Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia 6.1

(Brittany Daniel) The Gay Marriage Episode. Wow. Uniquely 'Always Sunny'. Just wonderful. 9/10

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, NCIS, Human Target, White Collar

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

05.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
05.30 NCIS
06.30 Human Target
07.30 White Collar

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 13. "The Nightman Cometh"

NCIS. Season 6, Episode 15. "Deliverance"

Human Target. Episode 1. "Human Target"

White Collar. Episode 7. "Free Fall"

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It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, NCIS, Royal Pains, White Collar

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

05.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
05.30 NCIS
06.30 Royal Pains
07.30 White Collar

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 12. "The Gang Gets Extreme: Home Makeover Edition"

NCIS. Season 6, Episode 13. "Broken Bird"

Royal Pains. Episode 11. "Nobody's Perfect"

White Collar. Episode 5. "The Portrait"

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It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, NCIS

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

05.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
05.30 NCIS

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 11. "The Gang Cracks the Liberty Bell" 1776

Change-of-pace episode, finds the regulars relocated to the year 1776 for a retelling of the story of the cracking of the Liberty Bell. Superb stuff.

NCIS. Season 6, Episode 5. "Nine Lives" Is the guy under FBI protection a killer?

Jon Huertas guests, and Joe Spano makes another appearence. The case-of-the-week is very good, and we get some great Tony/Ziva scenes.

Highlight? NCIS (Tony/Ziva)
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Royal Pains, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, NCIS, White Collar

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

05.00 Royal Pains
06.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
06.30 NCIS
07.30 White Collar

Royal Pains. Episode 7. "Crazy Love" Is Boris sick? Is Divya going to marry Raj?

The show still has a case-of-the-week, but most of the time this week is taken up with advancing the ongoing storylines. A sign of a show that's in good health. The case of the week is quirky enough to keep us interested, but the show - in a very short time - has created such complex lives for it's main characters that we are just as engaged by what happens to them.

I warmed to Divya very slowly at the start, but I like her now and I care about what happens to her.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 10. "Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack" which scares her and Dennis into trying to get fit, while Charlie and Mac enter the corporate world.

Typical Always Sunny insanity. The stuff with Dee and Dennis shows us, once again, how completely selfish and self-centered these characters can be. Priceless.

Some of the stuff with Charlie and Mac went on too long, but it was still solid comedy.

NCIS. Season 6, Episode 4. "Heartland" Gibbs returns to his hometown: Stillwater.

Great episode. Solid case-of-the-week story. Couple of twists at the end that really worked and made the story satisfying. An example of the sort of thing NCIS does really well.

But, what really made this one special was the casting of Ralph Waite as Gibbs' father and the final minutes of the episode and what it meant for Gibbs' character.

All through the episode we had flashbacks, as our hero remembered the various things that had happened to him in town in the Summer of 1976 (the Summer he left for good). We got to see him getting in a couple of brawls and we got to see him noticing, but never speaking to, a beautiful young redhead.

In the final 30 seconds, as he driving out of town, he stops at a red light. And we see a final flashback and... learn so much about the character. We learn where "The Rules" come from, we learn why he is called "Gibbs", and not "Leroy", and we finally see his first meeting with Shannon and understand - fully - why this woman came to have such a big impact upon him and why he misses her so much and never got over the loss of her.

I love it because it is such a romantic story, and I love it because it is a prime example of the clever, subtle, storytelling the show can employ. A 30 second datadump of information that leaves you with a better understanding of the lead character is remarkable in a show that has clocked up 117 hours.

White Collar. Episode 3. "Book of Hours" Neal dates Callie Thorne to get a valuable book back.

Solid fun. Predictable, but enjoyable. The show seems to enjoy teasing viewers by trying to make us wonder if Neal is gonna turn rogue. It's a bit lame, to be honest, but it doesn't ruin my enjoyment of the episodes.

Highlight? NCIS (final 30 seconds)
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It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, NCIS, Royal Pains, White Collar

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

05.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
05.25 NCIS
06.10 Royal Pains
06.55 White Collar

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 9. "Dennis Reynolds: An Erotic Life" Dennis is locked up.

Rob Thomas plays himself in a very strange, but wonderful, episode of Always Sunny. As usual, there central idea is odd but the gang and very excited by it, and 100% committed to making it happen. So they frame Dennis for substance abuse and get him locked away (feeling, of course, that it will authenticity and sales and stuff. Of course.)

NCIS. Season 6, Episode 3. "Capitol Offense" Gibb's friend is a suspect.

Tim DeKay is a great guest star, and it's a great change of pace episode (where Gibbs is trying to help out a friend and avoid a scandal) but the story is ruined by very simplistic elements. Whenever a show ends with a "How did you know she was shot in the back? That fact was never released." type of ending I always roll my eyes with disappointment. More so, when it's NCIS because I expect better.

Royal Pains. Episode 6. "If I Were a Sick Man" Quarantine.

Another cool episode. There's a party for a dog, and everyone gets sick so Hank enforces a quarantine. Which leads to lots of drama. This is a great, fun, show.

And the ending, where Hank gave his brother the sports car, was both funny and sweet in equal measure. I love the playful relationship between the brothers.

White Collar. Episode 2. "Threads" Fashion Week.

Good fun. Not quite as crisp as the opener, but still a fine way to spend an hour in front of the TV.

Natalie Morales joins the cast.

Highlight? Royal Pains (another cool episode)
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It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, NCIS

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

06.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
06.30 NCIS

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 8. "Paddy's Pub: The Worst Bar in Philadelphia" The gang kidnaps Fisher Stevens.

A pitch perfect episode of Always Sunny. Everything you might want to know about the show is included in this episode. The genius of the show is fully on display, as we watch these (wonderful) idiots get themselves into more and more trouble with every stupid step and - best of all - learn nothing at all from the experience.

It feels as if any random scene could be used in a Best Of Always Sunny clip, it's that good of an episode.

NCIS. Season 6, Episode 1. "Last Man Standing" New Team.

Change of pace type of episode with a new team of characters taking the place of our regulars.

