Southern UnComfortAble - A Streetcar Named Desire & Parade - Theatre Reviews

A Streetcar Named Desire - Sydney Theatre Company at the Eisenhower Theatre in The Kennedy Centre - Washington, D.C. - *** (out of 5)
Written By Tennessee Williams, Directed By Liv Ullmann
Ran from Oct. 27 - Nov. 21 2009. Running at BAM in Brooklyn from Nov. 27th to Dec. 20th 2009

Parade - Donmar Warehouse at the Mark Taper Forum - Los Angeles, CA - ***** (out of 5)
Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, Book by Alfred Uhry, Directed and Choreographed by Rob Ashford
Ran from Sep. 24 - Nov. 15 2009.

Two highly lauded foreign productions (about America's "South" no less) have recently transferred to America, with the London's Donmar Warehouse's luscious and intimate revival of the haunting musical Parade recently playing in Los Angeles (with a hope to move to Broadway once the Circle in the Square Theatre opens up), and Australia's Sydney Theatre Company on tour with the American classic A Streetcar Named Desire starring Cate Blanchett in the leading iconic role of Blanche Dubois.

Unfortunately for this Sydney Theatre Co. production of A Streetcar Named Desire, it comes after having just seen the Donmar Warehouse's summer production of Tennessee Williams' classic starring another Oscar winner, Rachel Weisz. Donmar's was truly a remarkable production that had all the elements in perfect balance. Where you felt the heat and humidity of New Orleans from a set by Christopher Oram that truly evoked a New Orleans of yesteryear, with the emotions seeping through the pores of the sweaty actors that for once, I finally found myself truly understanding the play for the first time ever. And if it weren't for the slightly wavering accents, it would be a perfect production.

So while I had huge expectations for Cate Blanchett and company, I sadly felt underwhelmed and slightly confused again. Liv Ullmann's production is cold and stark, with a set that easily portrays the poor living conditions that Stella and Stanley live in, but there's little to distinguish itself from any place, let alone New Orleans. It could have been Thunder Bay, Ontario for all that matters.

Director Liv Ullmann takes an intellectual approach to the proceedings and thus not all the emotions seem to coalesce properly. The entire production seems to attempt for a unified balanced approached, but in the end, it weighs heavily toward a star turning performance for Cate Blanchett who easily steals the show.

Robin McLeavy's Stella disappears from the play, and only Joel Edgerton (Kinky Boots, below) manages to stay within sight (and what a lovely sight those muscles are!) but in the end, the chemistry between the three leads are so inbalanced that the downfall of Blanche Dubois lacks the slow horrifying power punch that the play can give.

Mitch, Blanche's suitor, barely even registers here with Cate's Blanche overtaking the stage with her luminosity, and while Cate's performance attempts everything it can to portray Blanche's slow unravelling, like the rest of the production, it almost seems like she's too smart for the character story she's trying to play. There isn't quite the frailty beneath the face of pride that Blanche always displays, that while I hate to compare, I found Rachel Weisz's Blanche Dubois managed better to portray, becoming a more heartbreaking and powerful performance.

Now, I'm probably sounding quite harsh on the Sydney Theatre Co. production but I'm just being nitpicky comparing the two recent (Oscar-winner-starring) productions I just saw, but I want to point out that it's still a good production, one that I probably would have been blown away by if I hadn't already seen the Donmar production. It's still wonderful to see Cate Blanchett on stage, and she's just stunning (but again, maybe a bit TOO stunning). Ullmann and Blanchett just take this production to an intellectual interpretation that didn't grab me as emotionally as it could have, and thus it's a production I respect more than I loved.


Now without sounding like an employee of the Donmar Warehouse or Set Designer Christopher Oram's lover (although with a set like the one he did for Streetcar, I would consider it), or a publicist for Director Rob Ashford, I cannot express my love for both his productions at Donmar. He first astounded me with his directorial debut in a revival of Parade at the Donmar (my original review here), and then pounded my heart with the above mentioned A Streetcar Named Desire.

