It's A Year of Exceptional Lead Ins *spoilers*

Everyone always expects the finale to be the big, exciting show changer. This year, it was the lead in, the 2nd to last episode for many shows. Here are four shows in my schedule that had somewhat disappointing finales and whose lead ins felt like one.

"Bones"

The Hole in the Heart - You know it's a great episode when you're reaching for the tissues one moment and then on the edge of your seat during an action packed scene the next. As promised, a regular member of team was slain on last week's episode of "Bones". Mr. Nigel-Murray, you will be greatly missed. That was probably his best episode in all his appearances at the Jeffersonian. His dino dance made me giggle, but it was all about the drama. Even though Vincent wasn't a full-time lab employee, he was a member of the family and his death had a major impact. Our team realizes once again how easily one of them can become the victim on the table.

Change in the Game - I was a little surprised that there was not mention of the death of Mr. Nigel-Murray in the finale until Hodgins and Angela announce that their completely healthy child's name is Michael Staccato Vincent Hodgins. It didn't feel like a finale as much as the last episode did. They solved the murder of a bowler, which made for some funny disguises. The bombshell was Bones telling Booth that she's preggers. WHAT??!!! It was not made clear that when she crawled into Booth's bed a couple eps back that they actually had sex. I assumed that he comforted and held her, even when she told Angela that they "slept" together. She's so literal that figured she meant the slept next to each other in the same bed. Is "Bones" finally jumping the shark? How will they handle this? Can't wait to find out.

"NCIS"

Swan Song - I was starting to get bored this season until they introduced the Port to Port serial killer plot. In the lead in to the finale, a beloved although re-occurring character is killed. Mike Franks has made several appearances over the years to guide Gibbs through a tough case and occasionally ask for help. I have to say, there was a tear in my eye when he was stabbed on that rainy night. It was one of the few times we've seen Gibbs shaken to his core. Love you Mark Harmon!

Pyramid - In the finale, we learn that Mike was dying anyway. No wonder he picked a fight. Cobb aka Dawson's Creeker Kerr Smith, threw us a curve ball when he walked right into a room full of NCIS agents after kidnapping Ziva. Anyway, the bad guy dies and everything goes back to the way it should. Of course, I cried when we see that Gibbs made Mike's coffin..geeeez. I hope we can expect more of Matt Craven next season as the new Sec Nav. Pluuuuussss....Tony searching for the mole of NCIS, what is this "24"?

"House"

After Hours - House has done some crazy sh**, but cutting out his own tumors may have topped the list. Crank up the drama even more by adding in a stabbed former cop turned con and Taub becoming a Papa. Thirteen convinces Chase to put his career on the line for a friend. Chase also finds out that Thirteen euthanized her brother and they bond over killing people. Lots going on. It felt like a finale, but no.......It's a testament to the writers who took this show from a episodical doctor show to an intense character driven drama. "House" has only gotten better since season 4-ish. The season six premiere is still my favorite episode of the entire series.

Moving On - Shohreh Aghdashloo, one of the most stunning and talented women on screen guest stars in the finale as an artist who's ready to die for her art. Turns out that she's playing a game with House. He checks himself out of the hospital when he should be recovering from his self surgery. Cuddy tries to talk to him, but if you've ever seen half an episode, you know he wouldn't. Minor bomb drop - Taub is going to be a papa. Oh yeah, I already said that, no wait, with his ex-wife. Yes, that's 2 baby Ruebens. The episode is a flashback. When we catch up to the day, House drives his Buick into Cuddy's dining room after seeing her with another man. And they were only having coffee. The finale closes on House on a tropical beach somewhere. Jungle medicine for season 8? We'll see.

"Supernatural" - The main attraction

The Man Who Would Be King - It begins with a beautiful monologue by Castiel that nearly brought tears to my eyes as he sits on a bench in a snow covered meadow. Misha's voice is so soothing and apologetic. It makes me glad for this voice over. Crowley is "alive" and Cass has been working with him all along. We feel hurt and disappointed as he recollects how it came to be...pulling Sam from the pits of hell minus his soul, setting obedient angels free and avoiding another apocalypse. Dean's unwavering loyalty to Castiel is heart wrenching. He never saw the betrayal coming. Crowley's reveal of the renovated hell being a never ending line is almost poetic. Cass needs the souls in Purgatory to fight Raphael, unfortunately that goes against everything the Winchesters stand against. When the boys find out, it causes a rift too large for them to overcome. This episode written and directed by Ben Edlund is....BEAUTIFUL - BRILLIANT - AMAZING. This will down as one of the most memorable episodes in the "Supernatural" world. Thank you, Ben.

Let It Bleed/The Man Who Knew Too Much - The 2 hour season finale was unfortunately the most underwhelming "Supernatural" finale yet. Not say it was a bad episode, just a bad finale. It was the least dramatic as the overarching storyline was the least cohesive out of all the seasons. At first I thought that was surprising considering Eric Kripke penned the finale, but he didn't have a ton of input during the season from what I understand. I'm still not sure how I feel about Sam having to put all the pieces of Humpty Dumpty back together. And Cass as the new God???!!! The tide has changed. There's no way we can go back now. Team Free Will is broken. I don't think Castiel will ever be the same. So sad. Can't wait to see what they've got in store for us next year.

