra is my favourite character. Sometimes they waste her potential and write about her love life and her on-off again romance with Landry, but when they stay on-point and write about her efforts to make good and get out of her small town life they really manage to tell a special story. And her reading of the essay she had written is the highlight of her story so far.

Coach Taylor is an amazing character of integrity and determination. He exemplifies the human spirit in all episodes, but never more than in this episode and in the speech he gives to his team at the very end.

Profoundly moving storytelling.

Highlight? Friday Night Lights (best episode)
Yet Another TV Review Podcast
Yet Another TV Review Book
Yet Another Film Review Blog
Follow Me on Twitter
A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago

30 Rock, Cavemen, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Notes From The Underbelly, Rules Of Engagement, Seinfeld

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

06:00 Cavemen
06:30 Notes From The Underbelly
07:00 Rules Of Engagement
07:30 30 Rock
08:00 Seinfeld
10:30 Kolchak: The Night Stalker

Cavemen. Episode 6. My favourite shows have always been the ones with something important to say. As a kid, I loved shows like Lou Grant and Quincy for that reason. Today, while I'm just as impressed by the coolness of Jack Bauer and Starbuck as everyone else, I take a lot of enjoyment from the ability of shows to reflect the world we live in today. Some shows, not all shows.

I responded quickly to Cavemen because I recognised a project that had something to say about race relations (and, even better, had found a very novel way of doing it). Episode 6, which proves there is a lot more to this formula than race relations, is all about Andy (a brilliant Sam Huntington). He's clueless about voting, so Joel and Nick take it upon themselves to educate him. Along the way they meet two candidates (one slick, one nuts), their appartment is robbed, and gun-toting Thorne (Stephanie Lemelin, who gets funnier every week) introduces Andy to the joys of bearing arms.

While early scripts were thoughtful, but lacking in laughs, the show has now managed to strike a successful balance. Script and delivery combine here to give laugh after laugh in every scene. It's one of the best shows on television, and I'm proud to be a fan.

Notes From The Underbelly. Episode 8 ends the first season by using a generic storyline to fantastic effect. All but two episodes used The Pregnancy to set up the stories. This time out, we get to see Lauren and Andrew having a fight (on the night of his birthday party). Flashbacks are used to clever effect. The flashbacks, to seven years ago, are shown in reverse order, so each time we get a flashback we get to understand a little bit more of the story and we get some of the gags that were set up in the previous flashback. Man, I love that.

I also love these characters/actors. All six regulars get equal screen time for a change and all of them get major laughs. They are all so good, I couldn't possibly pick a favourite. (Yes, I can, it's Rachael Harris).

Rules Of Engagement. Season 2, Episode 9. When RoE delivered two dud (and offensive) episodes in a row I was a tad worried about my ability to sustain affection for it. Not any more. Three winners in a row and the show is opening up and getting better with every new installment. For once Russell gets a storyline that is not sex-based and, as a consequence, you can believe that Adam would want to hang out with him. Even better, Jeff gets a great storyline where he doesn't have to behave like an idiot. I loved that he shows some maturity at the very end when he doesn't tell Audrey the TV is fixed.

30 Rock. Season 2, Episode 5 feeds my appetite for shows with something important to say. On one hand this episode was part of NBC's week-long drive to have environment-themed shows. On the other hand it was a parody of same. Now, that's balls-y. Is Tina Fey awesome or what? Best episode of the season so far, and a series highlight. Quite frankly, some of the images from Kenneth's party will haunt me for a long, long time...

Seinfeld. Season 8, Episode 5 is the one where Kramer takes seductive shots of George to impress the woman who develops the photos. As funny as I find that, what really makes the episode for me are Jerry's comments as he watches all of this unfold.

Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Seattle, 1973, and a series of late-night murders attract the attention of veteran newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak. While it is the first movie that broke all ratings records and is, to this day, revered as a classic, it is this second movie that impresses me most on repeated viewing. It's a more polished affair, it's a got a genuinely original storyline and much more of the Kolchak-formula is in place: There's a lot more humour, Simon Oakland is given lots of screen-time and the story is peppered with lots of fascinating characters (played by a succession of legends: John Carradine, Wally Cox, Richard Anderson, Al Lewis and Margaret Hamilton among them). Kolchak isn't about the monsters, it's about The Little Guy going up against the The Powers That Be. And one of the ways the show illustrates this is by having Carl cross paths with ordinary people who are passionate about what they do. And this story's example of that character is Mr. Berry, the researcher. Watching that guy, and watching Carl and Tony bicker, and watching the realistic take on fantasy situations, I really felt like I was watching the start of the Kolchak TV series. Another series with something important to say.

Highlight? Cavemen.

Back To You, Notes From The Underbelly, Rules Of Engagement

Wednesday, November 14th, 2007

05:30 Back To You
06:00 Notes From The Underbelly
06:30 Rules Of Engagement

Back To You. Episode 6. A group of kids visit the TV station, including Chuck's daughter, who is being picked on by a boy. And Chuck is determined to interfere. Standad sit-com plot, with a few good laughs. Mostly raised by Ty Burrell. Ayda Field, who normally annoys me, was funny (and gorgeous) in this episode. I just wish they'd drop the sex jokes.

Notes From The Underbelly. Episode 7. Once again the writers use the series set-up extremely well, for an episode about how Lauren balances work with pregnancy. As I say every time I mention this show, I have to marvel at the genius idea of taking something so commonplace and using it as fodder for a sit-com. Never mind the breakneck pace of the show and the superb jokes. This is one of the fastest moving episodes they have done. And it is hilarious. It is also sweet to see Andrew looking after Lauren as best as he can. Sweet. And hilarious.

Rules Of Engagement. Season 2, Episode 7. After two duff episodes in a row, RoE delivers a winner. Jeff highjacks Adam and Jennifer's phony Engagement Party. The planned the party to get loads of gifts from non-friends. He found out. And blackmailed them into giving him stuff he wanted. Great fun. In other matters, the show correctly used wonderful returning guest-star Heather Locklear by virtually ignoring her. Which is correct. She got some good scenes, though, and David Spade's character fell in love with her. Then, the writers cleverly used that as a springboard to play him off the other regulars. And when the romance went belly-up, the pivotal scene was between Spade and Megyn Price. That's the way to do it. Big-name guest stars should drive the engine of the story, not hijack it. And, as cool as Locklear is in the role, it was cooler to see Russell and Audrey in conversation (since they basically hate one another).

Highlight? Notes From The Underbelly.

Batman, Notes From The Underbelly, Rules Of Engagement

Thursday, November 1st, 2007

12:00 Rules Of Engagement
12:30 Notes From The Underbelly
01:00 Batman

Rules Of Engagement. Season 2, Episode 5. Oliver Hudson gets all the laughs when Jennifer gives Adam an embarrassing gift and he pretends to like it, because... that's what happens in sit-coms. Russell, meanwhile, dates a homeless girl in a storyline that is both unfunny and tasteless.

Notes From The Underbelly. Episode 6. The most important episode so far. Why? Because this is the first time the writers have told a story that is not generated from the premise of the series (young couple has a baby) and, as such, is a good indicator of whether the show/concept has legs. So what happens? Andrew's mother visits. She and Lauren usually don't get on. But, surprise, surprise, as soon as they start to criticise Andrew they bond and become friends. Much to his discomfort. By taking on this old sit-com chesnut, and making it very very funny, the show proves that it can run and run.

Batman. Episode 24. A nifty little script finds The Scarecrow, from Episode 3, making his return. We also get cameo appearances from established bad guys Joker, Poison Ivy and Two-Face, all safely locked up at the Asylum. The story opens with Dick Grayson and his college buddy Brian both touching a telegram that's been laced with a fear-inducing chemical. Brian, a famous athlete, is the latest victim in Scarecrow's plan to make money off sports events. Dick, however, was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and when he goes into action, as Robin side-by-side with Batman, his sudden fear-attacks put their lives in jeopardy. The episode zips along and features an enjoyable climax wherein a sports commentator unwittingly describes the battle in progress, while watching a Football game.