This fall, Ashford's Parade got an American transfer! While the transfer of Parade loses a bit of the Donmar Warehouse intimacy by moving to the slightly larger Mark Taper Forum, it gains a cast of Broadway veterans and TV star T.R. Knight (Grey's Anatomy) in the leading role. Only Lara Pulver takes the flight over from the British cast to reprise her role as Lucille Frank, wife to Leo Frank who was accused of killing white girl Mary Phagan in Atlanta in the 1910's. Based on the real trials of Leo Frank, a Jew living in Atlanta in the early 1900's, the musical doesn't shy away from the grit and doom of the story, and creates a haunting story guided by a beautiful and luscious score by Jason Robert Brown (13, The Last Five Years).

From my first review, you already know that the musical is sad, depressing, dark and gloomy and has some of the most beautiful music to make this very intimate and tragic story all the more intimate and tragic. There's a sense of mini-epicness in the story itself, about a Jew who is accused of a White girl's murder after it is deemed another Black suspect may not be the smartest political decision in the angry South.

Director Ashford and Book writer Uhry injects the tragic story with moments of brilliant satire and heartwarming moments, turning what should be a depressing play into a theatrical masterpiece. There's song, there's dance, and there's a lynching! And Christopher Oram's set (again) and Neil Austin's lighting design are deceptively simple but imaginatively evokes the heated story of Leo Frank, and it all works just as well in the half-circle theatre layout of the Mark Taper Forum with the cast continuing to run in an around the audience in subtle gestures that enhance the main action on the stage.

The new LA production is lead by T.R. Knight who manages to shift from his lovable George O'Malley TV image and turn into a very Jewish, somewhat annoying, emotionally frigid Leo Frank, a personality that makes the rape and murder accusations all the easier for the Atlantans. While his voice isn't the strongest, he manages to use the frailty in his voice to evoke his characters personality and situation and it works beautifully.

Lara Pulver's Lucille Frank has lost none of its raw power since the transfer and her voice has gained strength in the 2 years since the original revival production.

While Matthew Stuart Price (as Young Soldier and Frankie Epps) stole the show in London with his boyish demeanor and powerful voice (check the Parade Original Donmar Warehouse cast recording), another newcomer Curt Hansen (below) takes over the role. Hansen has a sharper voice than Price and doesn't quite nail the teenage feel to the role quite as well, thus his rage and accusations are less a 180 than before but Hansen has a charming and handsome quality that still makes a powerful Frankie Epps.

Rose Sezniak (above with Hansen) plays Hansen's counterpart, Lila and young Mary Phagan, the murdered girl, and as lovely as Sezniak is, London's Jayne Wisener left a bigger impression and who later starred as Johanna in the Sweeney Todd film.

While Shaun Esscoffery proved bold and deep in the multiple Black roles of Newt Lee, Jim Conley, and Riley, the American David St. Louis (above) made an even more affecting casting with a more threatening performance and a rougher voice.

Deidre Henry, Louis' Black characters counterpart, was equally glorious adding a sense of Southern Black Women power to her role, with a tinge of smarts behind her characters restrained situation.

There's a bit of a A Chorus Line reunion with the recent revival's "Don" (Andersen, above), "Cassie" and "Zach" reunited here in several roles, including as Governor and Wife (below).

Brad Andersen, Charlotte d'Amboise, and Michael Berresse appear in several roles with Anderson playing Leo Frank's lawyer, while d'Amboise is unrecognizable as Mary Phagan's mother (above), as well as wife to Berresse's Governor Slaton, while Berresse also plays Britt Craig (below), the reporter that plans to make a career from Frank's case.

The current re-imagined revival strips down the original epic Broadway mounting and uses actors playing multiple roles. While it seemed seamless in London because I didn't know any of the cast, having semi-recognizable Broadway actors doing dual roles may have both helped and hindered the initial confusion, but on the whole, aids in the theatricality of it all.

Christian Hoff (Jersey Boys, above with Berresse) redeems his Pal Joey "incident" with a wonderfully sung (yes, so apparently Joey was an anomaly) and power performance as Hugh Dorsey, the prosecutor who goes to far reaching lengths to indict Leo Frank.

I did however find David Gaines' Judge slightly less effective than his British counterpart, and his fishing song "The Glory" with Hoff didn't quite have the same grandfatherly effect as it did in London.