Any other shows you've seen this season with extraordinary lead ins and less than stellar finales?

Oh, How I Love the Dire Wolf

I was maybe ten minutes into the second episode of "Game of Thrones" when I thought, it scares me how much I love this show already. I suppose that's a good sign. It was picked up after only one episode aired. So HBO agrees with me. Here are a few of the things I love about it....

*The relationship between Ned and his bastard son Jon Snow. How many soldiers bring their bastards home, raise them with their legitimate children and show them such love?

*The relationship Jon Snow and his younger siblings. It's such a pure brotherly love and children don't see legitimacy or not.

*The relationship between the King and Ned. The King has great respect for Ned and doesn't treat him as a lowly subject, but as an equal that just doesn't have a crown.

*Tyrion's insights into his family and the world for that matter. His dwarf-ness has given him a great perspective and he uses it.

*Despite the fact that Daenarys was pretty much sold to a barbarian by her brother, she's already learning how to take some power back. It may come little at a time, but I have hope that she'll figure out how

*The fantastical element that hasn't really show itself yet, but it's there.

Are you watching? Tell me what you like about HBO's new hit?

"Burn Notice" Makes a Movie.....About Sam!

Two people that make me smile when I see their names in the credits. One you probably know, the other you probably don't. Bruce Campbell, yes he was once the Old Spice Man and RonReaco Lee. The latter was one of my favorite reoccurring guest stars on "The Shield". I always hoped that he was the real father of Danni's kid. Anyway, back to why I'm writing. Tonight was the premiere of the "Burn Notice" prequel movie, "The Fall of Sam Axe"!!!!

The movie tells the tale of how Sam Axe was discharged from the Navy Seals and became a rogue spy operative with Michael and Fi. We've heard bits an pieces over the last four seasons of his missions and antics in Colombia, so it was only natural we get the full story. I have to say, Bruce looks very handsome in Navy whites, but I'm partial to his Hawaiian shirts.

Commander Axe is assigned to work with the military in Columbia. They are tracking down a terrorist organization which plans to bomb a local clinic. When Sam figures out that the Colombian Colonel that he's working with intends to kill him and bomb the clinic himself, he risks his life to save everyone inside. RonReaco is the ethical/cute doctor. Along with an aid worker, an orphaned teenage girl and a band of goat herder/terrorists, they fight the corrupt military.

Creator Matt Nix wrote the script and Michael Weston himself, Jeffrey Donovan directs. It had that "Burn Notice" feeling, but something was missing. Michael's voice over in the series works because he's helping us understand what he's doing. He's teaching us cool spy stuff. In this case, Sam's just recalling what's already happened in a Naval briefing. I'd rather they did without it.

All in all, it was ok. Better than the "24" movie. It was cool to see how Sam got kicked out of the Seals and picked up the alias Chuck Finley. Good ol' Chuck. There will be several encores this week and I'm sure you can catch the movie OnDemand soon. Can't wait to see new episodes of "Burn Notice" this June on USA.

"Game of Thrones" Wins Me Over

Tonight was the premiere of yet another epic period series by HBO, "Game of Thrones". If anyone's going to attempt it, it should be a channel with wads of money. So thank you HBO. I've never read the series of novels the show is based on, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, but I hear they are quite enthralling. There is a very large cast spanning several noble families all vying for the Iron Throne. Despite repeated googling, I figure out what time period it takes place in. My best guess is early A.D. If you know, please leave in the comments as it drives me bonkers not knowing the details.

The main family is The Stark House, led by Sean Bean as Eddard "Ned" Stark. He's got a loving wife, five children and a gorgeous, curly haired bastard son. We also meet the current King, Baratheon played by Mark Addy. I like him better in A Knight's Tale than in that horrible sitcom he did. He's married to a woman who's doing naughty things with her hot twin brother...ick while their dwarf younger bro is working his way through the local brothel. We learn that Stark's sister was once married to Baratheon and now to keep the families joined, they must form a marriage through their children. Off in another, much warmer place, we meet the pale creepy, also incestuous Targaryen siblings. They've been exiled and are forming a marriage with a barbarian king who possesses an army to get their crown back. Pepper in some loyal servants and friends and you've got the international cast of "Game of Throne".

The violence is a plenty. If you have a weak stomach, I suggest you find something else to watch on Sunday nights. Whatever time period this is, it's one where rulers dispense their own justice and those believing their mission is noble, will hack off limbs to prove it. Not only do our characters have each other to fear, but the mysterious and deadly White Walkers that lurk in the woods during snowfall.

I'm definitely interested. There's potential and the cast is great. Wasn't too happy with the opening titles though. As creative as they tried to be, I couldn't read the thin font and the names moved too quickly. High hopes are to be had for scandal, violence and political intrigue. If you're a fan of historical fiction, fantasy or ancient royalty, check it out.

Sundays at 9pm on HBO

Stay Tuned.....

