Monday, October 1, 2007

"Reaper" 1x1

REAPER 1x1 "Pilot"

Sam, I'm not a carjacker, I'm the Devil.

Please read nothing into the lateness of this review. I had to record the rebroadcast, and then I decided to hold this as a treat for finishing all the other posts.

I sort of cheated and watched a little bit of it earlier and I loved what I saw, had to force myself to wait. Just the thing with the dog and the car door won my heart. I already know that I love Bret Harrison (I miss you "The Loop"!) and Kevin Smith doing a TV pilot just makes it extra perfect.

I see a lot of people comparing this to "Chuck" and I suppose superficially you can make that case, but "Chuck" lacks the supernatural component to this show, and it seems a bit more whimsical. "Reaper" seems to be more fun.

This show is just so crammed full of wonderful touches, I'll have to wait to see the next one to get an idea of how much of it was Kevin Smith. I think my favorite was how the Devil congratulates Sam, then after Sam goes he greets a fellow shopper, a nice looking middle aged woman. She nods her head and keeps going and then the Devil looks forward with a grin then turns and walks after her.

The Devil of "Reaper" isn't evil, he's actually pretty good. He's more like a prison warden with extra powers. He admits that God is going to win, it's more like he just has his job to do, and he's going to damn well enjoy it with a smile on his face. He's also understanding of Sam and his situation, and in the end, working for the Devil is probably going to be the best thing that ever happened to him.

This is great Television.

*****

"Journeyman" 1x2

JOURNEYMAN 1x2 "Friendly Skies"

I have a feeling we'll run into each other again.

This is fun, doing 70's airline trips. Smoking on planes! Spacy outfits! 70's pop music!

This episode seems more coherent somehow, the pilot was so jammed it just started to run together. This ep is just focusing on the story of this weeks "person in need" so it's more like the traditional "Quantum Leap" style hour.

Probably the most interesting part of this show is learning about the internal rules of the traveling. Thats the part I want to know more about as I watch. It's interesting to have the paralell mystery of the weekly person and the overall mystery of the traveling.

I have to say I'm liking the show more this time around. I guess it's not a shower, it's a grower.

***

"Chuck" 1x2

CHUCK 1x2 "Chuck Versus The Helicopter"

So in this plan, I basically do nothing.

They're starting to lay more groundwork now, Chuck was apparantly kicked out of Stanford, rather than just being a burnout.

I think the interesting twist in this show is the infighting between the CIA and NSA people. I think they've done a really good job with creating the fake world of stores and stuff, all the little details - surf over to

http://www.nerdherdhelp.com/

And the impromptu battles are fun too. I think that's the general vibe of this show, fun. They don't get caught up in the weekly spy mystery, which is another big plus for them. Plus I have to say I didn't see the twist coming. I think if they can pull off this kind of a show regularly, it's going to be a winner.

****

"Rules Of Engagement" 2x2

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT 2x2 "Audrey's Sister"

Pants are optional.
I opt to keep them on.

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to stunt casting. Heather Locklear, appearing to take advantage of all the tabloid speculation over her and Spade's 'friendship'.

It's interesting that this show is sort of like "'Til Death" with one extra character. I also like the older couple better here, but not by as huge a margin.

I'm finding that Paddy Warburton is really growing on me. I think they should try to do something to make Spade look less haggard and creepy though. the bitty goatee is not working.

I wonder how far they can go on jokes about people not wearing pants.

***

"Two And A Half Men" 5x2

TWO AND A HALF MEN 5x2 "Media Room Slash Dungeon"

Okay, but get a Town Car, I ain't goin' sober.

I'm thrilled to finally see my favorite lady Holland Taylor. I honestly could hate everything else as long as she was around. I also spotted the housekeeper with a box of my favorite Luzianne Tea!

Interesting part for Janeane Garofalo too.

I think I'd love to see a show based around the mother character.

****

"The Big Bang Theory" 1x2

THE BIG BANG THEORY 1x2 "The Big Bran Hypothesis"

Ahh, gravity, thou art a heartless bitch.

As opposed to "Big Shots" I really like these characters. Coming out to search for intruders with your real working lightsaber. Perfect.

I think they're going to have Sheldon end up with the hot neighbor. The whole build of the night cleaning scene was great. This already feels more together than early first season of something.

I've often thought of employing a 'sarcasm' sign.

This show is just plain funny, and they're doing it from characters. This is a strong foundation.

****

"Heroes" 2x2

HEROES 2x2 "Chapter Two: Lizards"

Welcome to Copy Kingdom, how can I help you?

Peter Petrelli stripped and wet, that's a nice way to get started. This show knows what we want. It's nice to see more of the story being laid out, the "seven missing paintings" should be pretty important, and we've the return of the Hatian.

