The Ham Quotient Just Lowered Tenfold on TV - So Long Boston Legal

Apparently tonight is the SERIES Finale for Boston Legal. Does this mean the Emmy's will finally stop nominating James Spader and William Shatner?

Okay, you know? I actually still enjoy the show (although I'm WAY behind on this shortened final season) because any show that would cast Taraji P. Henson (Hustle and Flow) deserves some kudos (Oh Hello fellow ABC show Eli Stone! Which is also ending too. Seriously, what IS left on ABC come winter?) even though the series never really did know how to deal with their attractive younger cast members (Mark Valley, Julie Bowen, Tara Summers, Constance Zimmer, Monica Potter, Rhona Mitra, Justin Mentell, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Lake Bell, Melissa Coughlan, Saffron Burrows and Taraji P. Henson), constantly firing the latest batch for a brand new set of fresh blood.

The series only knew how to use its cast of heavyweights (and I do choose that word intentionally) who were always a hoot just for all the ham produced by The Shat, The Spader and Murphy Brown herself, Candace Bergen.

Of course, this is an end of an era no? Because once Boston Legal goes off the air, doesn't it mean that it will be the first time since ... ??? ... that they are no David E. Kelley shows running on the air? I mean, we have to go back before The Practice (good in the first few seasons), before Ally McBeal, Boston Public, before Picket Fences (probably the best of Kelley's shows), before Chicago Hope.

Wow, what's Michelle Pfeiffer going to do with her hubby home all day? This is when they discover they drive each other crazy and file for divorce. For the love of Michelle Pfeiffer's marriage, someone give Kelley a new TV show! (Or maybe not since I've gotten tired of his antics as most of the television audience seems to have as well).

More After the Jump...

Fashionably Late - Project Runway, House and Everything Else I Haven't Talked About In A While

Project Runway - Eye Candy - Ep. 406, What a Girl Wants - Ep. 407, On Garde! - Ep. 408, Even Designers Get the Blues - Ep. 409, Raw Talent - Ep. 410
House - It's a Wonderful Lie, Ep. 410, Frozen - Ep. 411, Don't Ever Change - Ep. 412
Boston Legal - Season 4
Private Practice - Season 1
Dirty Sexy Money - Season 1

Well, at least the writer's strike let me catch up with the stuff I taped.

I've actually been watching Project Runway and House mostly on time but since PR is delayed here in Canada, I'm always playing slight catch up and never in time to talk about in a timely way. But I wanted to use my above title at some point to seem clever. So here's my fashionably late post about Project Runway. Get it? How clever of me (look, I'm jetlagged. Give me a cheap freebie okay?)

Also fashionably late? Ricky's inevitable Auf'd that everyone has been waiting for. Finally. And yet, just as the crying self-esteem self chatter was getting on my nerves, he actually pulls a win in the Jeans episode, and I actually didn't totally hate his orange bathing suit/wrestling outfit but I did agree, it still made the scary female wrestler look a bit fat and it wasn't an original look.

Still, the fact that Ricky outlasted Kevin (who was so wronged that week he got Auf'd), Victorya (who, as annoyingly passive aggressive as she was and while she wasn't amazing, was still better than Kevin), Kit (who was TOTALLY wronged that week when she worked with Ricky and got Auf'd because she actually had some gumption of design control), and even ELISA (who as crazy as she may have been, had at least more interesting designs than Ricky) shows why the producers still hasn't fixed the crack in their system (Vincent anyone?). Ricky wasn't even that cameraworthy. He was kinda boring. Yes he played on the poor Latino boy doing good but I wish he had the designs to back him up. THEN it would have been a good story.

Anyways, Christian is a total twat but the fierce little bitch is still quite entertaining, if only for his youthful arrogance. I'd be more annoyed but I'm still mesmerized that he could sport that side-mullet (haha... god, Liz, that WAS brilliant) with a straight face (no gay pun intended).

So, while I've kinda avoided the spoilers (since the final Bryant Park Fashion show happened and you can just google it to see the pics but I'll avoid posting them here so that I can avoid looking at them)...

