A look back at the best and worst of last week, and a look ahead to what's coming up.
Highlights
1. Lost. Time-tripping along in the season premiere. Round and round the island goes, when it stops, nobody knows . . . . Though there were plenty of plot twists and revelations, my personal favorite parts were Hurley chucking a Hot Pocket at Ben (was I the only one who had Jim Gaffigan chirping "Hot Pock-ets!" in their head during that scene?) and Frogurt the annoying Lostaway getting a flaming arrow to the chest. That'll teach him to speak out of line to Sawyer.
2. Battlestar Galactica. It was a quiet episode, but more like the quiet before the storm. The little dashes of humor -- Adama's "Sometimes I hate this job" -- were a nice break from the bleakness of last week's premiere. It was gripping to watch the seeds being sown -- Baltar preaching a message of anarchy, Roslin giving up the fight and Gaeta making yet another horribly bad decision -- and wondering how it will all turn out.
3. Flight of the Conchords. Bret ("Brit!") buys a $2.75 mug that throws him and Jemaine into poverty, and the only way out is for Jemaine to become a man-whore. Hooo boy, who hasn't been there?
Honorable mention: Burn Notice. It's nice to have Michael and the gang back. Those overhead shots of Miami are amazing eye candy in HD. And a bikini cat-fight to boot! Rarrrr!
Lowlights
1. Top Chef. Restaurant Wars is usually among the best episodes of the season. But this one floundered under the weak leadership of both teams. This has been a pretty uninspiring year for Top Chef, and this episode was pretty par for the course. Radikha's hosting must have been pretty awful for her to go home, considering Leah's entree was inedible. Can't wait for Leah to go home. In fact, just give them all the boot except for Jamie, Fabio and Stefan (and maybe Jeff) and let them battle it out. It's pretty clear they're head and shoulders above the rest.
2. The Office. The whole Hilary Swank hot-or-not bit went on for waaaay too long. And I was disappointed that Michael caved and decided to crush the nice family paper company.
3. That creepy commercial for a certain car insurance company featuring the farmer who looks like a refugee from Deliverance, a driver who looks like a serial killer asking for directions, and a wad of cash with eyeballs sitting on a fencepost. It just makes me want to change the channel.
Looking forward to. . .
1. Battlestar Galactica. Looks like civil war starts to break out in the fleet. Oh frak. . .
2. Damages. Ellen gets out into the field with an investigative reporter, and bad things happen in West Virginia. (Do good things ever happen in West Virginia?)
3. Lost. Lord knows what'll happen. Just let it come, and I'll try to figure it out later.
Read more!
Showing posts with label The Office. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Office. Show all posts
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Monday Look Around
Here's the start of a (hopefully) regular feature, the Monday Look Around. It's a look back at TV's best and worst of the past week, and a look ahead at what's to come.
Highlights
1. Battlestar Galactica. The first of the final 10 episodes was a true stunner. Bleak and unrelenting, with shocking series-changing revelations, it wasn't particularly fun to watch, but it was powerful and dramatic television, a truly great show at its best. While answering some crucial questions, it opened up even more.
2. Damages. Another of television's best dramas, and the intrigue kicked into gear last week. Did Purcell kill his wife? Why is Patty so obsessed with helping him? Who does Ellen shoot (or shoot at)? Why is Wes so helpful to Ellen, and why does he have a cabinet full of guns and Frobisher photos? Can Claire Maddox take down Patty Hewes? And whose side is she on? And how are she and Purcell connected? It's enough to make your head spin, in the best way possible.
3. The Office. Biggest laughs of the week. From Michael racing next to the roadside speed indicator, to the office trying to keep the lid on a secret (Kevin to Angela: "I'm sorry I did such a whorish job filling out this form."), to the inevitable Andy-Dwight showdown, I think this was The Office's best all-around episode of the year.
Lowlights
1. VH1. Looking for a trainwreck of a show? Look to VH1. "Pathetic" pretty much sums up their programming: pathetic Barbie-doll women throwing themselves at pathetic former rock star Bret Michaels on Rock of Love Bus, pathetic former "teen idols" (really? I never heard of most of those guys) desperate to recapture a glimmer of fame on Confessions of a Teen Idol, pathetic guys called out for the tools that are on Tool Academy . . . enough awful shows that Celebrity Rehab and Sober House seem classy in comparison. Of course, the awfulness of these shows doesn't necessarily stop me from watching.