AMC Brings The Drama....Again. TNT's Getting a Run For Their Money

AMC has had hits with “Mad Men”, “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead”, so what’s next you ask? A murder mystery of course. Tonight was the premiere of “The Killing”. It’s a series based on a Danish one. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve realized that some f-ed up stuff happens in those Nordic countries. Just watch Wallander if you don’t believe me.

Rosie Larsen has gone missing and it’s not long before the police find her body in the trunk of a car, at the bottom of a lake. It just so happens that the car belongs to the campaign of a mayoral candidate. Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) is a single mom/Seattle police detective assigned to the case even though she’s supposed to be leaving town to marry one of my favorite Canadias, Callum Keith Rennie. Hope he stays on the show. Stephen Holder (Swede Joel Kinnaman) has been assigned to replace her, fresh off his undercover narcotics detail. As cute as he is, he’s a bit of a dick.

Rosie’s parents Mitch and Stan are played by Michelle Forbes and Brent Sexton, two strong actors portraying grieving parents. Their performance when they find out their eldest child is dead is heart wrenching. Rosie’s Aunt Terry is played by my favorite former Shield crackwhore Jamie Anne Allman (Connie to my fellow Shield fans). Rosie’s got two younger brothers, who Mitch and Stan are trying to protect from this horrible tragedy.

Billy Campbell returns as yet another shady character. He’s mayoral candidate Darren Richmond and somehow, he’s tied to Rosie’s murder. His lackeys also seem pretty suspicious to me.

I think this show has potential, of course for a limited time. They have to catch the killer sometime, right? It was beautifully shot and acted. Even the music was perfectly paired. The pacing kept me interested and story kept me wanting more. I’ll definitely be tuning in next week.

Stay Tuned…Sundays at 10pm. Catch an encore of the pilot next Sunday at 9pm just before the next ep.

It's Time to Kiss the Ring with "The Borgias"

After nearly a year of teasers, Showtime finally premiered the heir to “The Tudors”. The fifteenth century crime drama follows “The Borgias”. If you’re a fan of The Godfather saga, you might want to check it out, as this is the family Mario Puzo based the Corleones on.

Rodrigo Borgia is portrayed by Jeremy Irons who is quite intense and a little frightening as the family patriarch/nearly crowned Pope Alexander XI. Back in the day, it wasn’t unusual for the clergy to have children. Rodrigo had four. Cesare is Mr. Smarty Pants, which is why Papa wants him close as a Cardinal. Juan, although the oldest is not the sharpest tool in the shed, but does carry one as a soldier. Lucrezia is the pretty, but dim witted daughter and Gioffre, well it’s too early to tell what he is.

The first episode (can we really call it a pilot when Showtime green lights a show?) chronicles the days when Rodrigo becomes Alexander and how his sons assist in the corrupt election. It’s pretty obvious that Cesare is Michael Corleone. He does some does and covers up so bad bad things in the few months it takes his dad to become Pope. The big man isn’t so pious himself. Aside from having four children while a man of the cloth, then shunning their mother when he gets the big funny hat, he takes on a new mistress.

So what have we got? Gorgeous period costumes. Check. Lavish sets. Check. Intense actors. Check. Storylines of nepotism, adultery, simony, murder, betrayal, and yes some incest. Check. The question is whether or not it will turn into something we actually want to watch. For me, it’s yet to be decided. I get the feeling that we could have a “Mad Men” /“The Tudors” situation on our hands. It all looks good, but feels so slow. In the end, the story is great, but I watch the clock getting there. Unfortunately, there aren’t quite as many beautiful, young people as King Henry’s court had. Jeremy Irons is terrific, but Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ body, he has not. I didn’t like Cesare at the beginning, but I have to say that by the end, he’d grown on me, except for the whole incest thing. That creeps me out. Anyway…..I’ll give it a few episodes.

Stay Tuned…..

Sundays at 9pm on Showtime


P.S. What are your favorite period shows?

"CHAOS" - An Aptly Titled New Series

Last night, CBS’s new spy show premiered. CHAOS follows the four members of the ODS division of the CIA. Yes, there are many acronyms in this show, but it’s worth it. I have to say, I was hooked in the first 10 mins. Brett Ratner directed the pilot written by veteran television writer Tom Spezialy. Needless to say there were no problems with pacing.

It’s Rick Martinez’s first day at the agency. First he’s mistaken for a terrorist, then told his job has been cut and finally placed as a mole on the team the director has it in for. His new spy buddies are less than cordial to him at first. Freddy Rodriguez of "Six Feet Under" is fresh faced Martinez. Team leader is Michael Dorset played by Eric Close (“Without a Trace”). He’s been working with Casey Malkin and Billy Collins for “six glorious years”, so they’re kinda close. Tim Blake Nelson (Oh Brother Where Art Though) is Casey, also known as the human weapon. Looks can be deceiving. Spezialy added a little Scotch with James Murray as Billy Collins, the de-commissioned British spy. If you’re a BBC fan like me, you’ll recognize him from “Primeval”. He was such a quiet Brit in that show, but I quite like the over the top Scotsman he plays here.