Of the remaining contestants, Chris, Christian and Jillian are probably my faves. I love Rami still but the dude's got some air of attitude when things don't go his way and when he can't drape fabric in his designs. Sweet P is probably my favorite person (though Chris is close in the running) but her designs are hit and miss. Jillian seems the most middle of the road successful, too bad she's kinda boring. Christian is great when he pulls out all the stops, but I'm glad he got bitch slapped by the school girl when he had to make that outfit for the opinionated tween. Karmic payback can be fierce.

In another fashion moment, the McGill sweatshirt makes a comeback on House! Yes, little things are enough to excite us Canadians! (Well, okay, fine, just me) Especially to see the return of my alma mater's sweatshirt on Cutthroat Bitch Amber after we discover she's dating Wilson. Even better? When House realizes Wilson is dating a female version of House!

The whole thing was hilarious and I'm really growing to love Anne Dudek between being Cutthroat Bitch and decking out in 60's housewife's garb on Mad Men. It also got to showcase Robert Sean Leonard (as Wilson) some more, which is always a good thing.

I'm still wondering why Fox was fashionably late (you know I'm going to work that phrase in this post as much as possible now) in showing House's Christmas episode at the end of January but considering NBC shows the 2 remaining episodes of Chuck on one night, Fox is holding back Bones until April, and ABC is holding back Men In Trees even though it has the most episodes left to show, I'm just assuming the programming execs are just complete morons at this point.

As for Mira Sorvino's appearance, all I could think about was, who is that guy she's trapped in the arctic for? He's kinda hot but where is he from? (I finally figured out that he was that guy trying to work into the Newport Group on The OC, Jeff Hephner). Nevermind that we had an Oscar winner on the post-Super Bowl episode (who I actually did think deserved her win for Mighty Aphrodite but then again, I was also happy for Marisa Tomei's win so I seem to champion the underdogs here).

Anyways, I've also been catching up with the 3 star ABC shows, Boston Legal, Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money.

I still enjoy Boston Legal, even though they got rid of my favorites Julie Bowen and wet dream Mark Valley and I think they've taken Christian Clemenson's asperger striken Jerry too far but I love the addition of Taraji P. Henson who brings her trademark sass to Whitney Rome. Plus it's nice seeing her not play a stripper, hooker or whore for once (though she does it so excellently in Talk to Me, Hustle and Flow, Four Brothers).

It's funny that they have sort of acknowledged that they don't know what to do with John Larroquette in their usual meta sort of way, but the coup casting hasn't laid on the sidelines as they continue to fit the script pages so that James Spader and William Shatner fill the screen (no pun intended, well, not really). I love when they throw Candice Bergen in the mix as the heavyweights (again, no real pun intended) but the show never seems to know how to mix the Shat and Spader in with the others, particularly the other headliners which always leaves the show a little disjointed.

I do love the guest casting though, particularly Scott Bakula! Quantum Leaping lizards!

Still, as crazy as it all is, I find myself not missing the show when I'm not watching it but totally loving it when I do.

Meanwhile, I'm totally not missing newcomers Private Practice or Dirty Sexy Money either and not loving them when I do watch, though DSM is growing on me. I'm really only sticking with PP at this point because I was waiting for Christopher David Sutcliffe to show up and what happens when I do? I accidentally erase those episodes. Oh well. There are TV favorites guest starring on the show galore (from Keiko Agena also from Gilmore Girls to Christopher Wiehl from Love Monkey) but I have more fun recognizing people than I do the actual show.

I still love Paul Adelstein and wonder if his Gilmore Girl starring wife may pop up one day (he's married in real life to Liza Weil, Paris Geller) to add to all the guest stars from that show. I still think the women need to grow spines, and they need to expand Chris Lowell's Dell further into the mix, but it's coming back for another season so let's hope they fix things for the fall.

Meanwhile, I watch Dirty Sexy Money, I enjoy, then I totally forget what happens by the time I watch the next episode (and considering I'm watching it taped, that doesn't mean a week, sometimes it just means hours in between). It's fun, it's frothy, it's getting soapier but I just don't care about most of the characters still, and the best one, Samaire Armstrong's Juliet, is off in rehab in real life so who knows what might happen to her.