The ending is stunning, as the show pulls a major twist that promises a great new story arc. Can't wait.

Highlight? It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (pitch perfect)
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It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, NCIS, Arrested Development

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

05.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
05.30 NCIS
11.30 Arrested Development

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 7. "Who Pooped the Bed?"

There are some good ideas in here, but - for me - it somehow doesn't gel. Part of the problem - for me - is the way much of the latter part of the episode is handed over to Artemis Pebdani. When I tune in I don't want to watch a guest star, I want to see the regulars.

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 18. "Judgment Day" Death of a regular.

A superb two-hour movie in which the show kills off a regular character (although not one I will miss very much, unlike the last time they did this).

It's a great episode. Upbeat and funny for the first hour, it becomes sad and serious without missing a beat or becoming jarring. Quite a trick.

The action stuff is great and the characters are really like real people in this one, losing one of their own.

Arrested Development. Season 3, Episode 8. "Making a Stand" George Sr. sets Michael and Gob competing/fighting until they pull a con on him. Or do they?

The main part of this one is an elaborate con that the brother pull on their father (very much in the vein of what you would see on Mission: Impossible.), except that he knows.

It's a funny episode. Once again, driven by the characters themselves and the way they interaction with one another. Nothing more is needed on Arrested Development.

Highlight? NCIS (death of a regular)
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It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

08.30 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 6. "Mac & Charlie Die, Part Two" Mac & Charlie are seen by Sweet Dee, while Dennis gains a new 'European' roommate...

Picking a favourite cast-member is impossible, but there are times when I really admire Kaitlin Olson. She never gets a writing credit (unlike the others) and sometimes the comedy of a scene just relies on her. Nobody else.

Witness the scene here where Sweet Dee takes the bus. Surrounded by nameless extras (who are all very good) Kaitlin Olson delivers the comedy performance of the episode. Yeah, sometimes the guys deliver great comedic performances, too, but they also write the show so it stands to reason they can take their own material and run with it.

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It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, NCIS, Arrested Development, Eastwick, Trauma

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

05.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
05.30 NCIS
06.30 Arrested Development
07.00 Eastwick
08.00 Trauma

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 5. "Mac & Charlie Die, Part One" Fearing that their lives are in danger Mac and Charlie set out to fake their own deaths.

Wonderful stuff. The main plot is crazy, and the execution is relentlessly funny. From start to finish you are laughing at the inept duo. Highlight? Mac in a wedding dressing, firing a gun.

The sub-plot is erratic, but likewise hilarious. The other three find a glory hole in the bar's bathroom's stalls which - somehow - leads Frank and Dennis to an orgy in a run-down building. Highlight? The buffet at the orgy.

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 17. "About Face" Palmer chases a suspect (at a crime scene), gets shot at and spends the rest of the episode trying (a) to remember the face of the culprit, and (b) regain some of his confidence.

Absolutely superb. Palmer (Brian Dietzen) is a minor recurring character who appears in every episode for a scene or two and has previously only been tied to one ongoing subplot (his secret romance with another co-worker) so when this episode starts out with him alone at a crime scene and being shot at I was terrified that they were about to kill off a character that I really like. Nope. Thank goodness. Instead, Palmer ducks and survives and spends the rest of the episode feeling quite bad about his cowardice, while the rest of the team take turns working with him and trying to aid his recovery of the memories of the shooter.

It's a delightful episode from start to finish. Putting Palmer at the center of the story is a good idea, anyway, but it also allows us to see the regulars in a new light as they each gather around him and try to help him out. It pushes (once again) the idea that these people are a family, and that is one of the show's core strengths.

Arrested Development. Season 3, Episode 5. "Mr. F" Lots of scenes with Michael and Rita, while Gob and his father's surrogate build a tiny city to fool some Japanese investors.

There's a truly hilarious sequence in this episode (where the miniature 'city' is destroyed) that highlights the genius of Arrested Development. In order to make the sequence happen the show has to set several characters running in different directions. And it's completely seamless. Every bit of it. Even though the climax is fantastic and absurd, the show is able to take to that place without ever straining credibility.

Wonderful.

Eastwick. Episode 2. "Reaping and Sewing" Roxie is fearful of her new neighbour, because of visions that she has seen. Joanny investigates Van Horne. Kat sleeps with the husband she just broke up with.

Tiresome. The show spends a whole hour standing still, and - in some ways - moving backwards on the developments from the opening episode. Kat has used her powers to make her co-worker want her, but now she's not happy about that so she spends this episode pushing him away. Tiresome. Kat and her husband had a spectacular split at the end of the pilot, but - as of this episode - they are back on friendly terms: sleeping together and being joyful together at the news that he's gotten a new job. Likewise, the Roxie storylines move backwards from where they were at the end of the pilot: she has visions, but disregards them and nothing happens. Meanwhile she gets back with her toy boy. Another step backwards, surely?

It's almost like watching a show trying hard to figure out how to make it's story arcs last as long as possible.

And it's not very entertaining.

Except when Paul Gross is on screen. He's funny. But he's kept in the background this week. So I had more opportunity to see what a weak show this is.

On this show the setting of a small town seems limiting, yet the small town setting of Vampire Diaries seems to offer boundless story opportunities. Why is that?

Trauma. Episode 1. "Pilot" One year after a rescue-helicopter disaster, the team is called to the scene of a freeway pile-up.

The action-sequences are impressive and gut-wrenching, but - with all the running around - there really isn't much of a chance to get to know the characters.

I've never seen Cliff Curtis before, but he makes a fantastic impression from the very start and his character is the only one that I feel I got to know.

Anastasia Griffith, Jamey Sheridan and Kevin Rankin (particularly Kevin Rankin) are three performers that I like and I was delighted to see them in this. But Kevin Rankin barely speaks three times in the whole pilot and Griffith is given a very clichéd character to play. Not impressed. But I'll probably watch a second episode before giving up on it.

