RESCUE ME SEASON PREMIERE: I was underwhelmed by the season premiere because they didn’t spend much time in the firehouse and I’ve missed the guys more than I’ve missed Janet and Sheila. The show only has eight episodes to go this final season so as a viewer from the start of the show, I’m curious to see how they’ll choose to wrap it up, especially because 2011 is the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and that’s a running theme of the show. I’m used to the self-indulgence of the show but I hope we see the guys in the firehouse more frequently than Tommy’s eternally messed up family. Are you still watching RESCUE ME? I know there are others besides me who have been watching for a long time and feel the need to watch this final season.
LOUIE: The Joan Rivers episode left me shaking my head in wonder but I loved the Louie/Joan scene in her hotel suite with Joan teaching Louie career lessons about learning the names of the guys who run the clubs because he’ll need them when he’s not as popular. I also loved the phone bit where Louie was trying to order groceries. I’m continually amazed at how much humor Louis CK mines from mundane, everyday subjects and tasks, and that’s what makes LOUIE one of the best, most relatable (if dark) comedies on the air. There’s always an honesty and often sad truth to the episodes.
WILFRED: The show is still odd and weird but I’m crazy about Jason Gann as Wilfred aka the guy in the dog suit. But what to make of Ed Helms as a dog-o-phile who used peanut butter for nefarious means with the dogs at his doggy day care? More weird but that’s the show’s stock in trade. No one aside from some of my TV blogger friends is watching WILFRED which makes me wonder if the show will make it past one season.
BREAKING BAD SEASON PREMIERE: Have you unclenched yet from one of THE most intense hours of TV? The brilliance of Vince Gilligan: the silence spoke volumes. Jesse didn’t speak until a little past the halfway mark of the hour. Gus Fring is infinitely scarier when he’s silent than when he’s speaking in his calm, unwavering voice. The voice we heard most was Walt’s as he talked and talked and tried to convince Gus to keep him and Jesse working at the superlab. I know I’ll never look at a box cutter the same way again and I was chilled to the core when Gus quietly and methodically put on the plastic suit and then proceeded to do away with Victor, the lab assistant. There’s still no guarantee of Walt and Jesse’s safety and the one takeaway from the show is that everyone involved is in a messy situation: Walt, Jesse, Hank, Skyler, everyone. And there’s no easy way out – in fact, there’s probably no way out at all unless something happens to Gus.
FNL FINALE: We’ll always have Texas Forever. Let me count the ways I loved this finale. Everything from Coach realizing it *is* his wife’s turn to shine and doing the right thing for her. Then there was Riggins and Tyra sitting on the hill where he planned to build his house and Tim told her, “Maybe one day, our dreams can merge.” I also loved the tense scenes between Coach, Tami, Julie and Matt as the two crazy young kids fought for their right to get married even as the Taylors told them they weren’t ready. Who’s ever really ready for marriage? It’s a leap. I got totally choked up when Matt’s grandma said to Julie, “Call me Grandma now – you’re family.” and then kissed the hand Julie wore her engagement ring on. Finally, I loved the HEAVEN CAN WAIT-like moment at the end as Coach and Tami walked off down the football field. There were so many teary moments as we said goodbye to many characters we grew to love. Mostly, I love that the show emphasized kindness, family, and the importance of finding the people who are your home, because when you’re with them, you’re home. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: This week’s episode is off-kilter as it combines a story about Larry discovering a battered women’s shelter next door to his house and one with Richard Lewis dating an exotic dancer. However, be sure to tune in this coming Sunday for the “Palestinian Chicken” episode which is tasteless, politically incorrect and incredibly funny.
TRUE BLOOD: This new season is a real melting pot – or should I say cauldron – of stories. The witches are front and center with head witch Marnie becoming key to the Eric story. Eric’s memories are still lost to him but now Sookie is filling him in about his history little by little. How could you not melt when Eric curled up next to Sookie in bed and assured her “I could never hurt someone as pretty as you.” I don’t really care about the crazy panther people, Tommy Minkins or his family (except for Sam) and I’m still bored by Tara so I hope they’ll wrap those storylines soon. Always fantastic: the wonderful snarling Pam threating Marnie to cure Eric and suffering for harassing Marnie when Marnie cast a spell that made Pam’s skin peel off her face. Still loving Bill as the King of Louisiana and how he exercises his power. TRUE BLOOD remains the best pulp fiction on TV.
DROP DEAD DIVA: I had a strong feeling about the wedding and what came to pass in last night’s episode. Brooke Elliott’s performance in this week’s episode was especially moving, sweet and measured; she moves easily from the lighter comedic scenes to the more dramatic moments. And I really really loved the final scene with her and Grayson — very sweet but not overdone. I still love this show because it’s fast-paced, clever and intelligent. It always puts a smile on my face too which is a bonus on a Sunday night when all I’m thinking about is going back to work Monday morning.
COMIC-CON: San Diego Comic-Con starts Wednesday night; I won’t be making the scene myself but I *will* be attending Summer TCA Press Tour which starts at the end of this month in LA.
TODAY’S SURF WRITTEN WHILE LISTENING TO: Patsy Cline Classics, Volume One – http://www.amazon.com/Patsy-Cline-Classics-Vol-1/dp/B00534LV6K
Tonight’s rundown:
ABC: 8:00 p.m. The Bachelorette 10:00 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition
THE BACHELORETTE visits the finalists in their hometowns.
CBS: 8:00 p.m. How I Met Your Mother (R) 8:30 p.m. Mike & Molly (R) 9:00 p.m. The Big Bang Theory (R) 9:30 p.m. Mike & Molly (R) 10:00 p.m. Hawaii Five-O (R)
NBC: 8:00 p.m. America’s Got Talent (R) 9:00 p.m. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (R) 10:00 p.m. Harry’s Law (R)
Fox: 8:00 p.m. Hell’s Kitchen season premiere 9:00 p.m. Masterchef
CW: 8:00 p.m. 90210 (R) 9:00 p.m. Gossip Girl (R)
ABC Family: 8pm: Secret Life of the American Teenager, 9pm: Switched at Birth
TNT: 9pm: The Closer, 10pm: Rizzoli & Isles
Syfy: 8pm: Eureka, 9pm: Warehouse 13, 10pm: Alphas
VH1: 8pm: Basketball Wives, 9pm: Single Ladies
That’s a wrap for now.