I still love the whole Carmelita (Candis Cayne) and Patrick Darling (William Baldwin) relationship but I'm already lost on Lisa and Peter and Karen and whatever that triangle they seemed to want going, and as funny as the bastard son storyline for Rev. Patrick Darling may be, along with being the secret brother of Peter, I still hate the Brian character, which is played annoyingly by Glenn Fitzgerald in an annoying way and not an annoying but still lovable way that TV requires.

As for Blair Underwood, I prefer him on The New Adventures of Old Christine. He probably does less there but is still more compelling.

I still have hope for DSM and it is also back in the fall for another season, but let's hope Greg Berlanti shapes the show a bit more before spreading himself too thin everywhere on ABC.

More After the Jump...

Fall TV Preview - What's Tapeworthy on Tuesdays

Tuesdays is where my schedule may differ compared to all you Americans, since CTV essentially monopolized so many shows, that they have spill overs, and rearranged things their own way to fit it all in. So while the rest of you have relatively slower night on Tuesdays, us Canadians get to enjoy the cheesy guilty pleasure of Gossip Girl followed by the AMAZING EXCELLENT Pushing Daisies. Did I mention it's amazing? Pushing Daisies? The best new show this year? Excellent!

Here's the Fall TV Preview for Tuesdays:


All times Eastern based on current scheduled times and all times pm. Green = New Show, Blue = Returning Show, Red = Must Watch Live

CTV seems to have the biggest lock on the night for Tuesdays.

7:00 - 8:00

CTV gets started early on Tuesdays starting on Oct. 2nd when they move Gossip Girl to this early time slot.

Gossip Girl - CANADA ONLY on CTV 7:00 - 8:00pm (I made a mistake earlier and mentioned it moves to 7pm on Oct 2nd, but it moves on set. 25th) - *** WATCH - I sort of planned to hate The CW but I'm a nice guy (read: sucker) and I'm easy (read: preeeeety peeeeeople) so this show, which is like the bitchier version of The OC, only with even more stock characters (seriously, The OC looks deep by comparison) is totally ready made for guilty pleasure. I enjoyed the pilot far more than I anticipated and I'm ready for my next fix already. Definitely crack TV.




8:00 - 9:00

Pushing Daisies - CANADA ONLY on CTV 8:00 - 9:00pm - **** WATCH LIVE - Again, I can't say this enough, though I don't want to overhype it because its' charms are not the blow-you-away-like-Heroes-or-Lost type but something else entirely, but The BEST NEW SHOW THIS YEAR. PERIOD. You will fall in love with Lee Pace and Anna Friel. Unless you have a heart of stone.





Bones - FOX/Global 8:00 - 9:00pm - ***1/2 TAPE - I love this show but I don't have to watch it live. That still doesn't diminish how good this show can be, especially considering, I was tired of precedurals about 3 years ago but this one is one of the few that still keeps me coming back for more, possibly because the characters actually have CHARACTERS and are played by likable actors.





Beauty and the Geek - The CW 8:00 - 9:00pm ** FLIP BY Okay. I confess. I've never talked about this show on the blog but I think I've seen all of season 1, and about half of seasons 2 and a few of seasons 3, AND parts of the UK version as well. I won't make way for this show but if it's on, I love watching it. It's like eating chips. Have a taste and I end up gobbling up the whole thing, then I feel guilty afterwards. Apparently there is a twist this year with one couple being the OPPOSITE, with a FEMALE GEEK and a HOT GUY. OOOOOH... da da DUM.


9:00 - 10:00

Reaper - The CW/CityTV 9:00 - 10:00pm - *** WATCH - I sort of planned to hate The CW but I'm a nice guy (read: sucker) and I'm easy (read: Bret Harrison is FUUUUUUUUNY and PREEEEETY) so this show about a geeky failure (though if that's a geek, I have no chance in life do I?) who must work for the Devil is quite fun and the duo of Bret Harrison and Tyler Labine is great. Again, I probably should have scored this higher but I have reservations since they recast another favorite thing in the pilot (Nikki Reed bye bye, hello Missy Peregrym) so I'm a vengeful bitch. Just like the devil. Still, it's quite a fun show and I've been saying that Bret Harrison should be a bigger star, so as long as they avoid the devil-of-the-week storyline and add some more depth to the show, it should be a keeper.