In their first real mission with newbie Martinez, the team disobeys orders and takes it upon themselves to save an American citizen held hostage in Sudan. Rick quickly learns that he hasn’t prepared himself quite as well as he thought he did, but he’s got spirit and determination. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is far too trusting for CIA operative. This is part of what makes this show light and fun, yet still entertaining.

It’s just too bad that CBS gave it the timeslot of death, Friday at 8pm. I’m sure it’ll get the older crowd as you’ve got good looking rogue G-Men making trouble on CBS, but I’m hoping more people will DVR it if you’re not at home on a Friday night like me. In a word ……it’s fun. Check it out. The pilot is available on the website...

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/chaos/

Stay tuned….Fridays at 8pm on CBS

P.S. Use the name generator on their website to find out what your code name is. Mine is Lone Wolf. Status: Rogue Agent. Security Clearance Level: 5.

P.P.S. What are some of your other favorite spy shows?

"Supernatural" Cast and Creative Team in Person *Yes, I Hyperventilated a Little*

This past Sunday, I attended PaleyFest's "Supernatural" panel at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills. It was AMAZING! "Supernatural" is a show that I've become quite obsessed with in the last few years. You may not have been able to tell based on my past posts because I don't write about it very often. Honestly, writing about a show like this....in it's sixth season, is very daunting. My goal with this blog is turn viewers on to new shows, but in a series that is heavily entrenched in mythology and has a long and twisted backstory it is in a word, overwhelming. There is no possible way for me to summarize five and half seasons of awesomeness without giving away major plot points. Talking with my roommate and fellow SuperFan (aka Dean Girl), we both agreed that this is one of the few series that has consistently and effectively surprised us. They still throw us curve balls that make us come back week after week.

The WB turned CW show follows two brothers that hunt monsters. They drive a bad ass car and carry guns...oh and they're hot. If you haven't seen it, give the show one disc. The first season is the most episodical, but if you are open to the supernatural/fantasy/sci-fi genres, you'll probably like it. If it keeps you watching, it all pays off every single season thereafter. The mythology gets deeper and deeper and the brothers closer and closer.

Even writing now, I know that I can't possibly articulate the greatness of "Supernatural". It's something that you need to experience for yourself. Don't judge it because it's on the CW...or because it stars pretty boys...or because it's about things that go bump in the night. This show is truly about family and heroism. How many other television shows provoke debate on philosophy?

My aforementioned roommate and I have talked for hours debating the meaning of the soul, good vs. evil, and free will. This is was it does to you. And it's GREAT!

If you live in NY or LA and haven't been to a Paley Center event, do yourself a favor and go! Hearing stories from the set, regrets, favorite moments and how our favorite characters came to be was priceless. The seats were awesome by the way. What a beautiful theater. The only thing that would have made the day better would be getting a picture with the Brothers Winchester...and not getting a parking ticket afterward.

If you're even half interested, check out Season 1 on Netflix. This is definitely a show that you must watch in order, from the beginning.

You might like this series if you like "LOST", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel", "Battlestar Galactica", "Hex" or "Being Human".

Criminal or Crime Fighter?

You may have seen some of the posters around town that look like they're advertising a Discovery Channel show about prison. Turns out they were for the new A&E original drama "Breakout Kings". When the U.S. Marshalls can't catch the bad guys on their own, who do they call? Well the cons of course. Laz Alonso and Domenick Lombardozzi play Charlie DuChamp and Ray Zancanelli, the Marshalls piloting this questionable program. The only other non criminal member of this team is Julianne Sims (Brooke Nevin), a civilian techy. Think Chloe O'Brien, mental problems and all. And your cons are.....Lloyd Lowery, a gambling, genius psycho-behavioral analyst. Shea Daniels who started out as a young gangbanger and rose to successful criminal businessman...until he got caught. Serinda Swan is an expert tracker who's bounty hunter father taught her the biz.

Ok, so they've all got some talent that will bring down the scumbags running all along the Eastern seaboard, or at least the tri-state area. The first job tracking down an escaped con is not all that interesting, but that's to be expected in a pilot. It's really all about introducing the characters. I'll excuse it since they all seem to have pretty complex backstories. If you're a fan of "Prison Break" or "Lie to Me", you may like this one as it's creators Nick Santora and Matt Olmstead were producing partners on both. Unfortunately, it feels like a slight rip off of some other show. "White Collar" has been going strong on USA with a smooth confidence man that was released from prison to assist the FBI. Granted, it's a classy solo act, but still. I used to watch WC, but didn't feel like their writing lived up to the characters and the concept. The cases just weren't there. Maybe this one new show will fill that void. It's a definitely a more down and dirty team version. I like the feel, it's not gritty, but it's not fluffy either. I have a feeling there'll be more than a few surprises. It's got potential.

Check it out on A&E. There are encores playing every day this week and it'll probably be OnDemand.

P.S. A huge pet peev is inaccuracies. I grew up near Hudson, NY and there is no Maybelle prison where the cons are supposedly transferred to. Boo for that.

