Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
06.00 Brothers
06.30 The Good Wife
09.30 Melrose Place
11.30 Lie To Me
Brothers. Episode 1. "House Rules" Two brothers, who bicker a lot, realise they must work together to keep a restaurant afloat.
It sounds like a very average sitcom idea, but - as executed here - it is very funny and the cast are terrific.
Pedestrian concept aside, this one sparkles. Virtually every line will make you chuckle and all four cast members are a hoot to watch.
The Good Wife. Episode 2. "Stripped" A stripper who was raped. Meanwhile, Alicia's children find photos of their father with a call-girl.
A step-up - quality-wise - from the pilot, with a much more complex case and some interesting developments in the backstory. Paloma Guzmán plays a stripper (and ex-hooker) who says she was raped by a rich businessman. Will takes the case (with Alicia as second-chair) but there are several twists and turns, so the viewer isn't sure where all of this is going. This particular viewer certainly wasn't. And I loved that.
Once again Julianna Margulies brings a quiet dignity to the role of Alicia and there are times when your heart hurts for her. Yet, she's far from perfect (she doesn't research one witness fully and embarrasses Will at one point in the courtroom) which only serves to keep her human and interesting. And gives the viewer even more reason to root for her.
There are many, many scenes where they show could mess it up and deliver the types of scenes we've seen in other shows before. But that never happens. Instead, Michelle King and Robert King keep the characters off clichéd paths and - as a consequence - keep the audience engaged.
This show, which didn't interest me very much pre-season, is poised to become my favourite new drama of 2009-2010.
Melrose Place. Season 8, Episode 4. "Vine" Jane Mancini (Josie Bissett from the original show) shows up and blackmails Ella into helping her fashion business. Violet is arrested, and Riley helps her over Jonah's objections. Riley also finds time to lie to a big time director and get Jonah a big break. Lauren's life as a prostitute sees her taking a beating from a scummy client, and Augie gives David a job but David causes a fight.
Great fun. Jane's blackmailing plot is hilarious and adds extra tension to Ella's plotting. Jonah's (common sense) reaction to Violet also makes for a few loud chuckles.
Bottom line: I like all the characters, and I like all the storylines. As the show zips from one to the other I never lose interest.
Lie To Me. Season 2, Episode 1. "The Core of It" Multiple Personality Disorder. Judge.
Tim Roth continues to be the best thing about this show. He rocks. His character, however, still looks/feels like a cheap House knock-off. The stories are still rather pedestrian and the supporting cast are underused and bland.
Highlight? The Good Wife (complex)
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Brothers, Lie To Me, Melrose Place, The Good Wife