House - FOX/Global 9:00 - 10:00pm - ** TAPE There are moments when I feel like I want to drop this show, then they go and fire (okay fine, one quit) all the ducklings and I hear they hired FIVE more ducklings (including Kal Penn (Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, which if you haven't seen yet, you must)) so now I'm back in. For now. I love the cast but the medical procedural was getting tired. I can only care so much about saving the disease-of-the-week so much.





10:00 - 11:00

Boston Legal - NBC/Global 9:00 - 10:00pm - **1/2 TAPE I know. It got way too many Emmy nominations (and win for that matter). But it's so over-the-top that it's fun to watch good actors in the craziness of it all. HOWEVER, they got rid of two of my favorites, Julie Bowen and Mark Valley in yet another cast change (has there ever been stability in this cast?) and added John Laroquette and some other chicks for Denny and Alan to harrass. I may be dropping this soon.


Shows I may flip by because it's not as bad as you think: Cavemen

Shows I like in Theory But Don't Watch Anymore: Law & Order: SVU.

It's Not Looking Good But I'll Give You A Chance Before I Cross You Off My List: Carpoolers, Cashmere Mafia

Shows I'm avoiding: Cane.

Shows I Didn't Realise Still Existed: N.C.I.S, The Unit, The Biggest Loser, The Singing Bee.


For the Fall TV Preview for the rest of the week:
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
Sundays

See Sidebar for Pilot Reviews

More After the Jump...

Oh No They Did'ent

In escalating scale:

1. The fall show Sam I Am starring Christina Applegate, Jean Smart and Sookie St. James (er... Melissa McCarthy) is changing the title of their show to Samantha Be Good because Dr. Seuss' estate was not too happy with the allusion to "Green Eggs and Ham".

2. Boston Legal dropped Julie Bowen, Mark Valley, Rene Auberjonois and Constance Zimmer. Say wha? Part of the charm was watching these 4 play with the big boys (Shatner's Denny Crane and James Spader) and girls (Candice Bergen), plus, Bowen and Valley certainly added to the hotness factor. Instead, John Larroquette is joining the cast.

3. Heroes has cast David Anders (Sark on Alias)as ancient samurai warrior Takezo Kensei, Hiro's childhood hero. You know, because the blond haired hunk is SO very asian.

4. Isaiah Washington says T.R. Knight is the one that should have been fired. Classy. If T.R. hadn't played his cards so perfectly, I may have actually believed Isaiah, 6 months ago, but sorry dude, you lost.

More After the Jump...

Cleaning the TV Slate

Okay, between attending weddings (2 down, 11 more to go. Who am I? Bobby bubbi Robert darling Bobby?), vacations (or a partial of it before I got called back for my next listing:), and re-starting a new season of a job, I've been slacking on my TV watching and have been playing catch-up for the past month, but in a way, thank goodness for American Idol which has scared away most new episodes in programming for me to not fall TOO far behind.

The New Adventures of Old Christine - Sleepless in Mar Vista, Undercover Brother
Okay. Loved that Burton was back, though too bad it was new delirious Burton and not the one we loved before (that Christine apparently didn't and thus broke his heart, leading him to therapy and prescription drugs). Also loved how they dealt with Richard's gay brother and yet made it all on Christine losing her mojo. New Christine is also getting funnier and funnier with her little quips, and love that the son isn't the brightest thing in the room.

Hereos - Parasite
Yes, I'm THAT behind. I can't believe I didn't hear any of the spoilers yet. Not that there was THAT much to spoil. I guess thinking it was the "spring finale", I didn't think there was THAT much of a cliffhanger, though I did gasp at Peter being cut up by Sylar. Still, I thought there was more. I realised I actually LIKE Ali Larter and I buy that she plays two versions of herself, but I' still bored with Jessica's/Niki's storyline. Ando RAWKS!

Lost - Enter 77, Par Avion
It's probably the first time I've left episodes of Lost waiting to be seen. Is that a bad sign? I still enjoy it immensely when I do, but I'm so confused as to this point that I almost dread watching it (though again, I'm glad when I do because I still love the Losties). Still, Locke is mystifying me right now.