I'm really loving the Hiro story, it's full of joy like a child's fairy tale. A good balance to some of the darker nature of this show.

I guess Tobolowski is taking on Eric Robert's role as the "company" man. Its hard to find him as threatening though. Who knows, it could work. It's an odd power the girl has, with the tar eyes and tears (thats what they look like and that's what I'm callin' em).

One of the things that really works for this show is being so far flung you can get good transitions between locales. From the Mexican border to a Copy Kingdom. Great.

Then the last 15 minutes really ramped up and started to lay out some really exciting stuff.

*****

"How I Met Your Mother" 3x2

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 3x2 "We're Not From Here"

Because I will do a lot to get laid - but I am NOT going to New Jersey.

I don't know what's so comforting about Bob Saget's voice. Maybe it's growing up with "Full House" and then learning that his stand-up was FILTHY. It's kind of like discovering that your parents are people. Pefect that he plays the voice of Dad then.

I like how they're using Enrique Iglasias, not just a one shot guest star but a real character. It's cute to see them give Robin the Bo Derek '10' look. Plus love the Michael Moore dig.

I have to call them on recycling a "Seinfeld" plot though. George pulled the 'pretending to be from out of town to score women' thing forever ago. They went a totally different way with it though, so it's ok. Now all I want is more scenes with old Lilly and Old Marshall! That was AWESOME!

****

"Moonlight" 1x1

MOONLIGHT 1x1 "No Such Thing As Vampires"

Vampire solidarity, rah rah rah, all that.

Pilot burnout is upon me. I'd actually be curious to see how this was with the original cast. This is one of those shows that's going to take some time for it to figure itself out with all the upheaval behind the scenes. If it turns into a vampire procedural, then I'll probably be tuning out.

If they go another way with it, then I think this show could grow on me. There isn't much of a "Veronica" bump here, Logan wasn't close to my favorite, and he's just doing Logan-as-vampire really. Must say, pretty fantastic car chase scene at the end though.

And one other thought, I liked the little nod to "Hearst College" even though it's supposed to be near San Diego, not Los Angeles. I wondered what the connection was, but "Veronica Mars" and this show were both produced by Silver Pictures, so there you go. Probably how Dohring got cast as well.

***

"Desperate Housewives" 4x1

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 4x1 "Now You Know"

It's nice to finally put a face to the name.

After a resurgence last season, Cherry has kept up the goods this season so far. I've only watched since last year, so I've always liked it. Watching this with "Brothers & Sisters" is always a good combo, you get the wacky glee of this show, and the controlled wackiness of that one.

One of the new OLTL alums has appeared, Nathan Fillion playing a chipper gynocologist, and Dana Delaney as the new/old housewife. She's an old Wisteria Laner, who's moved back into her house after mysteriously and suddenly leaving years before. Gee I wonder if there's something there...

I'd say I'm enjoying all the stories happening, but not so much the Carlos/Gabi/Edie thing. But I am loving all the baby hijinx with Bree. watching her do wrestling moves on elderly ladies is priceless.

I hope we get to see the new gay couple soon. Really looking forward to that.

****

"Big Shots" 1x1

BIG SHOTS 1x1 "Pilot"

This show isn't grabbing me right off. I didn't have a good feeling, even considering I like the leads. The idea of a boys version of "Sex & The City", which is what they were desperately selling it as, is several years late. I suppose it's not high praise that I waited 4 days to watch the first episode either.

I'm trying to keep an open mind, but I think this all seems old hat, no matter how much I like the cast. I'm sure part of it is pilot fatigue. When you're taking on so much fantastic newness, it can get to be too much, and the later shows premiere the more susceptible they are to the phenomenon.

As I consider the problem I think it comes down to the fact that I don't identify, emphathize, or care much at all about any of these characters. I just find myself more and more annoyed with this show as the hour progresses. I think I'll give it a few more honest college tries, but it's definitely on probation.

*

"The Simpsons" 19x2

THE SIMPSONS 19x2 "The Homer Of Seville"

A lady motorcycle driver! What is this 'The Twilight Zone'!

What other show would have Opera Groupies. With thermal imaging opera glasses. It's funny that we can believe that Homer can have a freak accident and get a perfect opera voice - but I don't know that I can buy the hot crazy stalker lady. I suppose craziness could include finding Homer attractive.

And in the most bizarre twist yet - they show Homer actually working in the Nuclear Plant! Of all the times he wouldn't need to when he's making Opera Bucks.

Great little parodies of Phantom Of The Opera and Citizen Kane. I think in a few years you might be able to make an all Simpson's version of Citizen Kane from all the parodies over the years.

The final joke was great too. A bit of the 'Agony And The Ecstacy' for us.