2. Top Chef. I had real problems with last week's episode, "Down on the Farm." The Quickfire challenge was terrible. I watch this show to see talented chefs compete at a high level, not dinker around with canned peas and Chef Boyardee. This season has had more than its usual share of contrived cooking challenges, and it's coming dangerously close to ruining the show's credibility. I was also upset that Arianne was sent packing. Granted, her lamb was bad, but the tying -- which seemed to make the judges most upset -- was done by Leah, who really didn't contribute anything useful to the meal, and deflected all blame come judging. She should have been gone, and I hope she doesn't last much longer.
3. 30 Rock. It fell flat. I love this show, and maybe that's why my expectations are so high, but for the first time in a long time, it didn't crack me up. Every show has its bumps, and hopefully this was just one of those. I won't hold a grudge.
Looking Forward to . . .
1. Lost. Two-hour season premiere Wednesday. Where/when did that island go?!? Can't . . . freakin . . . wait.
2. Burn Notice. Returns Thursday to USA. It'll be a good dose of fun hijinks and pretty explosions in an otherwise very serious, highly dramatic TV season.
3. Top Chef. It's time for Restaurant Wars this Wednesday, consistently one of the best episodes of each season.
Read more!
Highlights
1. Battlestar Galactica. The first of the final 10 episodes was a true stunner. Bleak and unrelenting, with shocking series-changing revelations, it wasn't particularly fun to watch, but it was powerful and dramatic television, a truly great show at its best. While answering some crucial questions, it opened up even more.
2. Damages. Another of television's best dramas, and the intrigue kicked into gear last week. Did Purcell kill his wife? Why is Patty so obsessed with helping him? Who does Ellen shoot (or shoot at)? Why is Wes so helpful to Ellen, and why does he have a cabinet full of guns and Frobisher photos? Can Claire Maddox take down Patty Hewes? And whose side is she on? And how are she and Purcell connected? It's enough to make your head spin, in the best way possible.
3. The Office. Biggest laughs of the week. From Michael racing next to the roadside speed indicator, to the office trying to keep the lid on a secret (Kevin to Angela: "I'm sorry I did such a whorish job filling out this form."), to the inevitable Andy-Dwight showdown, I think this was The Office's best all-around episode of the year.
Lowlights
1. VH1. Looking for a trainwreck of a show? Look to VH1. "Pathetic" pretty much sums up their programming: pathetic Barbie-doll women throwing themselves at pathetic former rock star Bret Michaels on Rock of Love Bus, pathetic former "teen idols" (really? I never heard of most of those guys) desperate to recapture a glimmer of fame on Confessions of a Teen Idol, pathetic guys called out for the tools that are on Tool Academy . . . enough awful shows that Celebrity Rehab and Sober House seem classy in comparison. Of course, the awfulness of these shows doesn't necessarily stop me from watching.
2. Top Chef. I had real problems with last week's episode, "Down on the Farm." The Quickfire challenge was terrible. I watch this show to see talented chefs compete at a high level, not dinker around with canned peas and Chef Boyardee. This season has had more than its usual share of contrived cooking challenges, and it's coming dangerously close to ruining the show's credibility. I was also upset that Arianne was sent packing. Granted, her lamb was bad, but the tying -- which seemed to make the judges most upset -- was done by Leah, who really didn't contribute anything useful to the meal, and deflected all blame come judging. She should have been gone, and I hope she doesn't last much longer.
3. 30 Rock. It fell flat. I love this show, and maybe that's why my expectations are so high, but for the first time in a long time, it didn't crack me up. Every show has its bumps, and hopefully this was just one of those. I won't hold a grudge.
Looking Forward to . . .
1. Lost. Two-hour season premiere Wednesday. Where/when did that island go?!? Can't . . . freakin . . . wait.
2. Burn Notice. Returns Thursday to USA. It'll be a good dose of fun hijinks and pretty explosions in an otherwise very serious, highly dramatic TV season.
3. Top Chef. It's time for Restaurant Wars this Wednesday, consistently one of the best episodes of each season.
Read more!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Well, he knows how to sell product...