Ugly Betty - Icing on the Cake
I CAN have my cake and EAT it too, if the cake was called Ugly Betty! (Though speaking of which, I need to get back to the gym since I'm no longer offically on vacation anymore. dangit). Last weeks ep was another perfect example of how this show has perfected the campy, emotional, hilarious mix, throwing each characters just enough meat to chew on, with zingers from every which way, and even guest stars who don't overtake the show and actually kinda fit in (Lucy Liu, Judith Light, Jesse Tyler Ferguson). I must say though, seeing Amanda in "The Amanda" was probably one of the funniest moments on television this season.

Grey's Anatomy - Scars and Souvenirs
Meanwhile, while Grey's Anatomy returned to regular programming (sans doing fake threats of killing the main character, yawn), I just couldn't get back into it. I LOVE this show and the characters but the spinoff gossip seems more interesting at this point. I also DO NOT BUY that Izzie and George would sleep together. Ew. They are like brothers and sisters. They had BETTER NOT GO THERE.

Boston Legal - Fat Burner, The Good Lawyer
For all the shenanigans this show is throwing around, and the fact that none of the main cast seems to be having any sort of real storyline (with the exception of the new baby for Denise which I'm not sure I like yet), they sure do give good scripts to the newbies like Clarence (Gary Anthony Williams who did just get upgraded to main cast member, though in this show, that still doesn't guarantee anything unless you are older than 50) and Bethany. At least they employed Debra Mooney (Everwood) as a judge though I wish they gave her more to do. I also liked the new Jerry but was sad to see him revert back to the old (and getting annoying fast) Jerry (for goodness sake, give Christian Clemenson some room for growth please, cause he can totally do it).

ER
Um, it was on in the background but I got all facebook addicted again, so I think I'm dropping this AGAIN for the 18th time.

House
Um, it was on in the background but I got all facebook addicted again, so I think I'm dropping this because there are only so many strange cases that House miraculously figures out around the 52 minute on the hour that I can take. Still, Hugh Laurie rocks the roll! I'm just needing more and the Chase/Cameron thing isn't enough (since it's just playing out real life stuff), and Cuddy and Wilson's tug-of-war relationships with House is getting a little slow.

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip
Um, it was on in the background but I got all facebook addicted again, so I think I'm dropping this though it may never be on again anyways. Which is too bad since it seemed to enjoy employing Canadians (Kari Matchett, Mark McKinney) who deserve shows but aren't on one this year.

Corner Gas - Happy Campers, Seeing Things
OMG, the "Good Hair Day" thing made my laugh out loud everytime. This might be too Canadian in humour but I still enjoy it immensely. Loved that Karen secretly admitted that her and Davis really do nothing on the job.

Gilmore Girls - Will You Be My Lorelai Gilmore?, Gilmore Girls Only
Now that it's ending, the Lane baby shower finally felt like an old episode that we all loved. Though why are they making us hate the boyfriends (Logan, Christopher) so much? If it's not one, it's the other.

Desperate Housewives - The Little Things You Do Together, My Husband, The Pig
hmm. I know I watched it but what happened again? I know they resolved the whole Orson thing and the pizza joint finally opened, but what happened to the DH resurgence that was happening in the fall? It's gotten awfully boring again awfully fast. I would probably drop it if it weren't between The Amazing Race and Brothers & Sisters.

The Winner
Didn't this show just start? Now it's over already? When is Fox going to bring back The Loop? (June actually)

Brothers & Sisters - The Other Walker
Emily Vancamp + Brothers & Sisters = AWESOME!

More After the Jump...

Boston Legal - Long Lists Guest

Angel of Death

Okay, now that the whole Lincoln ordeal is over, and an episode where the originally original but now overused Jerry Espenson (Christian Clemenson) is not in it, and the whole Denny Crane-is-my-midget-girlfriend, Bethany Horowitz (played excellently by Meredith Eaton-Gilden), my-daughter-from-Delta-Burke-is-over, we can move on to the fantastic cast.