P.P.S. The more I think about the techy girl, the more she is Chloe O'Brien. Come ON!

"Parenthood" Deserves a Belated Shout Out

For some reason, I never blog about NBC's "Parenthood". I don't know why since I love it. There aren't a whole lot of shows on television that both my mother and I watch. This is one of them. It's based on the Ron Howard movie which apparently was intended to be a TV show. Jason Katims got his hands on it and voila! Zeek and Camille Braverman raised four children in Northern California. Now, their grown children are parents themselves.

Adam Braverman (Peter Krause) is married to Christina (Monica Potter). They have a goody-two-shoes daughter Haddie, who's been kickin' up some trouble with her black, recovering alcoholic, older boyfriend and a younger son with Asperger's Syndrome.

Sarah Braverman (former Gilmore Girl Lauren Graham) has two teenagers. Amber is an artistic rebel played by child actor turned talented young woman Mae Whitman. Her younger brother Drew (Miles Heizer) is sensitive and quiet. He desperately wants a relationship with his estranged, addict father now played by John Corbett.

Julia Braverman-Graham is married to the sexiest stay at home dad ever, Sam Jaeger as Joel. She's a high powered attorney who juggles her time between work and her bossy, too big for her britches seven year old daughter, Sydney.

Crosby Braverman was the care free bachelor until a fling from five years ago shows up with a son. Joy Bryant plays Jasmine, a professional dancer. Oh and she's black which was a bit of a surprise to the old folks when they realized they had a half black grandson named Jabbar. Crosby and Jasmine are making a go of it, but we'll see how that works out.

One big family makes for lots of drama.....and some comedy too. What's great about this show, is that almost everyone can find a character to relate to. It's got a beautiful visual style and heartfelt writing. They've also got great reoccurring characters played by actors like Jason Ritter *swoon* and Minka Kelly. I even like the opening titles. The Bob Dylan version of "Forever Young" plays as we see actual childhood pictures of the actors. If NBC even thinks about canceling this show, they're crazy. My advice, if they have any worries about ratings is to move it to the 9pm timeslot. It currently airs on Tuesdays at 10pm. The old people that would like this show and always complain that there's nothing good on TV, don't stay up that late. My grandma would love this show, but she's in bed by then and wouldn't know how to work a DVR if she had one.

Sooooo......if you're looking for a wholesome (and I don't mean that in a corny way) show, check it out. You can find the first season on DVD and catch the second season so far on Hulu.com. Did I forget to mention that Coach (Craig T. Nelson) is Zeek? LOVE IT!

Tuesdays at 10pm on NBC

Stay Tuned....

Who Likes Call Girls? Eh....eh.....

 Showtime finally announced the 4th and final season's premiere date for "Secret Diary of a Call Girl". We'll see what Belle/Hannah has been up on April 7th at 10:30. It's slated for eight episodes as usual. If you haven't seen this sexy little gem, Billie Piper (dorks, you might recognize her as Rose from "Doctor Who") plays a high end London call girl that loves what she does. Although she keeps her life secret (in the beginning) she's not ashamed of her profession. Why should she be, she's the best. Belle is the woman every man and a few women want. If this premise sounds kind of familiar, you may have heard about the book the show is based on written by Belle du Jour. And yes, Piper's Belle writes a book about her escapades as well.

The first season is great, delving into human sexual nature. Some people have some strange fetishes, but Belle doesn't judge. Once Hannah starts writing, the series began to lack excitement. Still interesting, I'm looking forward to see if she gives it all up. You can't be a call girl forever.

Check out seasons 1 & 2 on Netflix. Season 3 isn't out on DVD yet, but if you have Showtime, it's OnDemand.

P.S. If you like this show, you might like the Australian Showtime series "Satisfaction". A little more soapy and dramatic, but entertaining.

MASTERPIECE Theater is Actually Cool!

Growing up, the only time I ever heard about Masterpiece Theater was in comedy sketches poking fun at some British, boring movie….or something. Well now I’m all grown up and I watch PBS because I want to. A little background, shall we?......The Masterpiece Trust was founded back in 1971, partners with UK producers to bring high quality material to America’s PBS. It started out with the classics (Austen, Dickens, the Bronte sisters). In 1980, they added Masterpiece Mystery! (Sherlock Holmes anyone?) Now, they’ve also got Masterpiece Contemporary. It's shown in three “seasons” on PBS (Sunday nights). Four months of each. Here some awesome suggestions that I’ve recently seen.

Sherlock

Based on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle mysteries, creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss add a modern day twist. To be honest, I was skeptical, but within five minutes Benedict Cumberbatch had me enthralled. Cumberbatch’s portrayal of the legendary private dick was BAH-RILLIANT! To put it more accurately, he is a consulting detective with the help of physician friend John Watson (played by the adorable Martin Freeman). The two actors have such amazing chemistry. Not only do the performances draw you in, but the style as well. They express the technology being used on screen (i.e. we see floating text of a text message that is being read). Important information, kids! Sounds kind of corny, but it worked marvelously. London is a major character. The way the city was shot with this dark and twinkling softness is like nothing I’ve ever seen. There are three 90 minute episodes and series two has been given the green light. Can’t wait for the return! Check out series one on Netflix.