Highlight? It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (Mac in a wedding dressing, firing a gun.)
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It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, NCIS, Eastwick, Mercy, Night Court

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

05.30 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
06.00 NCIS
07.30 Eastwick
08.30 Mercy
01.00 Night Court

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 4. "Mac's Banging the Waitress"

A (relatively) low-key and utterly wonderful episode. Only three of the regulars are featured, and one recurring character. And the entire episode is driven by the relationships between them.

It's a beautiful script. An example of the show flexing it's muscle in a different direction and it is wonderfully funny.

A real treat.

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 16. "Recoil" Ziva dates a potential serial killer.

A change-of-pace episode with a great story. And a character who appears to be behaving out of character.

It opens at the end of a case, with Ziva shooting a suspect/killer dead. And the rest of the story shows how she copes with almost dying, while the rest of the team tie up a niggling loose end.

While Ziva is written as being stressed out, the show doesn't go the predictable route (that other shows would have done) or making her completely wig out. No. She's stressed. And she refuses to stay at home, like Gibbs asks, but that's about it. Her over-reaction to the events that kickstarted the episode do seem out of character, however, given that's she's a hardened killer who has faced death on more than one occasion. Maybe this was the first time she actually thought she might die...

Tony, however, is perfectly in character. Always my favourite character on the show, he is at his best here as he tries to show his concern for his partner. The scene where he explains why he tousles her hair is wonderful as an insight into why he does the things that he does.

The story takes some great twists and turns. It's not easy to predict the way it will end. I know that I got it wrong.

And I like when NCIS does that to me.

So, character quirks aside, this is an enjoyable episode.

Eastwick. Episode 1. "Pilot" A mysterious man arrives in town and unlocks the hidden potential/powers of three women...

Paul Gross is a lot of fun. The others... are mildly entertaining.

The first quarter was like an episode of Desperate Housewives, but it gradually evolved into something with it's own voice: Desperate Housewives with magic.

It was, I suppose, kinda cute. I can't figure out where this will go next. And, that uncertainty, more than anything might bring me back for episode two.

The women are, let's face it, completely boring. They are character types that we have seen one hundred times before. But the Gross character is genuinely interesting and fun to watch.

Mercy. Episode 1. "Can We Get That Drink Now?"

There doesn't seem to be anything in here that I haven't seen before.

The lead character is un-appreciated. The script drives home the fact (to ridiculous degree) that she is nothing but a lowly nurse. And the doctors around her are scum. No shades of grey here: the doctors are evil, and inept, and our heroine is wonderful and smart and the only one that cares and the only one that can, you know, connect with patients and all that jazz.

But...

She's been in the war, so she's seen pain that nobody can possibly understand and this - of course - allows her to treat everyone around like crap.

Also...

She's married. But they are having problems. And there's this doctor, the same one she had an affair with (over in The WAR), and he's now going to be working with her every day. Side by side. How will she every decided between him and her (flawed) husband.

And on and on.

The cast are mostly quite boring. The wonderful Kate Mulgrew is wasted in this.

And there's one (hilariously) absurd scene where her best friend Sonia parades through the hospital corridors wearing an evening gown. Yes, she's heading out for the night - I get that - but why on earth is walking around the hospital first?

Absurd, absurd, absurd.

Night Court. Season 2, Episode 4. "Pick a Number" Lottery Ticket.

Not many laughs, but a good story, as Harry is given a winning lottery ticket to bestow on a worthy winner.

It's a dilemma and the script does it justice, reaching a clever and enjoyable end-point.

Highlight? It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (utterly wonderful)
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Arrested Development, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, NCIS, The Beautiful Life, Space: 1999

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

06.30 Arrested Development
07.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
07.30 NCIS
08.30 The Beautiful Life
01.00 Space: 1999

Arrested Development. Season 3, Episode 2. "For British Eyes Only" Michael goes to Wee Britain and meets Rita for the first time.

I have a real love/hate relationship with the Rita storyline, and the idea of Wee Britain. Rita is a one-note character that only really works the first time round (when you don't know her 'secret') and Wee Britain is a concept much too absurd for Arrested Development. It doesn't generate sufficent laughs to justify the leap of faith it takes to accept the place.

Bravo AD for trying something new and fresh, but better luck next time.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 3. "America's Next Top Paddy's Billboard Model Contest"

One of the funniest-ever episode. This one is a treat.

In one plot thread Charlie and Dee set out to make some youtube videos. It starts out with Dee performing a series of (deliberately) unfunny characters. Some of this is painful to watch (and reminds me of what a lesser sitcom might try to pass off a funny), so Charlie comes to the rescue... with a lot of physical violence. Wonderful. Every time he punched Dee in the face with a ball (or, later, when kicked Dennis in the nuts) I laughed uncontrollably.

Meanwhile...

The guys in the bar held a modelling contest with Dennis trying desperately to win the Male Section. So, so, so funny.

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 15. "In the Zone"

Wonderful change-of-pace episode. Tony goes to Iraq. And the show devotes a (major) b-plot to fleshing out a minor recurring character.

The case-of-the-week was okay, but the character stuff (and the story that went with it) was Grade: A all the way.

The Beautiful Life. Episode 1. "Pilot"

Hey, I'm way outside the target demographic of a show about teen models, but if it was well-written and had interesting characters/stories I'd certainly be open to watching.

But, based on this opening episode, the show has nothing to recommend it.

Sara Paxton and Ben Hollingsworth have chemistry and are likable. I was charmed - to some degree - by their sweet romance, but bored by their characters: the only nice model in New York and the naive farm boy who stumbles into modelling by accident.

If the show was completely devoted to them I might consider watching episode 2. Maybe.

But, as it happens, the show has many other characters and all of them are really bland. The stories are bland and predictable, too. The 'big twist' here (that one of the models was selling drugs to an undercover cop, and would soon be arrested) was easy to see a mile off. Thus, I wasn't interested in anything that happened.

Jaime Murray (whom I adore) has a dreadful part, and - to be honest - kinda sucks at it.

The hero's dad is taken from TV's Big Book Of Unsupportive Dads and, when you look at their scenes together, you can't help but feel that the show isn't even trying.