P.J. Griffith's (above) stands out as the preacher Tom Watson who stirs up the towns lynching sentiments. Pheobe Strole (Spring Awakening), Hayley Podschun (Roundabout's Sunday in the Park with George) and Lisa Livesay play the silly girls who accuse Leo Frank of sexual harassment that fuels the Atlantans rage for justice.

It's a powerful cautionary tale, one sadly based on the true life of Leo Frank. The musical retelling only enhances the themes of humanity and injustice and brings the real emotions of the involved out into the forefront, turning a tabloid tale into heartbreaking and touching theatrical drama.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Well I'm Watching - Kings, Better Off Ted, Lost, and More

Apparently I'm on a different wavelength than the rest of America, because I'm still loving Lost and Ugly Betty yet the numbers keep dropping. Meanwhile, I REALLY enjoyed new shows Kings and Better Off Ted yet they basically tanked in the ratings on their first outing. Seriously, where did everybody go?

Better Off Ted - Pilot - Ep. 101 - Series Premiere

In case you didn't watch, and according to the overnight ratings, no one really did, the show is like another unwatched show Andy Richter Controls the Universe without Andy Richter. Which means nothing to most of you but it should. It means it's a fast paced zippy absurd and outlandish workplace comedy that skewers corporate America. And now couldn't be a better time to make fun of the inanities of evil immoral corporations.

Luckily we have the lovable and moral Ted (Jay Harrington (Desperate Housewives, Couling US) guiding us through the offices and labs of Veridian Dynamics as the head of Research and Development. His boss is the humourless Veronica (Portia de Rossi, Arrested Development, Mrs. Ellen deGeneres), his loyal underlings in the lab are Lem (Malcolm Barrett) and Phil (Jonathan Slavin, Andy Richter Controls the Universe). Meanwhile, Linda (Andrea Anders (Joey) is in charge of testing the crazy products Veridian, via Veronica via Ted, comes up with, as it hints as a possible romantic interest. It's cute but the show is so fast that it doesn't let it become cloying.

Seriously, loved the show which like Portia's previous show Arrested Development, has the same absurdities that make it so funny and fresh, but this one, despite the crazy inventions and ideas thrown around Veridian, seems a bit more grounded and plausible. At this point, the pilot was so good that I'm giving it ****1/2 stars out of 5 already.

(More cast photos here)


Kings - Goliath - Ep. 101 - Series Premiere

Kings is a big and ambitious drama in a modernized version of David vs. Goliath with a New York City currently being controlled by King Silas Benjamin (Ian McShane, Deadwood). The vision and scope of the show seems more cable fare (one would have expected this on HBO or AMC, not NBC) since it tries for lots of allegory and intelligent plotting, but at its heart, it's still one big ole melodrama. The show probably isn't as smart as it thinks it is but it still works and was far more entertaining than it originally looked. Plus, you know, the David they have to fight the powers that be is a cutie (Christopher Egan, Eragon).

Of course, it helps that Ian McShane plays the King. The KING! And Susanna Thompson (oh how I missed you!, from Once add Again) plays wife Rose Benjamin. They have two kids, Michelle (Allison Miller) and Jack (Sebastian Stan, above with Thompson). And then there's Dylan Baker (below with Thompson) as Benjamin Cross, one of the kings' men.

I'm loving the intrigue and all the different sides. At this point I'm giving the show ***1/2 out of 5 but it could easily lean towards a 4/5 but I'll where they take this show (if it lasts).

More on Ugly Betty, Lost, 30 Rock, The Office, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Bones, Castle, ER, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice:

Ugly Betty - The Sex Issue - Ep. 319

"What Is it with white people and Taye Diggs?" - Wilhelmina to Marc

So true. So true.

Sex is the issue (on the cover of Mode) and sex is the issue with everyone AT Mode. Betty wants it from Matt but Matt won't give it. Wilhelmina wants it from her hot new manny but he won't give it. And Hilda doesn't want it from Archie (Ralph Macchio looking better than ever these days) and, well, then his ex shows up and she does.

So many laugh out loud moments, though I think my favorite might have been the quickest throwaway one when Marc and Amanda walked by Betty in the background leaving her in the dust after she gets caught by Matt for following him!

So apparently Matt was a slut (um, I think I love him even MORE) which is why he pulls away from Betty (in a matter of speaking).


