09.00 Royal Pains
11.00 The Closer
12.30 NewsRadio
01.00 Greek
Royal Pains. Episode 1. "Pilot" A doctor is blacklisted and moves...
I had a ball watching this. The hero is heroic and likable. A nice guy, and - since they have given him MacGyver-like powers - he's cool. The brother (Paulo Costanzo) is hilarious and - by being there - he makes the hero even more likeable and interesting. It's set up a nice, sweet romance and dropped the lead in a very interesting world.
The Closer. Season 5, Episode 1. "Products of Discovery" An entire family is killed. By mistake.
The closing moments of this episode go to the very core of why this is such a fantastic show, and why Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson is truly one of television's best ever detectives/characters.
Brenda has just gone head to head with the killer-of-the-week and pulled no punches in getting a confession. Without batting an eyelid she uses the killer's unborn child are a bargaining tool. Ice cold steel in her veins.
Minutes later (TV time) she's at home, about to burst into tears because her cat might die.
These two sides of her (imperfect) nature are why fans love Brenda so much.
NewsRadio. Season 3, Episode 8. "Movie Star" James Caan visits.
Sitcoms does this plot a lot: the regulars meet a celebrity and make fools of themselves. Lucille Ball did it all the time on Here's Lucy (my favourite Lucy show) and there's have been countless examples since.
But the NewsRadio example is probably the funniest. Caan is such a wonderful intimidating screen presence that he's a perfect foil for characters like Bill and Matthew. Phil Hartman is always perfect, but this might the best work Andy Dick has ever done on the show. Watching him freak out more and more, in close proximity to his screen idol, is a goldmine of comedy. Not just because Dick is funny, but because Caan is there to react to it.
Greek. Season 2, Episode 4. "Gays, Ghosts and Gamma Rays" Casey likes Max. Rusty investigates a mysterious Kappa Tau member.
The Rusty stuff is good and gets better/funnier as the episode goes on. It reaches a pinnacle when Cappie and the Kappa Tau guys get in touch with their female sides.
The Casey stuff is dreadfully predictable. I'm sure everyone could guess that Max's ex-girlfriend had died and that was keeping him back. Yawn.
Highlight? Royal Pains (had a ball watching this)
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Tue, Jun 9, 09 - Royal Pains, The Closer, NewsRadio, Greek