I'm not particularly anxious to add a show to my viewing list that explores the world of teenage models in New York but, even if I was, this isn't the show to do that. Rather than knowing anything about models and their world, I feel that writers/producers have done their research by simply watching other shows/movies about models.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they have intimate knowledge of that milieu. Sadly, however, they don't convey that with this inept hour of television.

Space: 1999 Episode 7. "Missing Link" Koenig is taken by an alien scientist.

My least favourite episode of Season One is long, boring and talky. Koenig makes some inexplicable choices, too, with regard to staying with the aliens and leaving Alpha forever.

Best forgotten....

Highlight? It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (So, so, so funny)
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It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, NCIS, Hung, Glee

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

05.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
05.30 NCIS
06.30 Hung
07.30 Glee

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 2. "The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis" The plan is to buy gas, hoard it, and sell it when the price goes up.

Strong episode. Two good plots, both funny, and a lot of laughs coming from the characters themselves and how the interact.

Biggest laughs? Anything to do with the guy whose car the gang keep smashing into at various times. The final scene where we are watching him sitting watching golf on tv (while we wait for the huge explosion that we know is coming) is some of the funniest and best stuff the show has ever done.

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 14. "Internal Affairs" Gibbs' team is under investigation.

Nice change-of-pace episode, which puts the team on the defensive and brings conclusion to a couple of plots from last season.

The stuff with Jenny was okay, but not very exciting because I don't like that character very much, while the stuff with Tony was fantastic, because I really like Tony and was very invested in that love story arc from Season 4.

Hung. Episode 1. "Hung" Teacher who can't pay his bills becomes a prostitute.

Amusing and odd. He's not the most likable hero I've ever encountered in a tv show, but his story is interesting. There are some mild amusing moments here and there, but I'd hardly call the show much of a comedy.

Will I watch any more? Undecided.

Glee. Episode 1. "Pilot" Teacher tries to keep the glee club alive, but means both fair and foul.

The music is nice, if you like energetic cover versions, but the story and characters are lifted from 100 other shows/movies and it was unbearable to sit through.

Highlight? It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (funny)
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Thu, Apr 30, 09 - Lost, Always Sunny, Unusuals, 24

06.00 Lost
08.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
09.30 The Unusuals
10.30 24

Lost. Season 5, Episode 14. "The Variable" Daniel returns to warn everyone.

Nice brain-twisting episode with a great performance from Jeremy Davies (despite wearing a comedy-wig in a couple of flashback scenes).

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 4, Episode 1. "Mac and Dennis: Manhunters" Half the gang turn manhunters, and half turn cannibal.

Disappointing opening episode, with a small number of laughs. The best episodes are the ones where the gang come up with some hair-brained (offensive) scheme that will "change their lives", and throw themselves into the scheme with 100% conviction.

This is not one of those.

Mac and Dennis decide to hunt Cricket for reasons that make no sense, even in this oddball world of theirs, and - except for the nipple feeling scene - yield no laughs. Charlie and Dee, meanwhile, are fooled into thinking they have eaten human meat. Funny, yes, but not enough to sustain a full storyline. The scenes got repetitive very fast, and the laughs faded.

The Unusuals. Episode 4. "Crime Slut" Beaumont tracks a stolen watch, and hides a shameful secret, while Delahoy and Banks (television's coolest cops) track a zombie.

Wow. This is superb stuff. Delahoy and Banks are - quite simply - the coolest cops on TV and the storyline of the 'zombie' is both inventive and genuinely touching. This show has found a way to make the cop show genre exciting and fresh for the first time in years.

Beaumont, meanwhile, is deeply in debt. A great story idea. Superbly handled/told.

24. Season 7, Episode 20. "3AM-4AM" Jack questions Hodges, Tony urges his mysterious bosses to stage an attack, Olivia decides to execute the man who murdered her brother and... Chloe returns to active duty.

Wow. Rarely are the "no action" episodes of 24 this bloody good. For a start, this episode contains the best Jack/Chloe scenes ever filmed. They hugged, for frak's sake!! And he talked her like a real person, like a friend. It was a wonderful scene. And things stayed fantasic as Chloe when to work. I especially loved it when she put Janis (Chloe-lite) in her place.

Tony's scenes were fascinating. Kudos to Carlos Bernard, who is amazing in the role. I must admit that there is a part of me, who deeply wishes that Tony is not bad. I would love it if they could find a way to redeem him at the end. What if he was doing all of this to get to the man who ordered Michelle's death? That revelation would redeem him in the fans eyes...

Olivia got several great scenes in this one. I thought the show would write her out. Instead they give her a great new storyline. A storyline that... makes sense. And seems like a logial extension of everything that happened earlier in the season.

Never has 24 delivered a season that holds together as one unit so well.

Wow.

Highlight? 24 (Chloe is back!)
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Thu, Jan 22, 09 - NCIS, Damages, 24, Lost, Always Sunny, Flight Of The Conchords, Night Court

08.00 NCIS
09.00 Damages
10.00 24
11.00 Lost
12.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
12.30 Flight Of The Conchords
03.00 Night Court

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 10. "Corporal Punishment" An average, and preachy, outing finds the team on the trail of a delusional and violent Marine who thinks he's still in Iraq.

There's a good twist at the end, and there are several great Ziva scenes, but this is a hard episode to like. Gibbs gets a great scene where he makes clear his views on the war, but most of the rest of what happens is preachy and boring.



Damages. Season 2, Episode 3. "I Knew Your Pig" The story broadens out to include a reporter working with Daniel and we get to see the background to Patty's and Daniel's history.

I did not think that anybody could steal this show from Glenn Close but William Hurt is doing it. This the strongest episode so far this season and it includes nothing at all from the 'six months later' portion of things. Instead, it is the performance of William Hurt that drives the episode off the chart and well into A+ territory. He lights the screen up with every single scene (my favourite being the police interrogation scene).



24. Season 7, Episode 5. "12PM - 1PM" Two great cliffhangers.

We start off watching Jack in the middle of the kidnapping. By the mid-way point he has succeeded, captured Agent Walker as well and is travelling, by van, to meet the Bad Guy of the piece.