Lost - Namaste - Ep. 509

The time traveling is on pause and the Dharma LaFleur/Sawyer and Juliet and Milo reunite with new "recruits" Jack, Kate and Hurley. Loved the episode that amped up the explanations and returned back to the characters. It helped that my brain didn't hurt as much from all the time travel spinning anymore and we got to finally fill in some of the blanks.

Even better? Sawyer/LaFleur is now the thinker. WHA!? And poor Sayid! I wonder if Sawyer is still angry at Sayid for torturing him for the pills way back when they first crashed on the island (the 1st time).

Oh, and what's the deal with Sun and Frank seeing Jack's father at the Dharma camp?
Okay, it still hurts my brain but in a good way.


30 Rock - The Bubble - Ep. 315
The Office - New Boss - Ep. 518
The New Adventures of Old Christine - A Change of Heart/Pants - Ep. 418
Gary Unmarried - Gary Uses His Veto - Ep. 116
The Big Bang Theory - The Work Song Nanocluster - Ep. 218
How I Met Your Mother - The Front Porch - Ep. 417

Jon Hamm returned as perfect Drew on 30 Rock and it was Liz's job to break his beautiful bubble! And it was Kenneth's job to lure Tracy back to show after he quits (from Jack's horrible negotiating skills). Oh, and Jenna was getting her hair cut. Maybe because I was lured in by Hamm's beauty as well, but the guy needs to do comedy more. His blankness is the perfect foil to all of Liz's neuroses and watching Jon Hamm play bad tennis might have been trumped all the twists on Mad Men (and I loved that show).

Charles Minor (The Wire's Idris Elba) is the new boss at The Office. One that Michael can no longer sleep with (like Jan) or avoid (like Ryan). At least this time, when Michael becomes childishly embarrassing, the entire office looks on in horror. And considering all the baffoonery, one wonders how Michael has managed to stay on for 15 years at the job. Still, it was probably a bigger shock that he quit and wasn't fired. Loved the new twist.

Loved Jim's James Bond look. And that he was supremely embarrassed by his monkey suit on the first day with the new boss.

Old Christine is suckered into helping Marly and Lindsay as they're having their babies, which of course means she ropes in Richard and Matthew. Gary tries to find Allison a new boyfriend. You know? Neither are exactly the most sophisticated comedies (then again, neither is 30 Rock or The Office if you really think about it) but I'm still enjoying them. Richard and Matthew are ALWAYS funny and the snarky Marly and Lindsay are perfect in small doses. Meanwhile, the two kids (and the funniest part of Gary) weren't really on this week but nonetheless, I still laughed at Gary and Allison's antics.

Now is it me or has The Big Bang Theory become way more clever than we ever would have imagined? They are on a roll this season and I can't stop laughing. I was surprised at how far they took Penny's little flower cluster clips project. The plot seemed simple enough, and just putting Sheldon with Penny to help with her was enough, but to add Raj, Howard and Leonard, a website, an order from a gay group, and Sheldon on coffee? Hysterical!

I kept having to rewind How I Met Your Mother not because I wanted to catch the little details on the background, but because I was CONCENTRATING on the TV in the background where Robin was saving lives, delivering babies and putting out fires on her morning show. So I missed the huge fight between Ted and Lily when he found out Lily had sabotaged all his relationships (which is pretty funny in the first place). At least Prepon is gone.


Bones - The Salt in the Wounds - Ep. 417
Castle - Nanny McDead - Ep. 102

Spencer Breslin (now grown up as a teenager and looking a bit like Michael Cera), Monique Coleman (High School Musical) and Amy Pietz (who should have WON an Emmy for Aliens in America) all guest this week! Kudos to the casting agent!

This week, the new "Zack" is Arastoo Vaziri (Pej Vahdat) who is Muslim and takes 5 prayer breaks, much to Bones' annoyance. Angela breaks up with Roxy, and sleeps with Hodgins. Sweets tells Angela she must stop the sex for 6 months. She and Matt should really get together.

Love the characters. So cute. Especially when Sweets and Angela had to pretend to be married as they investigate a chiropractor.