Where are they? Since it seems like this episode was taken over again by guest stars. Though this time, I could cheer since it was Nia Long (Third Watch) and Matt Letscher (The New Adventures of Old Christine, which now with Blair Underwood as a viable option for Christine, his character really needs to return to form a perfect triangle) about a doctor euthanizing five people during the New Orleans floods. Meanwhile, Clarence/Clarice (Gary Anthony Williams) and Claire Simms (new full cast member Constance Zimmer) argue against Merrin Dungey (Francie from Alias). Luckily, I like the way Gary Anthon Williams plays Clarence/Clarice so I haven't gotten tired of this story, though it walks a very thin line.

William Shatner's Denny Crane is literally asleep at the wheel (tagging along the New Orleans case with James Spader's Alan Shore and staying asleep on the case). Brad wants more from Denise but makes a deal to be friends with benefits as Jeffrey Coho continues his pursuit for Denise. Isn't there any other women in the place? At least they ARE chasing the worthy Ms. Vessey Denise (Julie Bowen) as opposed to some of the previous female ex-cast members who are already forgotten (except Kerry Washington who is just fantastic in whatever she is in, though I was still shocked she took the Boston Legal re-occuring guest role to being with). Now Nia Long joins for a bit which is great for the female power at Crane, Poole & Schmidt.

More After the Jump...

William Shatner Tops Himself

Who would have thought there could be a show on TV more absurd than Boston Legal?

Of course to be THAT absurd, The Shat had to also take part in the new game show Show Me The Money, which if you tuned into ABC at 10pm last night, you might have mistaken for another episode of Boston Legal.

A mix of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, Dancing with the Stars and Deal, or No Deal, I have to hand it to Shatner who was not even the most insane part of the show. I'm not sure if it was the Shat directing the model girls to start dancing at every commercial break or the scrolls, or the contestants on last night seem to over-exagerate every emotion as if they were trying to pull through the botox lining, but Show Me The Money makes for one weird viewing. I'm guessing it should probably be watched like The Teletubbies; high as a kite. Cool Set though. I like the twinkly lights...


Of course, I did go to McGill University where the student union building was entitled (unofficially) The William Shatner Building (or "Shatner" for short) so I'm not sure who has the last laugh at this point. (William Shatner went to McGill for a while but dropped out before he could finish, apparently). Man, I hope my degree is still valid after this.

More After the Jump...

Boston Legal - Boxing Match of the TV Icons

With Carol Vessey, Murphy Brown, Captain Kirk, Jack Devereaux already on the roster ( plus James Spader of course).

Then they bring back Alex P. Keaton, Magnum P.I., and Rose Nylund.

Plus they introduce Peg Bundy into the mix? All within the first 3 episodes?

Is this where TV Icons go to win yet another Emmy? Or even great character actors like Christian Clemenson and Rene Auberjonois? Plus adding Craig Beirko to the mix? Who may have just found the prefect outlet for his zanniness (which could always be a little annoying like his character in Sex and the City)

Meanwhile, kudos again to Ashton Holmes who was great in last years A History of Violence for holding his own against all the above as Scott Little, who had an affair with a judge who was found murdered. Kudos also to Meredith Eaton as Bethany Horowitz for doing a lovely role as a dwarf lawyer who must deal with Denny Crane.

I really do love this quirky show that balances absolute insanity with controversial cases but you gotta give Boston Legal's casting agent a raise.

More After the Jump...

Premieres Tonight - Tue. Sep. 19

The Shat is back as Denny Crane and Michael J. Fox returns again to cause Julie Bowen some more heartache on the season premiere of Boston Legal. ABC/CH 10pm

Smith premieres on CBS tonight at 10pm. Here was my little review this morning.

More After the Jump...

Rest of the Week

The New Adventure of Old Christine – Pilot, Supertramp (NEW SERIES)
Another cute family comedy that fits into CBS’s Monday comedy line-up, with Julia Louis Dreyfus as Christine, a divorced woman who remains friends with her ex. Her ex however is dating a new girl, also called Christine, thus, Julia is dubbed, Old Christine. Julia is back in form (though I also thought Watching Ellie was pretty funny (starring a then unknown Steve Carrell)) and with Clark Gregg as her ex, and Hamish Linklater (another Gideon’s Crossing alum) as her brother, there’s some great chemistry in this group for some good comedy. (Andy Richter guesting on the second episode Supertramp was HILARIOUS as “Sad Dad” who Christine ends up sleeping with, her first since getting divorced 2 years ago)

Sons & Daughters - Film Festival, BBQ Therapy

This week, Gillian Vigman gets to shine as Cameron's Wife Liz Walker, when Henry (Cameron's son) gets a film into a film festival, and as the family and everyone else it seems, is invited to Cameron's annual BBQ. Still trying to figure out who everyone is though, but still some very awkward but funny moments. It's kinda like The Office meets Arrested Development except with an even bigger cast.

