Don't Throw Away Your Television #1

The week in scripted TV: 11/11/07-11/17/07

Aliens In America
Why isn’t anyone watching this show? Sure, it’s not great, but it’s a solid half hour of comedy. This is the most comedies I’ve ever watched in a TV season. Any show that can combine xenophobia, homophobia, and incest and still somehow be uplifting and have a slight message is a keeper in my book. The only thing on this show I don’t like is the father played by Scott Patterson (formerly of Gilmore Girls). He tends to have the most physical comedy written for him and I’m not really a fan of that.

Brothers & Sisters
This was my favorite episode ever of this series. They really nailed the family dynamic among the Walkers and the writing on the show is just brilliant. There’s usually one moment every TV season that chokes me up and Saul’s coming out to Nora was it. His pain was palpable and his emotions just seemed so realisitic. I totally understand why Justin fell asleep when Kitty was talking to him. I always tune out during her and Robert’s storyline and wish there were only 4 Walker siblings instead of 5. I also wondered why Holly was at the intervention so I’m glad Justin asked her. But I think someone should have at least called Rebecca and told her what Justin’s plan was. I really wish they hadn’t made Tommy cheat on his wife. After Sarah’s drama with Joe, I wish there was one stable marriage in the family. It seems obvious that they’re heading down a road where Leyla will tell Julia Tommy was cheating.

Desperate Housewives
No show has ever made their main characters more unlikeable. I’ve always hated Susan and her goofiness and stupidity. Surprisingly in this episode she was the least annoying. Gaby showing no remorse for killing Victor was in character for her but seemed extreme. Doesn’t Bree think she should at least ask Danielle if she has any opinion on if they baby should be baptized (but I do love the name Benjamin Hoge), and Lynette’s treatment of her mother was not funny even though they wanted us to think it was.

Dirty Sexy Money
This is my favorite new show of the season, but I still feel something is missing. I think it’s the fact that we don’t see much interaction among the Darling siblings. The reason why I enjoy Brothers & Sisters so much is that the Walker clan has so much interaction with each other. I also don’t know if we’re supposed to feel sorry for Karen and Brian or hate them? Brian was unbelievably hostile towards Brian Jr. but should we sympathize now that he’s taken away from him? Should we pity Karen or feel angry at her? I guess that’s what makes this show so intriguing. Hopefully, they’ll work out the kinks as the season goes on.

Everybody Hates Chris
Tichina Arnold is the most underrated actress on television. She cracks me up at least twice an episode. I’m glad this show has 22 episodes completed so if the strike continues, at least Charles and I will have our comfort food every Monday night.

Friday Night Lights
This was one of my least favorite episodes of the series ever. For me, these characters are so real and experience so much outside of school, that it seems out of place for them to be doing school activities such as Pantherama. Sometimes, I even forget that there’s a football team in Dillon. I’m not a fan of Julie’s storyline with her straight out of the early 90’s teacher. And I couldn’t care less about Santiago (is that his first name or does everyone just call him by his last name?), but anything that gives Buddy Garrity more screen time is fine with me. Brad Leland is amazing on the show. And I know it’s been said before but the NBC promo department sucks. They show Landry confessing in the police station. I’m sure the whole episode will be about whether or not he will confess, and obviously now we know he does.

General Hospital.
I’m so pissed they killed Emily. And if the rumors are true that Georgie will die soon, then I decided that I’m done with it. The reason why I started watching again 2 years ago, because I liked the way they seemed to be respecting history and still using their classic characters and families. I find it appalling that they focus on ridiculous Spinelli who can’t even complete a full sentence and spit in the face of every long term fan of the show. It makes no sense to kill Emily and Georgie. If there is some contract issues and they want to leave the show, they can have them go off to college or something. There’s no reason to make their exits so final. The writing has been horrible and they have a way of never following up on anything. I’m fed up! End of rant.

Grey’s Anatomy
I didn’t buy Miranda’s breakdown at the end of the episode AT ALL. She’s such a strong and confident woman that it seemed so unlike her to be sobbing over not getting the guy she wanted in high school. Shoot, I don’t even remember high school. It seems like the producers are finally realizing that Izzy and George are SO much better as friends and I really miss that best friend vibe between them. I’m also happy that they didn’t ruin the character of Callie during this horrible storyline. I’m sure I’m not the only one that can’t help but think of the gay teacher that mentored Ricky on My So Called Life whenever Thatcher is on. And please, PLEASE do something with Sloan!!!

Gossip Girl
A typical episode. I’m fearing that this may be following in the footsteps of The OC, also created by Josh Schwartz. Season 1 of that show was excellent but they went through way too many stories in the first season and season 2 felt like more of the same old stuff. We’ve already seen Blair forgive Nate and Serena so easily and become best friends again. I also wish that they played up the conflict between the poorer kids and the richer kids. The parent stories are so boring and they need to be spiced up also. I’m not a fan of Vanessa either.