Sadly, the second episode of Castle only proved further that the best part of the show is simply Nathan Fillion and the rest of it around him is filler. I had far less fun this second go around and found myself zoning out anytime Fillion wasn't on screen. And of course, THIS new show is getting pretty darned good ratings, thanks to its lead in DWTS.


ER - Shifting Equilibrium - Ep. 1520
Grey's Anatomy - Stand By Me - Ep. 517
Private Practice - What Women Want - Ep. 218

In the 3rd last ER, it's time to send off Neela, who I thought was the new heart and soul of the show and sort of a new Carter for the second half of the series. Love Parminder Nagra. And Abby makes a cameo and after a long goodbye, Neela returns to Ray. RAY! (Shane West, another alum from Once and Again). I haven't been really following the show lately and don't even know why Ray left (I actually thought he died), but I still loved it. And I also loved the new batch like Andrew (Julian Morris) who would have been great for the next batch if the show were to have continued.

Grey's Anatomy isn't spectacular anymore but at least it's back on track and mildly entertaining again. Plus Emily Kuroda!!! Mrs. Kim!!! (Gilmore Girls) and Larry Sullivan (Leon on The Secret Life of The American Teenager, CSI, The Trip) as patients! Despite the fact that Larry is a total hottie, he played Dave, a disfigured man waiting for a face transplant, yet I love that his voice is so spirited that he definitely emanates a good man.

I was really taken with Dave's story and the parallels with Izzie and her cancer, with Christina fighting vehemontly for her sake. I even was quit taken with Derek's showdown with Richard (and the "captured" Owen and Callie who end up drinking along with the depressed Derek.

Apparently I watched Private Practice but I think I tuned out half of it. Except when Amanda Foreman showed up as a patient, and when Dell's baby mommy disappeared. Oh, and Josh Hopkins. That's probably when I started my daze and went off in my own fantasy world...

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Full Circle - ER, Ugly Betty, 30 Rock and More

ER - In Times of Old - Ep. 1519

It's the countdown to the series finale and I'm totally suckered back into watching (and have been since Noah Wylie came back). I mean, it started when I was in HIGH SCHOOL. Like before university. Before all my jobs. And that was a LONG TIME AGO. (Sadly, I had pimples then, and I still have pimples now. WTF?) So I think everyone had a mid 90's flashback when Carol and Doug, Benton and Carter are mixing it up with Neela and Morris. Plus was anyone thrown off for a second when you realized John Stamos is technically the replacement to George Clooney? I mean, love Stamos but really? Then again, Clooney wasn't Clooney until this show. Before that, he was just that dude with the big chin and big hair from The Facts of Life. Hmm.. maybe the similarities aren't so different after all. The Facts of Life = Full House.

Anyways, George Clooney, Noah Wylie, Julianna Margulies and Eriq La Salle's returns were nicely done, without any huge RETURN blinking over their heads. Even Susan Sarandon's guest spot seemed subdued. It was all very smoothly integrated into the current show. Though I'm sure we were all waiting for Doug and Carol to figure out that the organs were being donated to Carter but it never happened which was a nice touch for quality but not for wish fulfillment.

And while I stopped watching regularly and I know people say its not the same, I still like the current cast.

But man, just thinking back, a LOT of people have passed through the halls of County.


More on Ugly Betty, 30 Rock, The Office, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, Survivor: Tocantins, The Amazing Race, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Brothers & Sisters, The Mentalist, Lie To Me, Bones, Castle, America's Best Dance Crew, The Secret Life of The American Teenager:

Ugly Betty - A Mother Of A Problem - Ep. 318
30 Rock - The Funcooker - Ep. 314

Is it me or does Ugly Betty and 30 Rock seem more compatible than what their respective networks have given them? Between the real New York City setting, the zaniness of it all, and sharing Broadway guest stars (with Patti LuPone as both Frank's mom and Marc's mom), these shows really should be on the same network.

This week Christine Byranski is Matt's mom (when she isn't Leonard's mom and singing with Sheldon) and gives an even BETTER case for Matt to stick around. Because is beady-eyed cutie Matt is still around in Betty's life, so will Byranski's rich bitch mom to be a thorn in Betty's back.

Liz has to get out of jury duty but her crazy tricks (getting all Star Wars freakish) don't work in New York. Jenna goes crazy. Tracy goes crazy. Business as usual!