***

"Brothers & Sisters" 2x1

BROTHERS & SISTERS 2x1 "Home Front"

I'm almost ready to call off the slumpwatch on this one after just this show. It's almost a seamless transition from the end of last year. Time has passed, they didn't have an easy "Oh look Justin's home", though I'm not pleased with the promos for next week trying to make us believe that he's dead. We all know they're not killing him, so don't be assholes.

Some of the storys I'm a bit iffy on, like they couldn't think of something good (Tommy's wife being a bitch, for example) but overall I think it's a pretty good transition away from Berlanti's tenure (though I know he's still involved, his focus is DSM now).

It's a shame they had to write out Kevin's boyfriend, but of course he can always come back early if "Viva Laughlin" gets cancelled (when it get's cancelled...) So many people playing musical shows this year. It's so disconcerting.

This week also set us up well for the season, and more crazy family drama with the Walkers.

****

"Shark" 2x2

SHARK 2x2

I accidentally deleted this from the DVR, then I realized that I don't care.

I might take this one up again but probably not.

AuRevoir and goodspeed to you.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

"Saturday Night Live" 33x1

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE 33x1 "Lebron James/Kanye West"

No, there's only one Lorne Michaels.

Don Pardo is like 107 now right? I love that this show has glitches from being live. The season premiere had no announcer til halfway through the credits. It was either an audio problem or Don Pardo had to take a leak and missed the beginning. I like the image of him sprinting down the halls to his mic so that's what I'm gonna believe happened.

With SNL, I think I'm just going to break it down by sketch as I watch.

Cold Open: This show captures what we like to think about Bill and Hillary so well. plus I love that HD allows us to see the grains of makeup on Amy Poehler's fake nose.

Monologue: I'm a bit perturbed that they wouldn't just have a slam dunk type person to do the season premiere. I'm not any sort of sports fan, so for me this is like "who??" But he seems really comfortable up there for a non actor athlete. I suspect there's some in joke with the family stuff, but I don't get it. Maybe I need to check out BET sometime.

Angry Dog Commercial: Classic. The good thing about coming back from the summer is they have 4 months worth of news to play with. What a great take on the Michael Vick thing.

Charity Auction (Penelope): I love Kristin Wiig, but this character of hers isn't a favorite. Her performance is good but the joke of it (she's always shyly and falsely 'topping' anything said by anyone) is very one note, and personally even the best performance can't sustain something like this. I'm surprised this sketch would be so far up front in the show.

High School Musical 3: Eh. This would probably be funnier if I saw HSM or liked basketball. I wonder how many basketball sketches they're gonna wedge in for the host. Best part was Maya Rudolph's take on Vanessa Hudgen's nauty pics. I'm so glad she decided to stay with the show. It looked like she was leaving just days ago.

SNL Digital Short: Love it. A musical love ode to the president of Iran. Instant classic. Armisen is so perfect. And that certain celebrity surprise cameo just made it that much perfecter.

TV PSA Shoot: I see they're making Mike Underballs and Jeff, the uncooperative crew man recurring characters now. The sketch last season with Julia Louis Dreyfuss was ok, but I'm surprised they'd repeat this bit. I did like when he threw the book though. It got better as it went.

The Lyle Kane Show: Hmmm. this is weird. I think this is like where being stoned would help.

Kanye West Song 1: I don't watch the music. thats what fast-forward is for. I don't even care enough to find out what song it was.

Weekend Update: I have to admit this was the first time I've missed Finesse Mitchell. Keenan Thompson is great and all, but OJ is out of his range I'd say. Some very good stuff though. It's still great to see them try to recover when the jokes bomb, I think that's what I like best. Armisen's back as Ahmadinejad, he looks like Steve Martin playing Ruprecht when he had to pee at the table. great.

Solid Gold: C. Micah Kring - get it? This is almost like a sketch version of "Body Fuzion" from last season. This one was pretty cute though. Anyone dancing to "We Built This City" is going to be funny.

Saturday TV Funhouse: Been a while since we had an 'Ambiguously Gay Duo'. ROFL Minneapolis Bathroom Gay Sex Stings and the AGD! Brilliant!

106 & Park: Two BET sketches in one episode. They got good mileage out of that graphics bug eh. Nice that Kanye West can mock himself. It's really something how the show can read my mind sometimes. I thought to myself, this episode really could use a Lorne cameo to perk things up. Thank you Lorne Michaels. You're my favorite SNL character.

Kanye West Song 2: See above.

Great Moments In Guidance Counselling: This sketch was too good to ge stuck at the 5 to 1 slot. This should have been up front.

This episode wasn't that great overall, I think I didn't connect with a lot of it due to the need to build it around the host. Next week we got Seth Rogan, so that's a better chance to connect. But there were some really great moments. Even the worst SNL has something to love. And this wasn't the worst, just not close to the best.

***