Downton Abbey

Although, the material seems as though it’s based on a classic novel, this early 20^th century period piece is original programming (as of 2010). Julian Fellowes created this a series around a British, Aristocratic estate. Not only does he delve into the secrets and naughty behavior of the family living there, but the servants who work in the house within a house. Hugh Bonneville plays the patriarch, Earl of Grantham, Robert Crawley. Years ago he married an American heiress so that he could keep his title and estate. Said heiress is none other than Elizabeth McGovern (you know, from all those ‘80s movies). They have three very different daughters and a slew of hired helpers. Unfortunately they don’t have a son which causes much commotion over who will inherit the estate and title when the Earl kicks the bucket. British law was still very sexist back then, as well as the men.  On the surface, it seems like this could be quite a boring tale. I assure you that it’s not. You’ve got intrigue, murder, blackmail, romance and women trying to trick men into marrying them. What more could you want in 1914 rural England? Series two begins filming this fall! Do yourself a favor and Netflix it these four 90 minute episodes.  

Wallander

Kenneth Branagh *swoon* plays Swedish detective, Kurt Wallander. The series is based on books by Henning Mankell. Although this is a crime series, I hesitate to call it a cop show. It’s so much more. The writing (credit to Mankell and co-screenwriter Richard Cottan.) is PHENOMENAL! It’s not our dumbed down, digestible bites of American rubbish. These are stories that make you think…. about life, about humanity, about society. Branagh’s quiet, yet intense performance has earned him nominations for an Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA (which he won). If you’re not hooked by the first scene of the first installment, you might as well pack up and go home. Wallander faces astonishing, horrific crime on a daily basis while trying to hold himself together. His family falls apart around him and relationships with co-workers are strenuous at best. All this adds up to a captivating character investigating the most intriguing cases in Southern Sweden (there’s actually a lot of them apparently). The crimes may be ugly, but the cinematography is breathtaking. Plus, I think the director really likes agricultural. Check out series one and two on Netflix. Only three 90 minute episodes per series. It’s worth it! More to come, including original stories….so stay tuned.

This morning I started watching Any Human Heart starring Jim Broadbent and Matthew MacFadyen. It chronicles one man's life through the better part of the 20th century. So far, so good, but I'll let you know how it turns out. 

So what have I learned? Masterpiece does NOT equal boring, rather incredibly great programming. When they say high quality, damn if they don’t mean it. Decide for yourself.

Do you have any favorite Masterpieces?

"Law & Order: UK" Just Keeps Getting Better

In this week's episode, Ronnie and Matt investigate the assault of a woman who's been stalked for the last two years by her supposed attacker. Turns out she just faked it to get the police's attention so that they'd take her seriously. I guess she didn't figure that these coppers would know how to do their jobs. They figured out she was lying. When she turns up dead, they feel a little more than guilty for not pursuing her case.

Matt stands by his report that there was no attacker the first time around. Ronnie decides that the only way to bring her murderer to justice is to establish the escalation of his crimes. He goes back,  "finds new evidence" and testifies that he was wrong the first time around. Unfortunately, he drags Matt into it after their boss expressly told them to stay away from it.

There is a scene where Matt confronts Ronnie about dragging him into it and putting his career in jeopardy. The heated encounter is so out of the ordinary for this usually familial partnership. Ronnie's the father figure and Matt's got a lot to learn, but he's no rookie. And he wasn't wrong. Things just turned out all messed up. I'm curious to see how this changes their friendship.

The other stand out scene was Crown Prosecutor James Steel ripping Matt to shreds on the stand. I know he didn't enjoy it, but damn if he didn't do it well. I have a feeling this relationship will change too. Alesha asked him not to, but he had no choice if he was going to put a murderer behind bars. What exactly is going on between Matt and Alesha? There's definitely something. Sometimes, they're great friends, then sometimes it seems flirty. Will they ever get together? I think they'd make a cute couple.

This spin-off is just so much more captivating to me than the others. Without having watched the others for a long time, I'm still betting that the stories are similar, but it's the way they do it. Plus, I love seeing London as a backdrop. If you haven't seen this BBC gem, check it out Fridays at 10pm or OnDemand.

The "Glory Daze" Are Over

I was reading deadline.com, like I do several times a day and I read that TBS' one hour comedy "Glory Daze" was canceled or to put it nicely, is not being renewed. I'm a little upset about this. Granted, it wasn't Emmy worthy, but it had potential. TBS didn't really give it a fair shot since it was aired over the holiday season. Who the hell is home during the month of December (besides me)? They even aired a new episode the weeks of Christmas and New Years.