Chloe and Bill do not appear (which sucks) and all of the stuff at FBI HQ is boring and pointless, because the characters there are boring and pointless. But the episode positively sings in the Jack and Henry storylines and both build towards fantastic cliff-hangers.

Henry finally finds out who killed his son. It's not much of a twist that his bodyguard is evil, but it is a shocker that he is the one that actually killed Henry's son. Also a shocker: the drugging and impending murder of Henry. As the clock closes on this episode: Henry is paralysed and awaiting certain death. It's a horrific situation to be in and I cannot wait to see how it is resolved. I presume Samantha will save the day...

Renee Walker, meanwhile, has a very tough hour. She finds Jack and Tony, but gets captured and finds herself facing execution by Jack Bauer. All of the scenes in the van are superb, and Annie Wersching proves herself to be a worthy addition to the cast of 24. The execution scene, itself, is superb. Jack's terse words of advice and the burial scene are top notch television.

I don't think Walker is in great peril (I presume she can easily wriggle free from the shallow grave when the van drives off) but that final scene is a classic. The visuals (shots of her terrified face alternating with her point of view) make it horrifying. A high-point in the life of 24.



Lost. Season 5, Episode 1. "Because You Left" I loved every minute of this, but - let's be honest - it's a total mess of an episode.

The problem is: this episode tries to include every single character and advance their story in some small way. Lost never does this, and here's why: it's unsatisfying chaos. In fact, it felt like one of this innumerable clip-show episodes of Lost that I detest and avoid like the plague.

Highlight? The Sayid/Hurley action scene was superb but, like every other scene, it moved away from the characters just when things were getting really good. Bugger that!

The island scenes were fun. Time travel is always cool and I'm sure the ladies enjoyed seeing Josh Holloway shirtless for the whole episode. I, myself, was more than happy to see Elizabeth Mitchell and Rebecca Mader well established as the new heroes we can root for on the island. This is important. Except for Sawyer and Locke there is nobody from the original main cast left on the island at the moment. To Lost's considerable credit all of the 'new' characters trapped with them on the island are interesting and likable. The audience are invested in them. In all of them, I might add, I just picked Mitchell and Mader because they are crazy hot.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 3, Episode 15. "The Gang Dances Their Asses Off" The third season ends with a dance contest, where ownership of bar is the first prize...

...and the gang betray one another at every turn. Wonderful stuff. Very funny. The season ends on a high by playing to the strengths of this wonderful show: a high concept situation where the regulars behave in a despicable manner where possible.



Flight Of The Conchords. Season 2, Episode 1. "A Good Opportunity" No good songs, but a funny opening episode finds Murray fired from the band.

In common with many first season stories, this one is driven by the removal of somebody from the group. This time it is the manager Murray. Murray also gets a great musical number. The lyrics/tune are quite basic (and I can't imagine being in a hurry to add it to my iPod) but the visuals are simply stunning. I've rarely seen New York's skyline so lovingly displayed on screen.



Night Court. Episode 9. "Wonder Drugs" Lana takes medication, has a bad reaction and goes a little crazy.

Karen Austin (who I had a crush on when this was new) gives a tour de force performance as the uninhibited Lana: climbing around the furniture, kissing Harry and expressing every desire and thought. She's very funny (and very sexy) and this is her best episode on the show. Sadly it is also her last.

Austin looks ready to devour the whole world as she shows us the crazy side of Lana. She takes physical control of the show's set in a way that few actresses could have managed. It's an amazing performance. She never seems to second guess herself or put less than 100% into each word, gesture and movement. She comes across as primitive, raw and very sexual. Her hair flies about her, untamed and out of control. A bit like 'medicated Lana'.

Her kiss with Harry is fantastic. A season high-point and one of my favourite memories of the show in general. The one-liner she zings out directly afterwards is also terrific.

Which is a huge part of the show's appeal: funny lines in the middle of a strong story. In this case a story very much driven by the characters. Lana is out of character due to medication, but it is her feelings for Harry and her dissatisfaction with her own relationship that really causes this behaviour.

Highlight? 24 (two great cliffhangers)
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Thu, Jan 15, 09 - NCIS, Damages, 24, Always Sunny, Night Court

05.30 NCIS
06.30 Damages
07.30 24
08.30 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
03.30 Night Court

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 9. "Lost & Found" The ending may be a tad too neat to be believed, but this is still a wonderful episode of NCIS.

A kid touring NCIS HQ, with McGee, is revealed to have been abducted many years previous, which leads Gibbs and the team to launch a manhunt for the kid's father. The clever start makes this much more than another case-of-the-week, and the subject matter allows the writers to explore/show fresh views of Gibbs and his boss lady: Jenny Shepard. Since Gibbs is always dealing with (a) his team, (b) suspects there aren't a lot of shades to the character. Now he's got a cute kid to play off. The same goes for Jenny, who is perpetually shown in conflict with Gibbs. In this one, we see her softer/feminine side. Yes, it's a cliché but it's good for the character. And for the viewers/fans because we love to see stuff like this.

Once again Ziva and Tony get a lot of alone-time as a team and they light up the screen. Gosh, I wonder is this leading somewhere...

Damages. Season 2, Episode 2. "Burn It, Shred It, I Don't Care" Just like last season, every single line of dialogue from every single character is suspect.

In any given conversation between A and B, you have cause to wonder whether A is lying or not. And you then have cause to wonder whether B knows this and is just pretending to believe what is being said to them.

Which opens another can of worms. What if A is telling the truth, and B is wrong to think they are lying.

Such an amazing show. Causes as many headaches as Lost and Battlestar Galactica. And that's pretty high praise.

24. Season 7, Episode 4. "11AM - 12PM" With the four regular characters back together, and two really superb new characters, this seventh season of 24 is shaping up to be very good indeed.

Jack and Tony leave New CTU HQ and head back to the bad guy's lair where - after some violence and killing - they move out and attempt to kidnap a VIP (to maintain their cover and get closer to their goal).

All the usual things that make 24 fun to watch are back in place. Jack and his team know the truth, but they do not know who they can trust, so they must go it alone and have all the other good guys trying to stop them at every turn. It's great fun. Yes, we've seen this before on the show. Who cares? It's great fun.