Highlight? Notes From The Underbelly.

Cavemen, Kung Fu, Notes From The Underbelly, Taxi, The Bionic Woman, Timeslip, Two Guys And A Girl

Friday, October 26th, 2007

06:30 The Bionic Woman
07:30 Notes From The Underbelly
08:00 Two Guys And A Girl
08:30 Taxi
09:00 Cavemen
09:30 Kung Fu
10:30 Timeslip

The Bionic Woman. Season 2, Episode 12. Jaime teams up with a (mildly-)super-powered scientist in this story, when his brother defects to East Germany with a top-secret decoder in tow. One of the better episodes, even if it gives Jaime/Lindsay very little to do. It's mostly about the scientist (Granville Van Dusen) and his abilities. The episode is structured in two distinct parts: the first third takes place over the course of one afternoon at the OSI labs when Jaime shows up, meets the two brothers and learns about their two (very different) OSI projects. The 'hero' of this episode (possibly with a view to a spin-off series?) is shown underdoing various tests demonstrating his powers. Basically, he can control all of his biological functions, so that water, electricity, etc. do him no harm. Then we learn that the other brother (Peter Haskell) has absconded, and the final two-thirds of the episode show Jaime and her new partner in East German having to overcome various obstacles to get the decoder back. Each one using their super-powers. It's a pretty good script. The feud between the brothers makes the story more interesting.

Notes From The Underbelly. Episode 5. I love television. Love it! Love it! Love it! I would never have predicted two months back that two of favourite new shows would be about a couple expecting a baby, and a teenage girl living in Africa. But that's the way it is.

Notes' 5th episode is the funniest one so far and highlights the genius of this very funny show: very different characters trapped together by pregnancy. This is the episode where Julie gives birth. All the scenes where we see how this affects the others in the group are hysterical. Melanie Deanne Moore is the absolute star of this episode, but all of the cast shine. The script is razor sharp. Many lines are worthy of an instant rewind to savour them.

Two Guys And A Girl. Season 3, Episode 1. Johnny has proposed, and Sharon hasn't reacted very well. Pete, meanwhile, has run off to Paris to cope with his heartbreak. Back home, Ashley has started to remodel Berg's place. Over his strenuous objections. I've probably seen this episode ten times over the years, but it cracks me up every time. Nathan Fillion gets to take Johnny over the top, for a change, when he tries to cope with Sharon's evasive answers: "Yes. In theory." His best bit is probably when he relates back to her all the other people in his daily life who are willing to answer his questions. Richard Ruccolo's plane-ride to Paris is, I think, a series highlight.

Taxi. Episode 28. Over-worked Elaine makes a pass at Alex, who advises her to enter therapy (instead of trying to hide in sex). One of the key Taxi episodes. The opening two scenes are big multi-character pieces, the final half is mostly a session with a therapist (Tom Ewell), but in the middle is a short sweet scene where Elaine and Alex talk about their mutual attraction. Taxi was very funny, but it took it's characters and their hopes/aspirations very, very seriously. And this very honest, very real scene is a perfect example of why the show is regarded as a classic. The episode also features Robert Picardo and Mary Woronov (who was terrorising poor Jessica on a Logan's Run I watched two nights back).

Cavemen. Episode 4. This show has turned a corner and is now very funny. It's becoming obvious to me that the character of Nick (played by Nick Kroll) is a goldmine of comedy. His worldview is very extreme, so the writers can drop him into any given situation and watch what happens. This week, he - inadvertantly - beats up a teenage girl (while hundreds of other teenagers watch in horror). But, he later consoles himself with the knowledge that it was only "hundreds". This, of course, is before it shows on a YouTube eqivalent.

Kung Fu. Episode 12. Once again, Caine is in trouble with the law (!). Methinks the writers went to that there well too often during the first season. This time out, he's fallen foul of one of those towns, so popular on TV shows of bygone days, where the townsfolk use trumped-up charges to make innocent visitors work in a mine/camp of some kind. It's a good episode, but I'm well weary of Caine getting arrested five minutes into every episode.