If you didn't catch it's limited run, "Glory Daze" followed four college freshman rushing a fraternity in Wisconsin.....oh and it's 1986. The costumes and soundtrack alone were worth checking it out for an ep or two. I think the standout was Matt Bush. He was that guy in Adventureland that kept punching guys in the junk. With his comedic chops, Mr. Bush is going places. I was also quite amused by Chris D'Elia's performance of Stankowski, the thirty year old frat brother that has been high for the last decade and a half. Deadline also reported that he's booked an NBC pilot. I hope TBS doesn't turn out to be the next Fox, creating new shows and canceling them before they get off the ground. Although, I wouldn't mind if they canceled some of those Tyler Perry shows. The promos alone annoy the bejeezus out of me.

"Traffic Light" Gets the Green Light From Me

Since it comes on right after "Raising Hope", I decided to give the new Fox comedy "Traffic Light" a chance. It may be the first time that the lead in strategy has worked on me. I know, RH is only a half a season old, but that's established for Fox. If you haven't seen it, you're probably wondering about the title. They explain in the pilot that it's phases of a relationship as the series follows three friends and their significant others. Mike (Roy from "The Office") is married to Lisa and they have a baby. Adam just moved in with Callie and Kris Marshall (the horny bloke from Love Actually) is the perpetual bachelor.

It's based on an Israeli series. Apparently there's a lot of great television being made over there. It's not so much the premise that makes this show. It's more about the characters and the chemistry. The dialogue is pretty funny, but there is something to say about the delivery. Annnnyyyywayyyyyyy.....I don't want to oversell, but check it out. I'll definitely be giving it a shot. The first three episodes are on www.fox.com and it's on Tuesdays at 9:30.

SHOUT OUT!

I just feel like giving a shout out to some of my favorite shows that are goin' strong.

"Raising Hope"
This is still my favorite new comedy of the season. There is yet to be an episode that doesn't insight side splitting laughter. Hope is just about the cutest baby I've ever seen on TV and her grandpa is ridiculously hot. Cloris Leachman is totally pulling a Betty White. If you're not watching, you totally should be. Catch up on Fox.com and watch live, Tuesdays at 9pm. You won't regret it.

"Being Human"
I mean the original and brilliant BBC series. Season three premiered this week on BBC America. I'm a little sad that our family of supernatural beings has left Bristol, but new adventures await in Wales. The possibility of Mitchell and Annie becoming a couple has me on edge a little. They're friends. I don't want that to change and what if it didn't work out. He can't leave her. She'd have no one. I'm very glad she's got her big comfy chair back. Guess we'll see what happens, Saturdays at 9pm on BBC America. Watch the season three premiere OnDemand.

"Southland"
If you live in Hollywood like I do, you totally appreciate the locations. At least three times an episode I recognize some place that I frequent. It's pretty cool. If you don't live in Hollywood, you can appreciate the terrific writing and acting. This season's biggest mind blower was the death of super hot Detective Nate Moretti played by Kevin Alejandro. Every single viewer was shocked and saddened by his departure, but damn did it make for a great story. Since then, Shawn Hatosy has upped his game. I didn't think he was that great on this show until the episode where Nate dies. There are only one 2 episodes left this season. Catch up at TNT.tv and watch Tuesdays at 10pm. Good luck to Kevin who'll be focusing on "True Blood".

"An Idiot Abroad"
If you've seen "The Ricky Gervais Show" on HBO or listened to the podcast, you're familiar with Ricky and Stephen Merchant's "friend" Karl Pilkington. Ricky and Stephen thought it would be funny to send their little round headed buffoon of a friend to see the Seven Wonders of the World. You see, Karl is a little small minded and believes everything he reads. This was their attempt to broaden his mind and laugh while he's tortured by foreign customs. I feel bad for Karl, but it is quite hilarious. Check it out on the Science Channel, Saturdays at 10pm.

"Law & Order: UK"
Just like everyone else, I am so sick of every reincarnation of the American version. But the Brits do it differently. First off, it's just entertaining to listen to the accents and see the differences in our legal systems. The storylines seem so much more interesting or maybe it's that the characters are just more likable. Whatever it is, I can't get enough of this Dick Wolf spin-off. Catch up OnDemand and watch Fridays at 10pm on BBC America.

"Episodes" Exceeds Expectations

Tonight was the finale of "Episodes". I have to say, this show surprised me. My expectations were low, yet I was interested enough to watch. Turns out, it's pretty good. Matt LeBlanc's exaggerated version of himself was entertaining, especially his relationship with Sean. Beverly's hate for Matt was great. I think I like her because I relate.....but I have no strong feelings about Matt LeBlanc in any way. Carol turned out to be another of my favorite characters. In nearly every episode, she said or did something unexpected. And she's soooooooo L. A., but she freely admits it and makes no apologies.

At the end of last week's episode, Matt and Beverly were about to be naughty. And shag they did. Sean figures it out, as he is English and everyone knows they're smarter. A hilarious fight ensues where they both end up drenched in a cinnamon scented fragrance. I'm gonna bet that Showtime has picked up this series for a second season, since the show within a show was picked up. Making a television show with a cheating wife and the friend (pun intended) that shagged her should prove challenging for Sean and entertaining for us. Now, if they'd just get rid of those horrid opening credits.

If you have Showtime, you can catch all episodes OnDemand or on Monday nights starting next week.