Boston Legal – Stick It!
I’m not sure if I’m loving the daughter on heroin storyline, or hating it, as it seems to be taking screen time away from Julie Bowen or James Spader. Maybe it’s just director Adam Arkin giving more screen time to his ex-co-star from Chicago Hope days.

The OC – The Journey
Damn. Marissa is still alive. Meanwhile, Ryan turns 18. (REALLY? Do they really expect us to believe this at this point? More like 26). Sandy locates Ryan’s mom in jail in Albuquerque, and Summer tells Julie Cooper that she knows of her tryst with her dad. Seth hires a Foreigner Cover Band for Ryan’s birthday, only to tell him it’s a Journey’s cover band, Ryan’s favourite, only because Foreigner is so much better than Journey.

My Name is Earl – Dad’s Car

Was I the only one completely disturbed by Randy and Joy, even if it was only a visual gag? Still, a very funny episode with Earl’s parents again, and Joy getting drunk while the kids are away.

The Loop - Jack Air
I know the Jack Air jokes were cheap but they were nonetheless very funny. Especially with Mimi Rogers there sitting completely deadpan. Sam is responsible with coming up with a new idea for a discount airline but can't help partying it up with the beer girl. Ends up in Cabo. Sam hair gets the rasta look. I think they like to have some fun with poor Bret Harrison, since he got his head partially shaved in the pilot ep, and now this!

More After the Jump...

Sound Bite!

"7 in 10 years."
"70%. 7 in 10."
"That's not 70%."
"Those were your words. You said 7 in 10."
"Okay. You win that argument."
~Dan Bakkedahl "Uncaged Heat" expose on "The Daily Show"

"I know you're tight with Larry King, but I'm getting Nightline, Hardball and The Daily Show. That is where most of America gets its news."
~Spin Doctor on "Boston Legal"

Originally posted by Highbrow

More After the Jump...

Rest of the Week before the Oscars

This will be short since... tada... the Oscars will be on tonight and I've finally seen all the movies in 14 categories (damn Syriana, or else it would have been 2 more).

Courting Alex - Dumping Alex. I know. I stayed in the relationship longer than I should have, but as charming as Josh Randall may be, and as much as I want to see Hugh Bonneville again, I must purge the bad dates and move on.

Scrubs - I now have the nightmare of seeing The Todd and his green glow after being in "chinatown", and poor Michael Learned... to be continued...

Boston Legal - Finally after a full season and a half, the producers got rid of all the superfluous characters (see ya wallpaper Ryan Michelle Bathe and Justin Mentell, we hardly knew you) and we are down to the amazing core cast. Thank god. Like they didn't realise this last season when they fired Monica Potter, Lake Bell and Rhona Mitra already? I mean, if you didn't know what to do with Rhona Mitra, what are you going to do with even less famous actors?

Free Ride - There's Arrested Development, and then there are these type of One-Camera shows. So much potential but somehow just don't live up? (see M.Y.O.B. with pre-Gilmore Girls Lauren Graham, The Opposite Sex with pre-Gilmore Girls Milo Ventilmiglia, Maybe It's Me although that was kinda kooky and Fred Willard made it pretty good) Somehow they are shot in the real world but feel clausterphobic as hell (and not in the AD good surreal way). Maybe cause the lead is too cute and "acting"?

ER - Noah Wylie was back. Guess he had nothing to do...

More After the Jump...

Rest of the Week

Boston Legal – David E. Kelley writes again! And casts two former Chicago Hope members AND we get a pairing of Magnum P.I with Murphy Brown! Plus Rene Auberjois gets a storyline for once!

Survivor: Panama Exile Island – TERRY finds the immunity idol? Boring.

Freddie – Seriously? When did Brian Austin Green become so funny? I can’t believe Freddie didn’t choose Rose.