Stringer Bell is coming to The Office. Idris Elba, who memorably played entrepreneurial drug-gang money man Stringer Bell on The Wire, will guest star in six episodes as Michael Scott's new nemesis. Can't wait for this. Especially if he mentions his previous position as assistant regional manager in Baltimore or something like that. The paper industry seems a step down and slightly less lucrative for him than the heroin trade, but he'll probably end up a lot less bullet-riddled.
Read more!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
I'm back. With a list.
I know, much like Pushing Daisies, I seemed to have vanished without a trace. But I'm back. Blame job-hunting, Christmas madness and the lack of anything on TV worth commenting on.
The end of the year brings the inevitable Top 10 (or 20) lists, and they've been done to death, and really, I can't add to them. Like everyone else, I loved The Wire, The Shield, Lost, 30 Rock, blah blah blah. So what I'll offer is this: My 10 favorite, most mind-blowing, most memorable TV moments of the year.
1. Lost: The island disappears. The bad guys are coming, and Ben climbs down into the depths of the island and finds. . . a big switch? And ZAP, just like that, they're gone. What. . . . the . . . . hell? The most stunning moment in a season full of them.
2.The Wire: Omar's demise. It came out of nowhere, a sudden bust of violence from the least likely candidate that was shocking even for a show that made shocking violence commonplace. It's not often a scene makes me bolt upright and shout a Vader-like "Noooooooo!" R.I.P. Omar. You were a bad, baaaad man. In such a good way. And like Vic Mackey (see next), it was the only appropriate way to go out.
3. The Shield: Vic's new job. The series finale was full of heartbreaking and gut-wrenching scenes (Shane's family laid out neatly on the bed, anyone?), but the introduction to Vic Mackey's new workplace was jaw-droppingly awesome. The sight of Vic in an ill-fitting suit, being reminded to put his name on his bag lunch and to be sure to call building services to adjust the thermostat was stunning. The wild beast was finally a caged animal. Or so we thought, until he stuffed his gun into his pants and stormed out of the building in the final scene. A perfect ending.
4. Mad Men: Season finale. I didn't watch the show religiously, but when I caught an episode it never failed to be outstanding. And the finale, from Don's reconciliation with Betty with so much left secret and unsaid, to Duck's power play crumbling as he underestimated Don, to the poignant and reveltory conversation between Peggy and Pete, all taking place with the Cuban Missile Crisis and the possible end of the world looming, was as gripping as anything on TV in 2008.
5. Battlestar Galactica: This is Earth? In a season full of shocking surprises – Cylons revealed, uneasy alliances, deteriorating mental states – this was the biggie. After all that running around the galaxy for so many years, Earth was finally found. Only it was a scorched, post-apocalyptic landscape. No dialogue – the looks of shock, confusion and disappointment on everyone's faces said it all.
6. Sons of Anarchy: The hit gone wrong. You could see it coming, the plan to kill Opie for his (wrongly) perceived betrayal and the horrible switch between drivers. Opie and his wife switched cars for the most ordinary reason, and because she was driving the wrong car at the wrong time, and because Tig was too cowardly to look his victim in the face before killing him, she died in a drive-by shooting. One of those moments where you know nothing will ever be the same in that show's universe.
7. Top Chef: Season 4 finale. Forget about sourpuss Lisa, this was all about the two consistently best, most personable chefs in the season – Richard vs. Stephanie. It's rare on a reality show to have two such likeable people vying for the win, which only made it all the more nerve-wracking. Richard had an off night, and Stephanie didn't – and she took the victory. I'd eat in either of their restaurants any time.
8. The Office: The dinner party. Finally, a comedy makes the list. This was probably the funniest episode of the year, with Michael & Jan having Jim & Pam and Andy & Angela over for the most awkward dinner party ever. Which, of course, was crashed by Dwight and his babysitter/date. From the stinky candle room to the 3-hour wait for the main course to the teeny tiny plasma TV, this was The Office at its best.
9. Life on Mars: Finale. Technically not a 2008 show, but it aired on BBC America this year, so I'm counting it. After two seasons of wondering if Sam's world exists only in his mind, or if he's a time-traveler, all is revealed – he's been in a coma and it all was a dream. But what was even more shocking was what Sam did next, after waking up and being forced to live in a now-unfamiliar present day. (And don't worry, ABC says they won't end their series the same way, so this shouldn't spoil anything.)