Chloe and Bill sit at New CTU and worry. I adore Chloe and love all the screen time she gets in this episode. Bill has a beard now. Is that to make him look tough?

Meanwhile Renee and the president's husband get some great scenes. Scenes where they appear to be heroic and interesting characters.

Finally, how cool to see Ever Carradine standing beside Jeffrey Nordling! She stood beside him once, and again she's doing it. :)

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 3, Episode 14. "Bums: Making a Mess All Over the City" The gang dress up as, and pretend to be, cops!

Instant classic. All five regulars are amazing (and hilarious) in scene after scene. One of the reasons the show works (and is such a pleasure to watch) is because it demonstrates relentless energy in creating new storylines and it simply does not know when to stop when it has an idea. Frank and Dennis work as street cops and - in a few short scenes - the script creates several classic skits around that concept. The matching of these two characters and the idea of being a cop is inspired. And constantly laugh-out-loud funny as we watch them harass jaywalkers for money, etc.

Charlie becomes a Serpico-like 'undercover cop' and throws himself into the fantasy with the sort of idiotic gusto that works for all-time-great TV characters like Kramer. Sweet Dee and Mac, meanwhile, become urban vigilantes and - for their efforts - get mugged.

But the biggest laughs in the episode go to Jack Bauer, the indestructible cat.

Night Court. Episode 8. "Quadrangle of Love" Harry, Bull and Dan are all interested in the same woman.

It starts off fairly weak, with Dan madly in love, but things soon perk up when the subject of his interest announces that she is going on a date with Bull, shortly after asking Harry to go to a a concert with her.

With that very slim idea, the writers/cast manage to generate a lot of laughs. Highlight? Harry suggests all three men hold hands to curb their mutual aggressions.

Highlight? It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (instant classic)
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Thur, Jan 8, 09 - NCIS, Damages, Always Sunny, Lie To Me, Mentalist, Night Court

05.30 NCIS
06.30 Damages
07.30 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
08.30 Lie To Me
09.30 The Mentalist
03.00 Night Court

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 8. "Designated Target" NCIS works closely with the wife of a man who has been running, from an assassination death squad, for many, many years.

Another clever, and wonderful, episode of NCIS. The comedy between the characters is simply superb, the story is interesting and the twist at the end is genuinely heartbreaking. For two characters.

Since the show always likes to tell tales with twists at the end, I was suspicious of the wife. Maybe she was lying to Ziva (about love, romance and true love) and would turn out to be an assassin herself. That was not the case. In the show's final seconds, the husband and wife are reunited to find that he has married again (in the mistaken belief that his wife had been killed). It's an absolute slap in the face and everything about that final scene is perfect. The shock revelation, the pain and dignity shown by the wife and the final slow close-up on Ziva's sorrowful expression.

This is a wonderful episode for Ziva. And for Ziva and Tony. We see them alone - as a team - more than usual, and the script/performaces play up the attraction between them in a more obvious way than is normally done on the show.

Works for me. More please!

Damages. Season 2, Episode 1. "I Lied, Too" A month has passed, Ellen and Patty are both trying - in the own way - to deal with the events of Season One.

Superb opening episode to another one of television's consistently A+ shows.

I'm delighted to see Ted Danson back for the new season, and also delighted that the writers have devised a way to maintain the show's clever/unusual narrative structure.

So, who did Ellen shoot (if she did, in fact, shoot anyone)? Patty, Frobisher, Katie, Wes...

It could be anyone. Wes could be working for Patty, Katie or Tom might be more corrupt than we realise... There is no way of know. Yet. However, based on Season One, we can be sure that the journey to the revelation will be a thrill ride.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 3, Episode 12. "The Gang Gets Whacked" It's certainly got some very funny moments, but this double-length episode (that turns the regulars into drug dealers) isn't quite funny enough to fill out the extra half-hour.

Each cast member has a stand out scene, and some of the ideas are inspired, but I spend a lot of this one watching and waiting for the next laugh. The best bits involved Frank brainwashing Dennis into becoming a prostitute, and anything involving Charlie's obsession with horses.

Lie To Me. Episode 1. "Pilot" A standard cop show, with a great lead actor and a nice gimmick.

The stories are pedestrian and I found it very easy, in both stories, to predict what the outcome would be. In the story about the politician it was easy, from the first scene of the story, to know that the prostitute was - in fact - his daughter.

Tim Roth owns this show. I've always liked the guy, but - My God! - he rules this show the way that Hugh Laurie rules House. Roth is one of the few actors who can make it compelling when his character is sitting listening to someone else talking. We believe that Lighman is deep in thought every second that he appears on screen. That's what Roth brings to the table with this role.

The rest of the cast are bland, except Brendan Hines who is wasted in a support role. He should be the one partnered with Lightman out in the field.

The show's gimmick in interesting. But - in this first episode - it did cause me to step back from the story a few times. Instead of thinking 'oh, that guy is lying', I was thinking, 'I wonder how the filmed that bit'. Hopefully, in future episodes they spend less time explaining/showing how Lightman does his magic. Let's just accept that he can read people perfectly and move on. Give us some better stories than this one!

And give Lightman more of a personal life. This guy knows when people are lying, for frak sake! Let's see him on the dating scene, or dealing with a family crisis of some sort. There's huge scope to make this one more than a boring procedural.

The Mentalist. Episode 2. "Red Hair and Silver Tape" I'm trying to like it, honest, but it's still coming across as a bit too pedestrian for me.

Simon Baker is terrific. He's got star quality. He is the show. And when he stands there watching and listening he makes it compelling. I believe that Patrick Jane is clever and always thinking. So, yes, I buy it. I'm willing to take the leap and go along for the ride.

But the stories need to stronger than this one: a trainee serial killer in a small town.

The best bits were the scenes between Patrick and the kid brother of the victim. Patrick's speech was superb. And it's enough - I think - to make me want to see the next episode.

I think.

Night Court. Episode 7. "Once in Love With Harry" Reinhold Weege delivers another superb episode, when a prostitute mistakes Harry's kindness for something more.