The Office - Golden Ticket - Ep. 517
The New Adventures of Old Christine - Too Close For Christine - Eps. 417
Gary Unmarried - Gary Uses His Veto - Eps. 116

Top respected comedies The Office and The New Adventures of Old Christine were good but... um... I think I laughed the loudest at Gary Unmarried this week. What's happening to me?

I mean, I still don't get the opener and closer at Dundler Mifflin (with the Knock Knock jokes and all) but the Golden Ticket was amusing with a great outcome. And Kristen Johnston guesting as a fellow parent of Richie's new friend (so awkwardly nerdy it's like they were being groomed to be future Dwight's) and who is simply as crazy as Christine.

But when Gary uses his veto power to stop his daughter Louise from taking chinese lessons, and then tries to sneak her to golf lessons, I couldn't stop laughing. Granted, as I keep saying, the two kids (Ryan Malgarini and Kathryn Newton) have amazing comedic timing and very showy but yet doesn't have that creepy kid-actors vibe.


The Amazing Race - She's a Little Scared of Stick, But I Think She'll Be OK - Ep. 1405
Survivor: Tocantins - You're Going to Want that Tooth - Eps. 1805

That snow machine in Siberia looks far more complicated than it has to be. But it kinda looks cool. And scary. I'm not sure what the last challenge's point was, other than to show gratuitous skin despite the cold weather.

Meanwhile, lots of gratuitous skin shots on Survivor. Duh, the main reason I still watch this show! Well, that and the blindsides. Anyways, while team hidden rainbow is leading the pack on The Amazing Race, with Luke (who isn't actually out on the show from what we know) lands in first place with his mom again, in-the-closet-on-the-island Spencer is out. Of the island that is. So much for that. Oh well, I like Brendan and Stephen and even farmboy JT more anyways.

I gotta say though, I still don't know which team to root for cause I kinda like most people on both teams. Well, except Coach. But who doesn't.


Desperate Housewives - The Story of Lucy and Jessie - Ep. 517

And again, Gabi is making me laugh. A lot. From her infinite smile at the funeral where Carlos finds out he's getting his dead boss' position. To telling Lynette that she's flattered but not interested after already having kissed Susan to prove her lesbian point? Hilarious! Then she's okay with Carlos' VP and ex-girlfriend? And she's Lesley Boone from Ed!?!? Awesome!

And then Swoosie Kurtz (from the sadly departed Pushing Daisies) is the lesbian after Susan's heart? Doubly awesome!


The Mentalist - Crimson Casanova, Scarlett Fever, Bloodshot - Eps. 114-116
Bones - The Bones That Foam - Ep. 415
Lie To Me - Love Always - Ep. 105
Castle - Pilot - Ep. 101 - Series Premiere

This week, The Mentalist Patrick Jane goes blind after someone sets off a bomb in the parking lot but he's still seems to see things better than everyone else does. Yet again, there's an easy red herring and the whole episode slyly leads us through the mystery, subconsciously guiding us along to think we're two steps ahead, and yet it's still really fun to watch. It helps that they are slowly fleshing out the gang now so that they can actually use Owain Yeoman, Amanda Righetti, and Tim Kang's acting abilities. Still, this is Simon Baker's show and he's having a ball and it's a lot of fun to watch him bounce off of Robin Tunney's Lisbon.

Lie To Me is Tim Roth's show though I do like his little lie-detector entourage and the little facts about lying and facial ticks are fun, I find myself half tuning out now.
Fellow FOX show Bones is still the gold standard of procedurals that goes beyond procedurals and adds heart, warmth, romance and humour to the genre. Plus I'm still enjoying the rotating replacements for Zack. (It was Brit Mr. Nigel-Murray, the one who spews facts and sounds arrogant but is actually just a ball of nerves). No procedural manages to balance all the elements well enough together like Bones (and this week directed by David Boreanaz himself!)

Meanwhile, ABC seems to recognize this and is trying their hand at it with Castle and it's all forced and jumbled but yet I found myself highly entertained because their lead, Richard Castle, is played by Nathan Fillion (Desperate Housewives, Firefly, Dr. Horrible). His charm is enough to fill a show full of stereotypes and cliches and make up for the lack of chemistry with his "partner". Bones and Booth they ain't.