10. Saturday Night Live: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin. Tina Fey single-handedly made SNL relevant again with her spot-on impression of possibly the worst vice-presidential candidate in history. Really, a couple months after the fact, I'll bet more of us remember Fey's skits more than the real thing.
Read more!
The end of the year brings the inevitable Top 10 (or 20) lists, and they've been done to death, and really, I can't add to them. Like everyone else, I loved The Wire, The Shield, Lost, 30 Rock, blah blah blah. So what I'll offer is this: My 10 favorite, most mind-blowing, most memorable TV moments of the year.
1. Lost: The island disappears. The bad guys are coming, and Ben climbs down into the depths of the island and finds. . . a big switch? And ZAP, just like that, they're gone. What. . . . the . . . . hell? The most stunning moment in a season full of them.
2.The Wire: Omar's demise. It came out of nowhere, a sudden bust of violence from the least likely candidate that was shocking even for a show that made shocking violence commonplace. It's not often a scene makes me bolt upright and shout a Vader-like "Noooooooo!" R.I.P. Omar. You were a bad, baaaad man. In such a good way. And like Vic Mackey (see next), it was the only appropriate way to go out.3. The Shield: Vic's new job. The series finale was full of heartbreaking and gut-wrenching scenes (Shane's family laid out neatly on the bed, anyone?), but the introduction to Vic Mackey's new workplace was jaw-droppingly awesome. The sight of Vic in an ill-fitting suit, being reminded to put his name on his bag lunch and to be sure to call building services to adjust the thermostat was stunning. The wild beast was finally a caged animal. Or so we thought, until he stuffed his gun into his pants and stormed out of the building in the final scene. A perfect ending.
4. Mad Men: Season finale. I didn't watch the show religiously, but when I caught an episode it never failed to be outstanding. And the finale, from Don's reconciliation with Betty with so much left secret and unsaid, to Duck's power play crumbling as he underestimated Don, to the poignant and reveltory conversation between Peggy and Pete, all taking place with the Cuban Missile Crisis and the possible end of the world looming, was as gripping as anything on TV in 2008.
5. Battlestar Galactica: This is Earth? In a season full of shocking surprises – Cylons revealed, uneasy alliances, deteriorating mental states – this was the biggie. After all that running around the galaxy for so many years, Earth was finally found. Only it was a scorched, post-apocalyptic landscape. No dialogue – the looks of shock, confusion and disappointment on everyone's faces said it all.6. Sons of Anarchy: The hit gone wrong. You could see it coming, the plan to kill Opie for his (wrongly) perceived betrayal and the horrible switch between drivers. Opie and his wife switched cars for the most ordinary reason, and because she was driving the wrong car at the wrong time, and because Tig was too cowardly to look his victim in the face before killing him, she died in a drive-by shooting. One of those moments where you know nothing will ever be the same in that show's universe.
7. Top Chef: Season 4 finale. Forget about sourpuss Lisa, this was all about the two consistently best, most personable chefs in the season – Richard vs. Stephanie. It's rare on a reality show to have two such likeable people vying for the win, which only made it all the more nerve-wracking. Richard had an off night, and Stephanie didn't – and she took the victory. I'd eat in either of their restaurants any time.8. The Office: The dinner party. Finally, a comedy makes the list. This was probably the funniest episode of the year, with Michael & Jan having Jim & Pam and Andy & Angela over for the most awkward dinner party ever. Which, of course, was crashed by Dwight and his babysitter/date. From the stinky candle room to the 3-hour wait for the main course to the teeny tiny plasma TV, this was The Office at its best.
9. Life on Mars: Finale. Technically not a 2008 show, but it aired on BBC America this year, so I'm counting it. After two seasons of wondering if Sam's world exists only in his mind, or if he's a time-traveler, all is revealed – he's been in a coma and it all was a dream. But what was even more shocking was what Sam did next, after waking up and being forced to live in a now-unfamiliar present day. (And don't worry, ABC says they won't end their series the same way, so this shouldn't spoil anything.)
10. Saturday Night Live: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin. Tina Fey single-handedly made SNL relevant again with her spot-on impression of possibly the worst vice-presidential candidate in history. Really, a couple months after the fact, I'll bet more of us remember Fey's skits more than the real thing.
Read more!
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