Thursday, March 25th, 2010
05.00 Rules Of Engagement
05.30 House
06.30 Damages
07.30 The Good Wife
12.30 The Greatest American Hero
Rules Of Engagement. Season 4, Episode 4. "Ghost Story" Arranged Marriage.
This show does a great job of keeping on point. After four seasons it hasn't become a show about a random group of people, it's still a show trying to generate as many stories/jokes as possible from the concepts of marriage and relationships and all that guff. Witness this episode: the a-plot is rather brilliant (Jeff believing - or not believing - that his wife saw a ghost) and one of the b-plots is about an arranged marriage. A plotline that will hopefully occupy space in future episodes (thus making the hilarious Timmy a more natural fit with the raison d'etre of the series. It's also a story that allowed us a chance to see Russell being series, for - what I think is - only the second time in the series. Ever.
But the show still belongs to Patrick Warburton and Megyn Price. Warburton is great in pretty much every scene (he always makes me laugh) and Price was hysterical in the diner scene, where she was reacting to everyone believing Jeff's story.
I love Jeff and Audrey. Sure, they match wits constantly but it's obvious how much they like one another. I'm a sucker for stuff like that.
And a sucker for in-jokes. Great Venture Bros. reference in this one. Awe-Some!
House. Season 6, Episode 15. "Black Hole" Taub's wife.
Lots to like here. Let me count them!
1. I like Taub. Partly because I really like Peter Jacobson and partly because Taub is the one character who doesn't look like belongs under House. He looks like he should be House's boss and sometimes it's quirky to see him as an underling. Or worse. Witness the (hilarious) scene here where House steals his phone. Awesome.
2. I like the (slowly unfolding) story of Taub's marriage problems. There's great truth in the portrayal of that marriage, I feel, and I never tire of seeing scenes devoted to it. The ending to the chapter presented here was wonderful. The upbeat ending where House seemed to be sincere in his congratulations was wonderful, and the downbeat ending where House observed Taub with the pretty young nurse was much more in tune with the philosophy of the show. Bravo!
3. I like when House's random ways to torture Wilson/Cuddy actually seem like they have some meaning and depth and give me pause for thought. This one was all about Wilson buying furniture. And it worked. The show seems to be on a roll. This time last year I was losing interest. Flashforward one year and it's entertaining me again. I like that best of all.
Damages. Season 3, Episode 9. "Drive It Through Hardcore" A Patty Movie?
I'm torn. On one hand I'm absolutely riveted by the return of Arthur Frobisher, and on the other hand I'm confused as to what any of this has to do with anything.
Arthur Frobisher is fascinating character, and Ted Danson is thrilling in the part (this was some of his best work on Damages). Who would have ever thought that Ted Danson would being going head to head with Glenn Close and holding his own? Every appearance adds something to the character and at this stage you could write a book on the guy. Or, at the very least, spend a good hour talking about him and his actions. And what about the fireworks when he and Patty were in the same room in this episode. Friggin' awesome.
But...
What has this got to do with the Tobin case? This case/story has dominated the show since the season started and I'm a little confused to see it sidelined like this as the season passes the mid-way point.
Not that we didn't get movement on the story. We did. Patty got to make a break-through and Martin Short got to add shades to his fascinating character. I think I'm finally able to see him as someone other than 'Uncle Jack' from Arrested Development again.
The Good Wife. Episode 16. "Fleas" Drug lawyer
I love the way they spread the wealth on this show. Alan Cumming has only just shown up and they are already giving him some badass stuff to do. Josh Charles was pretty awesome in this episode, too, flexing his legal muscle in the courtroom. Previous episodes have given meaty scenes/heroics to Chris Noth and Archie Panjabi, while Christine Baranski has emerged as a real scene stealer.
Originally, I thought it was going to be Julianna Margulies all the way, and it's still her show, but the piece is now a real ensemble entity with dares to tell stories where the character we love most (Alicia) doesn't solve everything and be the smartest one in the room getting all the coolest lines. Makes me love the show even more.
And, oddly, it makes me love Alicia even more. I've really fallen in love with this character. And she's not all about the flash and loud bang style of getting work done. She's about being there and getting it done, and the show is perfectly build around her.
The Greatest American Hero. Episode 8. "The Best Desk Scenario" Crooked lawyer.
Another episode driven by the characters and the relationship between them. Bill is feeling blue, he senses his own mortality nipping at his heels and - to make matters worse - Ralph and Pam are both doing really well at their jobs (Ralph has been promoted to Vice Principal and Pam has been made a junior partner in her law firm.)
There's a crime-of-the-week story, too, and it's a solid one (involving Pam's boss) but the majority of the screen time (and all of the enjoyment) concerns how the three main characters work together. Robert Culp (always funny) is simply wonderful here, as Bill sulks his way through scene after scene. Yet, none of it comes across as mean-spirited. It's all very human, and in the midst of his most childish comments it's obvious (from the script and the performers) that these three characters have become very, very fond of one another.
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Rules Of Engagement, House, Damages, The Good Wife, The Greatest American Hero