Grey's Anatomy - I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Ep. 516
Private Practice - Finishing - Ep. 217
Brothers & Sisters - Spring Broken - Eps. 319

Amber Benson!?!? On Private Practice? You gotta admit that while the show has been nowhere near as good as we hoped, they were do cast well. First Emma Caulfield, now Amber Benson!!! Where's Xander?

Actually, both Grey's and Private seemed better this week. I was actually enthralled and entertained. Except for that whole Derek is down bit. It's a downer and Mer and Der have teetered on intolerability lately and this doesn't help, even if Derek batting away the wedding ring in front of Mer was a nice dramatic moment. I'm not sure it was worth it all just for that scene.

And while overwhelmed new mother Kitty and sick Robert are downers on Brothers & Sisters, at least they're smart enough to get Kitty to drive all the way back from Santa Barbara to escape and of course, land at Nora's door. And to meet Ryan for the first time!

While the brothers Kevin, Justin and Tommy go on a trip to Baja (because that's the first thing you do when you're about to go to jail) where it's Spring Break Bitches!

And as much as I don't want to, I'm loving Ryan (Luke Grimes).


The Secret Life of The American Teenager - Whoomp! (There It Is) - Eps. 121

The baby is coming the baby is coming!!! Just in time for Amy to miss the incredibly painful baby shower Adrian (yes, Adrian) and Grace (by default) was throwing for her. With guests like Mr. Molina's pregnant wife (is that Constance Marie? Who deserves better especially after The George Lopez Show).

And Jack kisses Grace? Ashley will move out with George? Adrian gets caught having sex with her step-brother by her FATHER? OMG. LOVE THIS SHOW!


America's Best Dance Crew - Season 3 Finale

I forgot to comment on this last week because I meant to put it in my "Battle of the Sexes" post. But by the end of the season, I kinda wanted the all-girls group Beat Freaks to beat the all-boys group Quest Crew. I mean, I LOVE Quest Crew but they've kinda been the front runner all season long, plus they had the advantage of a built in fanbase from So You Think You Can Dance thanks to DTrix, Hok and Ryan. But the girls in Beat Freaks were pretty awesome themselves and I thought they had a better final performance on top of all that.

But the two final teams were definitely the two best. Though while I liked Fly Khicks, I thought they kicked off Dynamic Edition too early just to get a semi finals with boys vs. girls. It seemed a bit too convenient.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Like A Phoenix From The Dead - Ugly Betty, The Amazing Race and More

Maybe I was just in a happy mood this weekend but I was kinda loving Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice from Thursday and I'm glad to see re-emergences from Emma Caulfield, Ben Shenkman, and Jeff on Top Chef.

Ugly Betty - There's No Place Like Mode - Ep. 315

I didn't watch this until Sunday which is probably a first. I just didn't find myself needing to watch it RIGHT away anymore. And yet, as soon as it was on, I was glad I was back in Mode!

Now that the Ignacio/Family storyline has run its course (mostly), we get Betty back at Mode and back in the bitchy fashion world and back with lots of Marc and Amanda! (Well, not enough Amanda but just her 2 second pop-ins were hilarious). Plus it's fashion week (I appreciated the insert of the actual Fashion Week 2009 Tent that they must have filmed last week) and they nicely wrapped ALL the storylines back together with Betty's new job of producing a fashion show, Christina's pregnancy and the birth of Wily and Bradford's spawn (FINALLY) and even a new love potential for Betty, Daniel's new relationship and even Hilda and Elena making up at fashion week.

It still wasn't as zippy as it used to be and could still be filled with more hilarity but I was generally pleased with the whole episode that seemed to streamline all the stories back to the central focus of fashion.

Plus while I'm sure we will all get bored of Betty's new potential boy, sports writer Matt (Daniel Eric Gold, who seems to have an impressive resume), so far I'm loving him (or maybe it's the fact that I realize I dress in the same faux-pas way with an untucked shirt sticking out below my jacket so that it looks like a flapper dress).


