TV Monger

Brad Womack, “sexiest bachelor in history,” shocked both Jenny and DeAnna tonight when he chose to throw them both to the dogs.  I’m finally coming to the conclusion that this show is just pure evil.  These are the types of girls that actually believe they are going to find love after 5 weeks and 3 “alone” dates.  Meanwhile, their perfect man is dating an entire sorority house.  All we get is endless footage of girls weeping into the camera, blabbing about how he was the one and if rejected, they might as well give up on finding true love.  This show belongs on the Lifetime channel where self-esteem-challenged women go to commiserate. 

I was fully shocked by this finale.  Chris, the host, did say it was the most dramatic Bachelor finale ever, but he’s cried wolf so many times before!  I find it really hard to believe Brad couldn’t settle for one of these ladies.  At least for a few weeks - long enough to make the cover of US Weekly, get a little publicity, but still have plenty of time to cancel the engagement and get a refund on the ring.  He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I wouldn’t peg him for a moron!  Maybe he was actually looking for love too?  No!  That’s not why people go on this show!  Maybe he’s still hung up on his ex-girlfriend?  Who knows.

Well for all you Wednesday-night watchers, you probably know by now that neither Private Practice nor Dirty Sexy Money was on last night…shiny shirts and southern drawls dominated the popular network.  Everyone looked like they were having a grand old time down there in Nashville, but no one on my couch was very pleased.  It was amusing for a short while.  Allison Krauss has a great voice and Reba holds a special little place in my heart, but this coupled with the uncertainty of what is going to happen with the Office and Desperate Housewives (because of the strike) was too much for me to handle.  Probably just as well.  I didn’t have to stay up until 11pm just to realize that Nick isn’t going to solve the mystery of his father’s death until at least Season 3.  In fact, I think I turned the tv off just in time - just before my eyes were blinded by the close-up shot of Jewel’s teeth…

After 11 hours of negotiations this past Sunday between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, Hollywood writers and the studios they work for were still unable to come to a deal.  According to CNN:

“The writers want more money from the sale of DVDs and a share of revenue generated by the sale of TV shows and films over the Internet. The studios say the demands are unreasonable and will hamper attempts to experiment with new media.”

The strike has forced at least eight prime-time shows to halt production.  And the lastest victim of this unfortunate occurrence is…gasp…NBC’s The Office.   Filming stopped immediately after Steve Carrell refused to cross the picket lines.  Other sitcoms that have stopped filming because they’ve run out of scripts are “Desperate Housewives,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “Rules of Engagement.”  Sally Field left the set of her hit show “Brother & Sisters” to visit the strike.  She told MSNBC:

“Writers are not being allowed to participate in the future of the business. This can be a very lucrative field, but also incredibly insecure for all of the artists, writers, actors and directors.”

Let’s hope the stingy networks can share a larger piece of the pie with the very people who make these shows popular in the first place…the genius writers who pen the jokes.  My TiVo is not going to be satisfied with reruns…

No one escapes drama this week in the Walker family.  Kitty and Robert plan a shot-gun wedding so that the news of the pregnancy doesn’t precede their nuptuals…wouldn’t want to lose those key conservative votes. In an unexpected twist of fate (although, viewers should have totally seen this coming) when Kitty and Nora go to the first sonogram appointment the doctor detects no baby heart-beat.  Robert pretends to be upset by the no-baby news, but later admits to Issac (played by Danny Glover) the political consultant whom Kitty called for advice, that he never wanted a baby.  So are we to think that Robert is actually god-like?  Whatever Robert wants is what the universe gives him?