Timeslip. Series 2, Episode 1. Time-travelling teens Liz and Simon (think Hermione Granger and Harry Potter) find themselves thrown 20 years into the future. Not only that, they are at an underground Arctic research complex and about to be used in some kind of mysterious experiment. The episode moves slowly, is very atmospheric, devotes a lot of time to the staff of the complex, neglects the two stars a bit, and ends on an excellent cliff-hanger.

Highlight? Notes From The Underbelly.

30 Rock, Adventure Inc., Aliens In America, Carpoolers, K-Ville, Kung Fu, Notes From The Underbelly, The Six Million Dollar Man

Friday, October 12th, 2007

07:00 Carpoolers
07:30 Notes From The Underbelly
08:00 30 Rock
08:30 K-Ville
09:30 Kung Fu
10:30 Adventure Inc.
11:30 The Six Million Dollar Man
12:30 Aliens In America

Carpoolers. Episode 1. One of the carpoolers is intimidated when he thinks that his wife makes more money than him. The other three guys try lots of stuff to fix this, and it all culminates with them climbing through his kitchen window late one night to steal his new toaster. Hmm. Not sure what to make of this one. There were a few laughs, so I'll check out the second episode. See where it all goes.

Notes From The Underbelly. Episode 4. Another winning episode. Now that Lauren's pregnant, she's got bigger breasts, and Andrew is almost in heaven. "Almost", because she is nauseous most of the time, and there is zero chance of actually having sex. This simple idea generates a lot of laughs and leads to a great climax (so to speak) when Lauren and Andrew fight rush-hour traffic -seperately - in an effort to meet during one of the rare times that she is not feeling sick. Under it all, the writing makes it clear that Andrew is not just horny, he's utterly smitten with his wife and it's difficult for him being without her. This element is probably my favourite thing about the whole series: this guy isn't just 'in love' with his wife, he's simply adores her. All the time. Even when - being pregnant and all - her behaviour is somewhat odd. It's a cool element in a seriously cool show.

30 Rock. Season 2, Episode 2. Much as I love 30 Rock (and I'm so in love with Tina Fey at this stage that it's not even funny) I must admit that I've just not feeling "the vibe" this year. Whatever that means. Storylines for Jack, Tracy and Jenna totally fail to raise laughs. Usually Will Arnett or Chris Parnell would have me in stitches. Not this time. Disappointing.

K-Ville. Episode 3. Buddy Cop shows have done many things down through the years, but devoting the third episode to 'The Captain'?!! That's a new one on me. John Carroll Lynch gives a great performance and this outstanding episode gives us as much background and characterisation on him as the previous episodes did for the two cops who are the focus of the show. The story told is a superb cop thriller, and the all-action finale is one of the best I've seen outside of 24. Pretty much my favourite new show of 2007 at this stage.

Kung Fu. Episode 11. 1870s America, and Shaolin priest Kwai Chang Caine is searching for his brother. To this end, he breaks a large, violent, and mentally slow man out of prison and both of them are chased by an Army Tracker. Caine's influence on the supposed criminal (actually innocent of his crime) is strong, and by the end of the story he has mastered a large degree of self-control. He, however, is not able to help Caine much in his quest. At the end of the story, he has a chance to settle in a new town and make a fresh start but (in a genuinely affecting moment) he opts to live out his days in the wilderness instead: helping animals, avoiding people and foraging for food Caine has taught him. Wonderful stuff.

Adventure Inc. Episode 4. Duller than usual outing for professional treasure hunter Judson Cross and his team. Lots of bickering over boundaries and a fake psychic dominate the early part of the story. The second half has a few underwater scenes, but not much in the way of underwater action. This show seems to be more interesting when the team are killing bad-guys in some jungle or other.