Olympics – Were they still on? Go team Canada! Congrats on their best showing ever! Is Avril Lavigne the best we can do to represent us? I mean. I love her, but STILL. Will she even be around in 4 years when we have the Vancouver 2010 Olympics? (Granted, her careful move to film and spokesperson for Gucci is a brilliant career move).

Dancing with the Stars – Season 2 Finale – How is Stacy not in the Top 2? I can’t believe my heart was actually beating before the final announcement for fear that Jerry would actually win that ugly looking trophy. I mean, Jerry seems like a great person but come ON, we have some honour to uphold! This is the Dancing with the Stars trophy! It deserves some RESPECT! As Ugly as it may be. So thankfully, Drew “98 Degrees” Lachey wins the trophy and restores the Lachey name no thanks to Nick. But before I leave this season, did he say that Cheryl was like his SISTER? Eww, cause those two were so HOT together I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls a Billy Crudup and leaves his pregnant wife for another woman.

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The Rest of this Week

Supernatural - The Benders - Hardy Boys Sam and Dean fight off the scariest of creatures this week. Not monsters, vengeful ghosts or untamed beasts but the motherlode of scary: The Human Psycho Redneck Hunter. This week, as the boys follow a lead of a disappearing man outside a bar, Sam himself gets caught and locked into a cage, only to figure out that they are "released" to become prey for a killer-happy family. Dean and unconvinced girlcop search, girlcop gets caught as well, and then after a few scenes of me hiding behind my hand, all survive and the rednecks are dead.

Boston Legal - Smile -
The Crazy Story of the Week - Brad (Mark "Jack Devereaux replacement" Valley) is blackmailed to help out "Denny Crane"'s fiance to save her cat Barry Manilow (do they think we don't watch Gilmore Girls and the dog Paul Anka?) from having the plug pulled off the resuscitator due to her ex-husbands' request.
Mildly Crazy but somewhat plausible Story of the Week - Alan Shore (James Spader) fights for a girl to be accepted into a private school because her mother believes she was turned away because the girl does not smile (due to the lost of muscles in her face after an accident). This is James Spader at his best, when he is dealing with a kooky case that is still heartfelt letting him show some dramatic range and not the surreal foolishness that begat the first half of this second season.
Important Story of the Week - Shirley Schmidt (the great Candice Bergen) teams up girl power style with Denise Bauer (Julie Bowen of "Ed" fame. Remember how I follow all "Ed" alum? watch Julie Bowen in Boston Legal or Lost and you will see why) to defend a pregnant-from-a-rape girl whose request for the Morning-After Pill was rejected at a Catholic hospital. We are finally getting to see more action with the female leads after a men-heavy first half of the season, and with Candice Bergen and Julie Bowen as counterpart for James Spader and William Shatner, including the end of show bonding session over drinks (and cigars for the boys), this show has finally seemed to find the right balance amongst their heavyweight actors which is the greatest part of this show. Still, no idea why Ryan Michelle Bathe is in the credits since we haven't really seen her since her introduction in the fall. Justin Mentell seems to have been sidelined off as well and only kept for some wallpaper* material (something nice to look at but kinda useless).

Freddie - Two Times a Lady - When did Brian Austin Green become funny? I mean intentionally funny?

Survivor: Exile Island - I can't remember anything in this episode anymore because I'm still traumatized/turned on(?) from the all-out wrestling in the immunity competition and trying to erase/remember it from my head. Misty gets the boot in the end, who was one of my picks for final four. So much for what I know.

Everybody Hates Chris - Everybody Hates the Lottery - I really like this show but I never really have anything to say about it. Although, Tichina Arnold deserves an Emmy just for her scenes where she is chewing her beloved Turtles.

Dancing with the Stars - Results Show - So did Michael Buble lower his ratings points by appearing on this show? or did the show just boost its points for snagging Michael Buble? I can't tell but I love the fact that this show can accommodate Buble, the Pussycat Dolls AND Barry Manilow (the real singer, not the cat). What demographics DOES this show have? So Jerry Rice's football fanbase apparently DO watch this show because he is safe but Lisa Rinna's soap opera fan base does not. What's happening to this world?

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