THE HILLS: The season premiere was chock full of disorders, done HILLS style. First it was Heidi’s body dysmorphic disorder (which has to be what’s truly wrong with her in addition to her mental delusions) and then it was onto Kristin’s drinking and “partying.” Heidi’s conversation with her mother was shockingly real given the usual shallowness of the show and it was driven home especially well because Heidi was unable to move her face or chew her food. This once-pretty young woman has wrecked her face and body and it sickened me again to hear her tell her mother that yes, she does want to look like Barbie. I’d never recommend that mothers let their daughters watch this show but this particular episode is a good way to have a conversation about body image and self-esteem.
And then we turn to Kristin Cavalleri, who is bone thin, half-drunk no matter what hour of the day and parties til she can’t even talk. What else does she really have to do? Her only gainful employment is shooting a goofball reality TV show. Does that really make someone wanna get outta bed in the morning? And clearly it’s a job that can be done when one is hung over. Again, another good conversation starter with your kids of an avocation to be avoided.
THE CITY: Conversely, MTV offers up Whitney Port, an ambitious gal who aspires to be a fashion designer and is actually willing to work to make that aspiration come to fruition. In the season opener, we got to see Whitney put together her first-ever Bryant Park show with the help of her former boss Kelly Cutrone and the gals at People’s Revolution. I don’t know about you but Whitney’s moment with Kelly after the show gave me a lump in my throat and I especially love that Whitney told Kelly, “You’re family too Kel.” Of all the reality show girls, Whitney Port strikes me as the one who has a functioning brain but I haven’t met her in person so I could be dead wrong about that. As for Olivia, I still hate her but I’ll give her this much: she’s probably the wiliest celebutante on reality TV right now.
THE GOOD WIFE: Last night’s episode was another solid installment that had plenty of drama as the law firm Alicia is working for is struggling to stay alive, and we saw the craftiness of Alicia’s colleague/nemesis (?) Cary as he skillfully played a job offer from Stern’s firm to his advantage. The Peter story is still moving along and you had to love when Alicia confronted him after the scene at the church. It’s my own belief that men rarely change but the look on Alicia’s face really drove home her contempt for her husband and his so-called efforts to do so. I also loved that Alicia would not violate confidentiality and reveal what she knew about Stern’s medical condition until he had a mental break in court.
GLEE: This week’s “Home” episode was one of the worst written episodes to date but the music was beyond wonderful so the show maintains its spot in my heart. Matthew Morrison and Kristin Chenoweth must do an album of duets because their voices together are outta this world beautiful as their duet on “One Less Bell to Answer” showed. I was also moved greatly by Chris Colfer’s (Kurt) cover of “A House Is Not a Home” and Amber Riley’s “Beautiful.” Though the dialogue was on the nose and trite, the episode scored because of the music and isn’t that what we really watch GLEE for?
CHUCK: A really charming episode because of the many Chuck & Sarah together scenes and I especially love that neither of them can resist being a spy anymore. It’s ingrained in both of them now. They’re a more benign Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
24: I was bored. Even rogue Jack is boring me. This is not good.
LATENIGHT HIGHLIGHT: There’s a new installment of “Late” on LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON tonight! This is the show’s spot-on LOST parody/homage.
EARLY HEADS UP FOR THIS WEEKEND: If you’re a media geek like me, you might want to record the White House Correspondents Dinner – both C-SPAN and MSNBC will be covering the event, which is also affectionately referred to as the Geek Prom. That’s Saturday at 5pmPT/8pmET. Sunday night: Conan O’Brien speaks to 60 MINUTES’ Steve Kroft in his first major interview since leaving NBC.
TODAY’S SURF WRITTEN WHILE LISTENING TO: The gorgeous rendition of “A House Is Not a Home” by Chris Colfer with an assist from Cory Monteith:
Tonight’s rundown:
ABC: 8:00pm. The Middle (R) 8:30pm. The Middle 9:00pm. Modern Family (one hour) 10:00pm. Happy Town (premiere)
Comedy veteran and surefire laugh-getter Fred Willard guests in tonight’s new episode of MODERN FAMILY; he returns as Phil’s father.
HAPPY TOWN is a spooky drama about a small Minnesota town rocked by a series of kidnappings seven years earlier, and the new investigation of a recent crime reveals long-kept secrets. Geoff Stults (OCTOBER ROAD), Sam Neill, Lauren German star in the show. Reviews have been mixed. I’m a Stults fan so I will check it out. And the showrunners claim they’re not trying to mimic TWIN PEAKS but no one really believes them.
CBS: 8:00pm. The New Adventures of Old Christine (R) 8:30pm. Two and a Half Men (R) 9:00pm. Criminal Minds (R) 10:00 p.m. CSI: NY (R)
NBC: 8:00pm. Mercy 9:00pm. Law & Order: SVU (R) 10:00pm. Law & Order: SVU
Sharon Stone starts her four-episode guest star arc tonight – she’s an ADA who used to be involved with Det. Stabler.
FOX: 8:00pm. Lie To Me (R, return) 9:00pm. American Idol
THE CW: 8:00pm. America’s Next Top Model 9:00pm. Fly Girls 9:30pm. High Society (series finale)
The Top Modelettes travel to New Zealand (i’m pretty sure that’s their destination) in tonight’s episode.
BRAVO: 10pm: Top Chef Masters
The Masters cook for the cast of MODERN FAMILY.
Comedy Central: 10pm: South Park, Ugly Americans
Discovery: 8pm: Weird or What?, 9pm: Mythbusters, 10pm: What a Tool
MTV: 10pm: The Challenge: Fresh Meat II
USA: 10pm: In Plain Sight
That’s a wrap for now.
