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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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Fri, Mar 20, 09 - Better Off Ted, Listener, Conchords, Damages, 24, WKRP, Jason Of Star Command