Heroes
These last 2 episodes have really been an improvement from the beginning of season 2, but I can’t shake the feeling while watching that this show could be great if the right people were behind the scenes. It was nice to see more of Kristen Bell..Elle can’t compete with Veronica, but she is capable of brightening up any scene. Once again, Alejandro and Maya completely destroyed the pace and momentum of the episode. Their scenes were completely un-necessary and didn’t advance their story at all. We already know she has some kind of disease and he can cure it. The reason for DL’s death was pointless too. Why didn’t they just have him die at Kirby Plaza. But it was nice to see the family back together one last time. I always thought that DL looked very much like he could be Micah’s father in really life. I’m still confused on what exactly the Company did to Nikki. Did they actually take her power away or just teach her how to suppress the multiple personalities. Also, I wonder why the company locked up Adam and Peter, while in season 1 they were shown to just tag and study the heroes.

My Name Is Earl
Thursday nights at 8pm is the worst time slot for me because I record Ugly Betty and Survivor on the downstairs Tivo so I'm forced to record My Name Is Earl and 30 Rock on the upstairs Tivo. Since I'm less comfortable up there watching TV, I tend to not enjoy these shows as much as I would if I watched downstairs. But I"m rambling. I like that Earl has been in prison the whole season so far, but I’m ready for him to get out and start crossing things off his list again. Sometimes, the continuity on this show is wacky (are Randy and Catalina still married?), but I don’t care. It’s a great 30 minute ride every week and I laugh out loud at least 3 times an episode

Nip/Tuck
Something about this season just doesn’t thrill me. I wasn’t that into last season either. I know most critics hated season 3, but I really liked the whole mystery of The Carver. Anyway, I always liked when Sean was the straight arrow of the team, and I’m not too crazy about seeing this darker side of him.

Private Practice
Yes, I’m still watching this. I really enjoyed the Taye Diggs and Sara Gilbert story this week. (It was also very nice to see Sprague Grayden again) I don’t give a crap about Addison and Pete, and I’m rooting for Cooper to be happy (with or without Violet). I also HATE Audra McDonald and really wish they stuck with Merrin Dungey. The baby storylines are already repetitive. This week alone saw 3 women giving birth at different points during the episode. I guess that there’s not as many interesting cases at Oceanside Wellness Center as there are at Seattle Grace, but I’ll be happy if there are no more birthing stories for the rest of the season.

Reaper
This was my favorite episode since the pilot. I really wish they would dive into the mythology of the show more and this was a good start with their investigation of Gladys. The climax wasn’t the usually boring one where Sam uses the vessel to snatch up the escaped soul. I really liked that they showed the moral ambiguities that the devil possesses. I hope they show Sam struggle with his duty more in the future. Yes, this is a comedy so I don’t want it to get too deep, but there’s a lot of conflict that can arise. My major problem with this show is that the devil keeps giving Sam clues and wants him to figure out the identity of the escaped soul himself. I guess I just don’t understand why the devil can’t bring the souls back himself or at least tell Sam where they are. I guess he just “gets off” on toying with him.

Samantha Who
I keep saying I’ll give this show one more episode before quitting, but I haven’t yet. I always wonder why her family and friends would put her in these situations without telling her details about what happened prior to her amnesia. Wouldn’t her friends tell her there was a restraining order against her and for what? This concept is getting old really quick but since the ratings are so good, I’m guessing the format won’t change any time soon.

Scrubs
I still watch this show more out of habit then an excitement for it. I feel the characters have not developed or changed in 7 seasons and now I’m just watching it because if you’ve seen 6 seasons of a show, you can’t stop during the 7th and final one.

30 Rock
This show just keeps getting better and better. I would say that I was “in like” with season 1, but now I’m “in love” with season 2. Tracy Morgan is hilarious. I’ve been listening to and singing Werewolf Bar Mtizvah non stop. I love that this show was able to spoof NBC’s stupid Green Week stunt. The plot this episode with Liz thinking her Middle Eastern neighbors were terrorists was hysterical. She sees a map in their apartment with thumb tacks inserted all over. Then she sees them filming themselves in the park doing military style training. She’s very hesitant but finally decides to report them. It turns out they were just trying out for The Amazing Race. This is such a smart comedy and I’m so glad I gave it a second chance after I gave up after the pilot.

Ugly Betty
I was really happy that the writers didn’t go the predictable route and have Bradford die at the wedding. Claire, Daniel and Alexis needed that forgiveness and closure with him. Judith Light needs an Emmy for this (but so does Ana Ortiz, so I’m conflicted). The scenes with Claire and Yoga at the Suarez home were among the funniest I’ve seen in television history. This show is perfect at balancing the humor and drama and this episode was the perfect example of that.