Rita Taggart, Harry Anderson and Karen Austin give wonderful performances in this one, and the script gives all three characters wonderul depth and heart. Lonely Carla, kind-hearted Harry and jealous/protective Lana are each made very real.

Harry's final speech, when he wonders aloud, if he might actually be falling in love with Carla is heart-breakingly good. It's also a speech of depth and perception.

I'd expect nothing else from Night Court.

Highlight? Damages (bang! bang!)
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Thu, Dec 18, 08 - NCIS, House, Supernatural, Always Sunny, Night Court

05.30 NCIS
06.30 House
07.30 Supernatural
08.30 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
11.30 Night Court

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 7. "Requiem" An amazing episode. I had tears in my eyes, from start to finish, as Gibbs meets (and bonds with) the best friend of the daughter he lost when she was a child. Gibbs has never recovered from her murder. He never speaks of it. But regular viewers know that if affects him because we are often treated to quick flashes of what Gibbs is thinking about at different times.

Full praise to Shane Brennan for creating this amazing new character (I hope we see her again). Maddie is someone for Gibbs to talk to, about his daughter. What a stroke of genius. And what great casting! Cameron Goodman is adorable. Her chemistry with Mark Harmon is amazing. They seem like a father/daughter team from the moment they appear on-screen together.

Harmon does some great work in this episode. Gibbs never opens up, even in these situations, so Harmon has to find other ways to show us what Gibbs is feeling.

Gibbs goes off-book at the end of the episode. And he nearly pays for it with his life. Interesting that this would happen at time when he runs away from his existing family (the NCIS Team) in an effort to save/create a new family (with Maddie).

The episode is filled with truly cool/wonderful moments. I love Gibbs at the best of times, but he is especially awesome when playing the protective father to Maddie.

The episode's use of photographs is exceptionally clever. An old photo of Kelly and Maddie is used a few times in the episode, as is a brand new snap of Gibbs and Maddie standing side-by-side. In the closing seconds of the episode, one photo is thrown on top of the other, so that it creates the optical illusion of Gibbs standing between the two girls: the daughter he lost and the new 'daughter' he has just found.

A beautiful idea/image/moment.

Had I not already had tears in my eyes, at that stage, I would surely have started wailing when I saw that.

House. Season 5, Episode 10. "Let Them Eat Cake" For the second week in a row, Olivia Wilde totally steals the episode out from her cast mates as Thirteen confronts some bitter memories from her childhood. Last week, Wilde was the best thing in the episode because pretty everything else was rubbish. That is not the case this time out. She's still the best thing about "Let Them Eat Cake" but - across the board - this is a great episode.

When, in Episode 9, House went up a crazed gunman and behaved completely in character, I was a tad bored. In this story, House is face to face with a beautiful woman offering him the chance of a proper adult relationship. He behaves totally in character (ie. he's a jerk) and it's completely riveting. Watching him screw up something this great before it gets started is completely absorbing.

Kutner and Taub have a hilarious subplot with a great twist at the end, while Taub gets some great scenes with the case-of-the-week patient. The show is great at this: bringing in patients, whose lives/decisions reflect/mirror the lives of one of the doctors. And it's one of the reasons I love this show.

But this episode belongs to Thirteen, as she remembers her mother's final days.

Supernatural. Season 3, Episode 7. "Fresh Blood" Stronger than recent episodes. Gordon Walker is out of prison and out to get Sam... dead. A vampire called Dixon enters the picture and - before long - Gordon has become a creature of the night. He's not lost his sense of self, however, and he determines to end his own life... after he kills Sam. So the stage is set for a show-down between the Winchesters and a super-powered Gordon Walker.

It's a bloody episode. Lots of graphic deaths in this one. Heads being ripped off, and such. There's some nice character work on the brothers (the Dean-decides-not-to-leave-the-motel scene and the fixing-the-car scene at the very end) but the climax is a cheat. Walker has them totally beaten. In particular there is nothing to stop him from killing Sam. Then he goes and blows it all by sending the two of the flying through a wall and out into the open where Sam can get the upper hand.

Sloppy writing, with regard to the climax, but this is a better episode than many recent ones.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 3, Episode 11. Another genius idea as we discover that "Dennis Looks Like a Registered Sex Offender"! Where do they come up with this stuff? Once again, it's a very funny episode with great storylines for all the regulars. Picking a favourite character is very hard, but I really loved Mac in this one. Boundless, blind, enthusiasm as he tries to bond with his ex-con father. All to no avail.

Night Court. Episode 6. "Death Threat" Another omnipotent being visits the courtroom in this one. First it was Santa, this time it is God himself who pops in and dishes out sage advise to Harry during a crisis. He is receiving death threats. The ending is a bit twee, but this is a good episode. It's quite serious as Harry examines his conscience and very funny as a clumsy bomb disposal expert keeps bumping into things.

Hightlight? NCIS (the pictures at the end)
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Thu, Dec 11, 08 - NCIS, House, Supernatural, Always Sunny, Night Court

05.30 NCIS
06.30 House
07.30 Supernatural
08.30 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
09.00 Night Court

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 6. "Chimera" The 100th episode of NCIS and one of the very best. The team are all alone on a ghost ship out at sea. As they try to figure out what happened to the crew they realise that someone (or something) on on the ship with them. Then Ducky announces that they may have only have a few hours to live...

It just does not get any better than this. It's scary and exciting and funny and intense. The chemistry between all the regulars (especially Tony and Ziva) is scorching and - as ever - there isn't a bunch of crime-solvers I'd rather hang out with. Best bit? Gibbs suggests that Tony die like Chaplin in The Great Dictator. How was that, exactly? "Silently". In an episode filled with laugh out loud moments, that was the icing on the cake.

House. Season 5, Episode 8. "Emancipation" House is a superb detective series. It has a lot going on, and operates on a few levels, but it is also a great detective series. This episode has two patients (two stories) and some great detective work by the doctors in charge (House and Foreman). The House-realises-what-is-going-on bit at the end is simply mesmerising. It pulls you in and delivers the goods, week after week. And this is one of the best.