The Six Million Dollar Man. Season 2, Episode 12. Some SMDM episodes are just boring case-of-the-week outings for Steve Austin, superhuman spy. And this is one of those. A woman is targeted for kidnap. Steve does a lot of running and jumping in this one, but accomplishes very little. He lets bad guys get away repeatedly, fails to stop an innocent getting killed and can't even jump high enough to grab a helicopter when the bad-guys get the girl near the end. There then follows a really goofy sequence when he tracks the kidnappers using tire tracks. Madness. First dud episode of the second season.

Aliens In America. Episode 1. They have added charisma-less Scott Patterson to the cast since I first saw this pilot, but it's still great.

Cheers? K-Ville.
Jeers? The Six Million Dollar Man.

30 Rock, Adventure Inc., Back To You, Kung Fu, Notes From The Underbelly, The Six Million Dollar Man

Friday, October 5th, 2007

07:30 Back To You
08:00 Notes From The Underbelly
08:30 Adventure Inc.
09:30 Kung Fu
10:30 30 Rock
11:00 The Six Million Dollar Man

Back To You. Episode 3. This episode gives a lot more screen-time to the ensemble cast. It turns out that the overweight, shy boss is secretly in love with the sexy weather-girl. And he spends much of this episode in her dressing-room, helping her through a romance crisis, while she wears nothing but a towel. Yawn. The other two plots are funnier, but this isn't a very strong episode.

Notes From The Underbelly. Episode 3. With parenthood on the horizon, Lauren contemplates giving up her job. Lots of short scenes, fast cuts, quirky lines, etc. make for another winning episode. Again, I have to say, who would have thought a show about pregnancy would be so much fun to watch?

Adventure Inc. Episode 3. Various parties are after some bones that constitute a "missing link", of sorts, in human evolution. Cue lots of gun battles and fist-fights as Judson Cross and his team try to protect the bones and... stay alive. John Ralston, who is pretty weak as Ming on Flash Gordon, is a tiny bit better here. It's a good episode, marred only by relying on the old "fake funeral for one of the regulars" gag early on. As if we - the audience at home - will believe that one of the stars has really been killed. Oh wait! There she is! It was all a ruse to dupe the bad guys. Yawn.

Kung Fu. Episode 10. A young girl (Jodie Foster) thinks she sees Caine shoot and kill someone during a stagecoach robbery. She is mistaken, but she is believed by a jury and Caine is sentenced to be hanged. Caine feels no anger for the child and - while he is in prison - the two of them become friends. So much so that the girl eventually lies and takes back her witness statement. Leaving her confused about the nature about truth and lies. This main story and a similarly themed flashback story combine to make the strongest episode yet of this first season. Caine's unusual nature gets a chance to shine and the viewer has a lot to ponder as the credits roll. Not only about truth/lies but also about perception.

30 Rock. Season 2, Episode 1. Although I'm a huge fan of Jerry Seinfeld, the most laughs in this episode came from the Tina Fey storyline.

The Six Million Dollar Man. Season 2, Episode 11. When a repoter (Farrah Fawcett) manages to shoot footage of Steve in bionic action (at a NASA launch) it looks as if his secret will come out. That is, until her news director tells her that the film she shot is actually blank and she has to find a way to bluff Steve and Oscar into letting her take more footage. If that plot twist wasn't enough, we then discover that the news director was lying and has sold the footage to a foreign power!

Widely regarded as a weak episode, I put off watching this one for ages. But, in fact, it's a pretty good episode. The best scenes are the ones between Steve and Oscar. And it's made very clear that Oscar can (and will) do anything to kill the story. It is strongly hinted that he might even take steps to silence the reporter. The storyline where the news director accompanies some thugs on a mission to kidnap Steve makes no great sense, but it does lead to some pretty good action sequences. The episode's only low point is a hilarious seduction scene between Steve and the reporter.

By episode's end, all is well with the world. Once again we are remined that Oscar Goldman is a very powerful man and he will/can do anything to protect his bionic creations.

Highlight? Kung Fu.

Back To You, Notes From The Underbelly, NCIS, Adventure Inc.