When Paige starts acting out at school and then runs away from home, Joe finally admits that its time to alter the custody agreement and agrees to split the kids with Sarah.  Well that whole custody drama didn’t last all but one episode.  I’m sure ex-sex is not far down the road. Read the rest of this entry »

The Darlings’ money really is so dirty and sexy.  In this episode, “The Game” refers to the high stakes ($20 million buy-in) poker game that both Tripp and Simon Elder battle it out in.  When the stakes are really high, the billionaires bypass their million dollar chips and start betting the deeds to Manhattan real estate.  Earlier in the show, Nick gets the police report from his father’s plane crash (it was deemed an accident), but when he meets with Simon Elder, the billionaire informs him that the report was tampered with before it even got to the police.  He can get Nick the real report if Nick convinces Tripp to bet the Darling Plaza during the big game.  We know the Darling Plaza holds sentimental value to Tripp and Trish, but we’re not sure why Simon (ever the sly guy) is interested in it.  In any event, Simon of course ends up winning the deed to the property.

Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Brian warms up to the idea of having a son (after Juliet spoils Brian Jr. rotten) and Karen and Freddy try to get a marriage license…only to find out she’s still married to her 3rd husband.  When Karen brings the papers to her ex’s door (Sebastian, the sexy anthropologist) they of course have sex, he signs the papers, and reminds her that no matter who she marries she’ll never get over Nick. Read the rest of this entry »

Office-cest is the name of the game in this the first season of Private Practice.  Of course we wouldn’t expect anything else from the creators of Grey’s Anatomy.  First we have Naomi and Sam, the divorced duo who still manage to work together in the same miniscule office.  Coop, the pediatrician, is so blatantly in love with Violet, the psychiatrist who’s sort of an idiot for not noticing.  It’s just a matter of time before Addision, the OB-GYN and Pete, the voo-doo doctor hop in the sack.  Is there anyone left?  Oh yeah, and then there’s Dell, the pretty-boy receptionist who’s undying adoration for Naomi is every bit annoying as it is “cute”.

A quick recap of this episode pretty much reads the same as those before it.  The Pete/Addison flirtation escalates, they kiss during one of Addison’s regular after-work get togethers.  But then she decides to hold out for what she really wants (marriage, children, the whole sha-bang) and walks away, seemingly proud of her own self-restraint.  In a child abuse case, Coop finally grows a pair and against the advice of Sam testifies in court for the girl who’s been physically abused by her mother (who just so happens to suffer from MS and is a long-term patient of Sam’s).  And amidst all the drama, we learn that Dell was also abused as a child, although none of the docs seem to give that discovery much attention.  I guess that’s one thing that’s actually being kept “private” in this practice.

In another semi-boring storyline, Charlotte, the cold doctor from the hospital next door agrees to Pete’s treatment for her chronic insomnia.  It turns out she suffers from some intimacy issues, surprise surprise.  The only interesting tid bit here is that perhaps Charlotte has a little thing for Pete (she makes a brief comment about his strong hands while she’s walking out), which could potentially cause some Addison drama down the road. 

[Air date: 10.31.07]

Wednesdays 9/8C on ABC

In the latest episode of The Office, Stanley decides to transfer to the Utica branch, which is run by none other than Karen, Jim’s old flame.  Michael, always eager to keep his Scranton family together, decides he’s not having any of it and plans a trip to Utica (with Dwight and Jim in tow) to show Karen who’s boss.  Of course Jim thinks they’re just heading off on another sales call.  Michael and Dwight, dressed in cognito with ’staches and maintenance employee uniforms head into the Utica office armed with silly string and stink bombs, while Jim has an unexpected run-in with Karen outside.  Mortified that he’s caught in the silly scheme, he makes the situation worse by mentioning that he’s still happy with Pam.

Meanwhile back at the office Pam, Oscar, and Toby start a Finer Things Club where they discuss great books, dine on fine cuisine, and share civilized conversation in the office kitchen.  It is, of course, an exclusive club that isn’t open to just anyone…especially Andy.

Michael and Dwight’s operation is a bust, but Stanley decides to stay at Scranton anyway.  Turns out he was bluffing about the tranfer, just trying to trick Michael into granting him a raise. 

[Air date: 11/01/07]

Thursdays 9/8c on NBC

Take this quiz and find out which TV personality you really are!

For recaps of the first 6 episodes of Season 2 check out ABC.com.

Airs on ABC, Thurs 8/7C

For recaps of the first 5 episodes of Season 4 check out NBC.com.

Airs on NBC, Thurs 9/8C