Supernatural. Season 3, Episode 5. "Bedtime Stories" This is goofy story. You really have to take a leap of faith to accept this one. But I love stories like this. She-Wolf Of London did an episode somewhat like this, and Kolchak's later episodes were "out there" too. On stories like this, I really admire the creativity of the writers.

The spirit of a woman in a coma since she was a child is killing people by making them act out horrible bedtime stories. It's a total 'what the frak?' episode, but I really enjoyed it. I don't think it will ever make anyone's top ten list, including mine, but it's fun while it lasts.

The closing minutes are like something from a different episode. But they fit because the opening minutes tell us that is exactly what is going to happen. Clever.

Sam goes up against the demon that did the deal with Dean. And, in a very cold blooded way, he kills her.

Hmm...

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 3, Episode 10. "Mac is a Serial Killer" The gang decided to prove that Mac is a serial killer based on... somewhat flimsy evidence. Charlie hilariously turns himself into a character from Law And Order (to defend his buddy) while Sweet Dee and Dennis decide the get inside the mind of a serial killer... by stalking someone. Dee does this in complete clown costume. Including squeaky shoes.

And every insane second of it works. Because we accept these characters and their world. Pulling that off, week after week, is work of genius.

Night Court. Episode 5. "The Eye of the Beholder" Weakest episode so far. Bull is annoyed that people make assumptions about him based on his appearance. His reaction seems too extreme for the realistic tone this show has set in it's early episodes. The story is nicely concluded, but the episode is light on laughs. And it's hard to feel sympathy for Bull, given his childish behaviour.

Highlight? NCIS (100 episodes and better than ever)
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Thur, Dec 4, 08 - Sarah Connor, NCIS, Always Sunny, Supernatural, Larry Sanders, Son Of The Beach

06.30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
07.30 NCIS
08.30 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
09.00 Supernatural
10.00 The Larry Sanders Show
10.30 Son Of The Beach

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 11. "Self Made Man" Another winner. A slice-of-life tale, taking into the activities of the characters between battles in the war. Derek, Jesse, Ellison, Catherine and Sarah are left out this week, but there are still many things to watch and savour:

Cameron. This episodes reveals what she does when the others are asleep: She sneaks off to a nearby college library and does research. She also appears to have bonded and formed a friendship (of sorts) with the night watchman! And it is fascinating to watch. Cameron is obviously using the guy, but she appears to have genuine 'concern' for him and his well-being. Yet, I don't trust her. At the end of the episode I half-expected her to put a bullet in him. It is this kind of complex characterization that makes TSCC such a joy to watch.

The story. The story is cool. But it takes a real leap of faith to make it work. It's awesome to think of Cameron being able to track the activities of this Terminator almost 100 years earlier, but you have to accept that he was photographed at just the right moment to capture what he was doing and you have to accept that she stumbled upon this picture and was able to figure out what it meant and track him down. It's way, way out there. But if you can take the leap and go along for the ride: it's a great tale.

The action. The battle at the end is great. Not just the action on-screen, but the whole setting and reasons for the battle are cool, too. As Cameron stalks the empty building looking for her prey, the camera angle's capitalise very nicely on Summer Glau's appealing... physique. Nice.

John and Riley. Again, I have to say that I love the character of Riley and her impact on John. She drags John to a party in this one. And we get see him as a bit of social misfit. This plots paints a dark and lonely picture of life for these two characters.

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 5. "Leap of Faith" NCIS is not like the other CBS crime procedurals. Witness the scene where Tony and McGee are waiting outside the office of the man they are supposed to be questioning. Tony has an embarrassing picture of McGee on his phone and - while left completely alone - the two men get into a long wrestling matching for possession of the phone. Eventually they are caught and have to identify themselves as NCIS agents on a case. Hilarious, and an example of why I love this show. It's fun.

Susan Kelechi Watson guests as a germophobe NCIS agent. Watching the others (particularly Tony) react to her quirks is hilarious. Best bit? Tony does a fake sneeze and sprinkles water (from a bottle) on top of her. To her horror and his own great amusement.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 3, Episode 9. "Sweet Dee's Dating a Retarded Person" Music is the obsession of the week, when everybody decides they want to be in a band. Not the same band, mind you, rather they set up competing bands. Competing bands that are awful. Awful is a delighful-to-watch sense. Best bit? It's almost impossible to pick one. But if I must, I'll go for Charlie Day singing Nightman.

Supernatural. Season 3, Episode 3. "Bad Day at Black Rock" 'I'm Batman' declares Dean at one stage in this delightful episode, the latest in a long line of very, very funny SN episodes.

The boys cross paths with a cursed object. One that grants the owner fantastic good luck. Until he gives it away... At that point, his luck turns bad. So bad that, eventually, it kills him. Sam has the object for a brief moment and it is stolen, meaning that his life is in danger. Dean chases the thief, while Sam waits in a motel room to stop him from falling over things, etc.

Lauren Cohan is the latest in a long line of very beautiful female guest stars. Her scenes with Dean are hilarious.

Sterling K. Brown returns to cause problems (from prison) and he's enlisted the fantastic Michael Massee to do his bidding. Great development.

With the boys dealing with a cursed object, for once, this one reminds me of the great Friday The 13th TV series. There is even what appears to be a shoutout to the show at one point, when the boys name the date on which the cursed object was created. Nice.

The Larry Sanders Show. Episode 2. "The Flirt Episode" With great roles in shows such as The Loop, Jesse Stone and My Boys, Mimi Rogers seems to cornered the market when it comes to playing sexually aggressive older ladies. Back when she was only 36, she played pretty much the same role in this wonderful episode of Larry Sanders. Mimi, as herself, is a guest on Larry's show. They flirt a lot on-air and it causes a lot of problems for Larry. Mimi is a delight.

Son Of The Beach. Episode 3. "Fanny and the Professor" Harmless sex jokes and robots. Robots?! Yes, this is the episode where Notch and the gang are fired by the Mayor and replaced by three identical robots. Notch doesn't cope well with unemployment and - within 24 hours - is found living homeless on the beach.

Highlight? The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Cameron)
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