"Justified" Wins Me Over

Last week I decided to catch up on season one of “Justified”. Last year when it premiered, I gave up after the first three eps. I just wasn’t into it. The absolutely amazing Walton Goggins (aka Detective Shane Vendrell) was my reason for giving it a shot….and because it is an FX show. He was in the pilot, but then disappeared. If I’d stuck with it, I’d have been incredibly impressed with his moving performance in the second half of the season. I mean….WOW! Goggins is one of the most under rated actors on television. I should really consider running for president of the Walton Goggins fan club.

Timothy Olyphant is the center of the series as the cowboy Federal Marshall who pretty much shoots someone every week. He would sooooo not be allowed to carry a gun in real life if he’d shot that many people. But I like his attitude. Ok, so Olyphant’s Raylan Givens is a law man and Goggins’ Boyd Crowder is from a long line of criminals in rural Kentucky. The two dug coal together when they were boys, but now Raylan is back in Harlan County with a badge. The first few episodes are episodical, which I think they realized it wasn’t working. By the second half of the season, a more cohesive storyline involving Boyd being a reformed white supremacist/man of God. The first season finale was Goooooooooooood. I’m not going to ruin it if you haven’t seen it, but it’s the culmination of several plot lines.

Last night was the premier of season two. I have to say that it lacked some resolution. There were some loose ends that were not tied up…..like where the hell is Ava? Looking past that, we were introduced to some new characters and what seems to be a new thread. It was like a “Lost” reunion with Jeremy Davies and Brad Henke playing brothers in a back woods crime family. Margo Martindale is the moonshine makin’ matriarch of this tribe. LOVE HER! I have a feeling that the crimes of the Bennett family will take the place of those committed by the Crowder clan.

The pilot was based on the short story “Fire in the Hole” by Elmore Leonard, who acts as executive producer. Adam Arkin directed the season one finale as well as the season two premier. Well done Mr. Arkin. He’s turned into quite the talented director and has done several great episodes of “Sons of Anarchy”. I’m a fan.

Ok class….let’s summarize. I was wrong. This show is really good. You should watch. Class dismissed.

Wednesdays at 10pm on FX

Stay Tuned…

Does "Chicago Code" Stand Up to Its Predecessor?

From the creator of “The Shield” comes Fox’s newest cop drama. Shawn Ryan has some great talent lined up in Jennifer Beals and Delroy Lindo, but does the show hold up? The American audience, hell, the world for that matter is heavily exposed to crime dramas. I’m sure we know more about law enforcement and crime than any time before us. I’ve learned more about the law from television than I ever did in high school and college combined. Soooooo….my point. It takes a really great script to impress me.  Otherwise, it’s just cops running around with guns chasing the rapists and murderers.  Ryan, the same man that killed off a cop in the pilot of “The Shield”, penned the first ep of this show. Somehow, I feel like it’s lacking. It’s probably wrong to compare this to that, but I just can’t help it. One thing it’s got is a strong woman. Beals’ Superintendent Theresa Colvin is reminiscent of Glenn Close’s Captain Monica Rawlings. Both are independent, strong willed and have something to prove (in a man’s world on top of it all). Jason Clarke plays Colvin’s former partner and her head detective on a task force meant to bring down city corruption. He’s the heavy handed, crotchety White Sox fan that goes through partners like toilet paper. There’s a bit of naughtiness….of course. But the kind that makes me cringe.  I wasn’t expecting to like this show, but watched because I wanted to like it. Although I wasn’t impressed, I will give it another try. At the very least, Jennifer Beals is stunning and very talent, but the accent is quite annoying.

Stay Tuned….if you feel like it

Mondays at 9pm on FOX

Has "Chuck" Jumped the Shark?

These days, I am completely convinced that Chuck's power was in his hair. He looks like a yuppie! Where are those dorky, wavy locks that we love so much? I caught seasons 1-3 over the summer after some prodding by my friends. I quickly became addicted to the bumbling and lovable spy wannabe in seasons 1 & 2 that were action packed and full of fun. Season 3 was so-so. Now, we're in season 4 and it's kinda like...what's the point? The original premise of the show was a dorky guy getting caught up in the spy world, but now Chuck is a full fledged spy and the writers are grasping at storyline straws. Honestly, I don't care about Chuck and Sarah's romance. It was cute to watch Chuck's crush on the unattainable, hot spy girl, but now she's attainable. BORING! There are still some laughs from Morgan and Casey, but not as many. We are currently in the middle of an ongoing mission against an evil organization....again. They all blend together at this point. I can't tell you which one was in what season or what they wanted. Timothy Dalton and Linda Hamilton are reoccurring guest stars, but they have the worst storyline. I can't blame them too much. Chuck had to evolve, but the Chuck that throws a punch confidently is not the goofy man-child I fell in love with. He could only be a spy novice for so long, but they could have kept it interesting somehow. I love this show, but I don't know how much longer I can watch with storylines like this. When Chuck got down on one knee, I gagged a little. Disappointed, team Chuck. I am disappointed.

BTW...Captain Awesome is still awesome, only now he's Papa Awesome ; )