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

08:30 Back To You
09:00 Notes From The Underbelly
09:30 NCIS
10:30 Adventure Inc.

Back To You. Episode 2. The key thing about a second episode, after you have enjoyed the pilot, is: is it as good? In this case, the answer is a resounding 'Yes'. It's the next day, and Chuck is still getting used to the idea that he is now a father. When he kills a fish (by accident) he tries to prevent Kelly from finding out (because she'll think he's irresponsible, etc. etc.). Cue lots of fish replacing, following by lots of fish deaths. Is it funny? The answer is a resounding 'Yes'.

Notes From The Underbelly. Episode 2. I would have assumed that a sit-com about pregnancy would be slow and serious. Not fast and snappy (like Scrubs). Lauren is obsessed with food in this episode, and her impending driving test, and her impending change of car. And it's all fast and funny and very enjoyable. I'm starting to love her best friend Cooper (Rachael Harris) who gets all the best lines. And seems to have a ball delivering them.

NCIS. Season 4, Episode 2. Gibbs left NCIS at the end of Season 3. He's in early retirement but contemplating coming back. The case that brings him back - again - involves an escaped prisoner. Someone Gibbs sent to prison. Someone who has always protested his innocent. Did Gibbs get it wrong? Did he send an innocent man to prison? Since this is an episode supposed to renew Gibbs faith in himself, it's very surprising that the writers chose to end it the way they did. Surprising, but brilliant.

Adventure Inc. Episode 2. Now that I've more-or-less given up on Flash Gordon, I'm getting my Karen Cliche fix from one of her older shows. It's episode two (though I suspect this may have been filmed first) and Judson Cross and his team of explorers are searching Cambodia for a chopper that crashed there 30 years earlier. But, all is not what it seems: they have been lied to, they fall foul of drug lords and there are plenty of fight scenes. Karen Cliche is hot, but never hotter than beating the crap out of bad guys (or bad gal Kira Clavell in a couple of scenes). Actually, she looked pretty darn great in a black evening gown early in the story, too. More important than that: It's a fun show to watch. It moves fast, and Michael Biehn is a perfect leading man for this fare.

Back To You, Notes From The Underbelly, Tell Me You Love Me, NCIS

Thursday, September 20th, 2007

05:00 Back To You
05:30 Notes From The Underbelly
06:00 Tell Me You Love Me
09:00 NCIS

Back To You. Episode 1. Kelsey Grammar is back on TV. His new sit-com is standard fare, and it's funny. Kelsey Grammer & Fred Willard are both especially good. The rest of the cast are okay, but it will take a few weeks for them to hit their stride. I hope FOX gives them the chance to do it. I loved Stacked (from the same producers), and I can't understand why it didn't last longer. Sigh.

Notes From The Underbelly. Episode 1. Who would have thought you could turn pregnancy into a sit-com? But you can. This show proves it. It began last Spring with 8 half-hour episodes, and it follows the lives of a young couple who are expecting their first baby. Jennifer Westfeldt (who was in the first season of Two Guys And A Girl) is really rather good as the mother-to-be. I never liked her in Two Guys, but I'm completely smitten here. Her partner (Peter Cambor) is funny and likable and the whole thing was much, much better than I expected it to be.

Tell Me You Love Me. Episode 2. This outing is possibly every sadder than the first one, plus it gives us a better insight into the regular lives of the characters. I loved it. There are several long scenes where next to nothing actually happens. It's just the characters sitting around and thinking. I can see how this will be a huge turn-off for many viewers, but it's right up my alley. This cast makes it work. Particularly Ally Walker, who is fantastic. She's broken my heart two weeks in a row. Roll on week three!!

NCIS. Season 4, Episode 1. One of my favourite things about NCIS is the way the central characters interact with each other. They come across as a bunch of close friends who will do anything for one another when the chips are down. This episode plays up that side of things, with one of the regulars framed - and on the run - for a crime she didn't commit. Consequently, the rest of the team must pull out all the stops to get her name cleared. It's action-by-numbers and it's really, really good.

Best Show of the night? Tell Me You Love Me.