Just a reminder: blogging is intermittent as job hunting is job #1; thanks for understanding. Be sure to follow me and my wacky hijinks on my twitter feed: @thesurfreport or just bookmark www.twitter.com/thesurfreport and refresh the page whenever you check in.
GIRLS SEASON FINALE: Talk about an incredible freshman season; Lena Dunham deserves a medal for an outstanding run of episodes from start to finish. The season closer offered up a surprise wedding for one of the girls, Marnie loosening up, Shosh finally losing it, and Hannah and Adam coming to some really basic truths about each other. Dunham, Jenni Konner, Judd Apatow and the entire cast and creative team of GIRLS deserve a standing ovation for this gem of a show that alternately raised eyebrows, surprised, amused and sometimes horrified viewers. And the award for most character arc progress goes to Adam. What a lovely surprise that guy turned out to be: from creepy booty call guy to boyfriend material. Almost enough to make a believer out of me.
REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NYC: Now I watch the show and ponder the degree of crazy for each participating woman, with Ramona and Sonja setting the bar high and the other women scaling in way below those two. While Heather gives Ramona a solid run for the money in the “never let anyone else get a word in edgewise” department, Aviva and Carole still seem like lost lambs, though Carole is crazy like a fox for signing on; the show’s exposure will probably help her sell books. So why is Aviva on the show? Is she starting a business? Just wondering.
DROP DEAD DIVA: Still a truly charming show and perfect for summer viewing. Brooke Elliott can do no wrong in my book, though I wish they hadn’t cast Kim Kardashian in a recurring role. The show also gets fantastic guest stars; Patty Duke was in this week’s episode and Brandy Norwood will be guesting in an upcoming installment.
NURSE JACKIE SEASON FINALE: Very very strong season closer that had Jackie staying sober, taking the reins from Mike Cruz, and a new life entering as another life departed. This season of the show truly embraced consequences for Jackie because of her bad behavior, which I’d been waiting an entire season for plus significant changes that resulted from those consequences. Some especially good moments: when Cruz fired Gloria and Eddie but kept Jackie on at his son Charlie’s request, Jackie befriending Charlie, the humanizing of Coop as O’Hara’s pregnancy progressed, Jackie’s takeover after Cruz had an asthma (or panic) attack. This season felt more expertly constructed and executed than last season and I’m already looking forward to next season.
THE BIG C SEASON FINALE: As Cathy swam toward the fishing boat at the end of the season closer, I had mixed feelings. Sadness because she revealed her tumors are growing, and more than a little mystified that she wouldn’t go back to her son Adam. I’ll probably watch next season because Laura Linney is compelling to watch, with Oliver Platt coming in a close second. They’ve totally lost sight of what to do with Gabourey Sidibe.
BUNHEADS: The second episode of the show was a mess. I don’t know how else to phrase it. It started with a character’s death and quickly spiraled out of control. While Kelly Bishop is usually wonderful to watch, some of the stuff she’s given in this show is beneath her. And it really feels like Amy Sherman-Palladino is trying to make Sutton Foster morph into Lauren Graham, but I may perceive that because of my years of watching GILMORE GIRLS. Some of Foster’s reactions and takes were very Graham-y. Whatever the case, the script was way below par. Disappointing.
TRUE BLOOD: I’m still hoping they’ll move away from Tara and focus on Jessica, Pam, Bill and Eric because I’m not sure Tara will become interesting because she’s now a vampire. Better yet, Christopher Meloni as one of the Vampire Authority is a major plus and I have to tune in for him. Meloni sucks up all the TV oxygen whenever he’s onscreen, and that’s a very good thing indeed. I don’t even get why they added the story with Patrick (Scott Foley) and what he’s trying to do with Terry. TRUE BLOOD keeps throwing more stories onto the bonfire and it’s outta control. It’s time for the show to become interactive so viewers could choose the stories they’re interested in and follow only those.
THE KILLING: I’m so glad I stopped watching this season. I read some recaps and commentary yesterday and I definitely put those 13 hours to better use.
MISS ADVISED: This may be the most annoying show I’ve seen lately, rivaling PREGNANT IN HEELS. It’s about three dating/sex consultants, one of them is “internet-famous” (I think I mean those as air quotes) Julia Allison. Allison has a lot of rules about guys she’ll date and none of them seem to be working in her favor. She’s outspoken about all of her bad habits yet doesn’t seem to make an effort to break them. What’s supposed to be attractive/interesting/TV-worthy about these gals? Filing this under “I don’t get it.”
TELL ME: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVE SUMMER TV SHOWS? What are you programming the DVR to record?
THE 2012 Critics Choice Awards were handed out last night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
COMMUNITY won Best Comedy Series
HOMELAND won Best Drama Series
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) – Best Actor in a Drama
Claire Danes (Homeland) – Best Actress in a Drama
Louis C.K. (Louie) – Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) and Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) tied for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Poehler deserved a solo win.
UPCOMING PREMIERES:
THIS SUNDAY 6/24 – THE NEWSROOM – 10pm – HBO
THURSDAY JUNE 28 – AWKWARD season premiere – 10pm – MTV, 9pm: ANGER MANAGEMENT series premiere – FX, 10pm: WILFRED season premiere – FX, 1030pm: LOUIE season premiere – FX, 11pm: BRAND X WITH RUSSELL BRAND premiere – FX
SUNDAY JULY 1 – 10PM – WEEDS, 1030PM – EPISODES – Showtime
MONDAY JULY 2 – 11PM – WEB THERAPY – Showtime
MONDAY JULY 9 – 9PM – THE CLOSER, 10PM – PERCEPTION – TNT
TUESDAY JULY 10 – 9PM – WHITE COLLAR, 10PM – COVERT AFFAIRS – USA
THURSDAY JULY 12 – 9pm. Big Brother (CBS), 10pm The Real L Word (Showtime)
SUNDAY JULY 15 – 8 pm Leverage (TNT), 10pm Breaking Bad (AMC), 10pm Political Animals (USA)
TODAY’S SURF WRITTEN WHILE LISTENING TO: Fiona Apple’s new record “The Idler Wheel…” – thanks to NPR First Listen: http://www.npr.org/2012/06/10/154422085/first-listen-fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel?ps=cprs#playlist
Tonight’s rundown:
ABC
8:00 p.m. Jimmy Kimmel Live
8:30 p.m. NBA Countdown
9:00 p.m. NBA Finals, Game 4
CBS
8:00 p.m. NCIS (R)
9:00 p.m. NCIS: Los Angeles (R)
10:00 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery (R)
NBC
8:00 p.m. America’s Got Talent (R)
9:00 p.m. America’s Got Talent (R)
10:00 p.m. Love in the Wild
Fox
8:00 p.m. Hell’s Kitchen
9:00 p.m. Masterchef
CW
8:00 p.m. The Catalina
9:00 p.m. The L.A. Complex (R)
Bravo: Real Housewives of Orange County, Pregnant in Heels
Oxygen: 10pm: The Glee Project
Lifetime: 10pm: Bristol Palin: Life’s a Tripp – series premiere
Bristol Palin’s move from Alaska to Los Angeles (and back to Alaska) with young son Tripp and her sister Willow is the focus of this new reality show. The girl who hates how the media portrays her and her family signed on to do a reality show. Loathsome.
That’s a wrap for now.