More on Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Top Chef, The Amazing Race:

Grey's Anatomy - An Honest Mistake - Ep. 515
Private Practice - Wait and See - Ep. 217

You know, just as I was about to give up on the Shonda Rhimes shows, they manage to pull up their socks just enough to get me suckered back in for now. Not amazing episodes but generally competent and interesting. Plus at least they cast some terrific guest stars. I forgot to mention Ben Shenkman (Angels in America, Breakfast with Scot, Love Monkey) last week as Jennifer Westfeldt's husband. LOVE Ben Shenkman. Just look at the stuff he's been in. Love him.

Faye Dunaway guested as Dr. Campbell who shows up from nowhere as a surgeon who has been with the hospital since forever (how convenient huh?), but there was some nice tension pitting youngun Christina and Faye Dunaway (whose character gets dunaway) with Callie and Owen in between. Generally all the stories had some nice tensions (FINALLY), including Bailey's reference letters vs Richard with George in between, and the battle between Derek and Addison with Meredith in between and Sloane... I'm not even sure what that was about (I guess I zoned out a bit).

And EMMA CAULFIELD on PP!!! Seriously, why does girl not have a show of her own yet? Let alone almost disappearing from the spotlight? Anya deserves better. Plus Eric Palladino, probably the most hated character on ER, but I kinda like him cause he plays the dick really well. Here, he played... well... a dick of a husband who won't recognize and accept his baby's undefined sex. Maybe it was because Emma was there but I generally liked the whole episode. I don't think I've said that in a LONG time!


Top Chef - The Last Supper, Finale Part 1 - Eps. 512, 513

I liked the Last Supper challenge though I would have loved to see ALL the star chefs at the judges table.

While I don't love the idea of cut chef's returning, Jeff and Jamie were good and I thought undeservedly cut, but then if that were the case, they should have brought back Arianne too. It was still nice to see Jeff do so well to be a front runner, but in the end, I'm glad Carla won. Love her!

ALL the Cajun food looked SOOOO yummy. I'm glad that all five chef's did so well, and was amused that Stefan and Fabio actually ranked the lowest in relative terms. It's a nice smack at Stefan who deserves a smaking. And while I'm not a Hosea fan, it's nice to see him do se well. It's nice to see ALL the chef's do well and the judges having a hard time picking who the winner and loser is.


The Amazing Race - Your Target Is Your Partner's Face - Ep. 1402

At this point, I don't think there's a single team that annoys me. Which is kind of shocking since they've always seemed to cast the "evil" team since Team Tara and Weasel in Season 2 (and I guess Team Guido in Season 1 too). I guess it still might be too early and the claws haven't totally come out yet, but even Team Hicks Linda and Steve were adorable (if not adorably pathetic) this week and I felt bad for them but it was nice to see them so into the race and loving their experience.

Even Team Gag Me Their So Pretty Couple Amanda and Kris are kinda sweet (and I guess it was the first eliminated team Preston and Jennifer that were the "annoying" couple team). With little screen time, I'm still impressed with Team Old Couple Brad and Victoria (Victoria seemed to run down that mountain pretty fast) and all the girl groups have generally been alright so far.

I must say, as old style comedy as it is, having people throw pie's in each others faces is still pretty damn funny. Even funnier is that most of the hungry teams enjoyed eating the cake off their faces. Classic!

I'm sad to see the Hicks go, if only to see their faces as they get to explore the world, but I guess they probably wouldn't have lasted that long anyways.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

No One Knows Anything About Anything - American Idol, Lost and More

Lot's to catch-up on, boy a week sure goes by fast. (Thank goodness a lot of shows were repeats this week, though isn't this Feb. sweeps? What happened to that? Does that even exist anymore?)

American Idol - Top 36 Group 1 Results

Other than freaking out and thinking people might actually vote for Tatiana and VFTW might win the day AGAIN, I can't believe I was actually correct with my predictions!!! (Pat on shoulder! I know, it's a proud moment. Look, there's not much else in my life right now okay?) Now what happens with Anoop and Ricky? Will they get Wild Carded? And if so, what happens in Wild Card week again? Do people get to vote? I forgot how it works now. (Like is there 12 Wild Cards that the judges pick and another 3 get voted through by the public or is it all the judges choice?).

Because pretty much everyone else left that I like all seem to be in Group 2 (including Mishovonna, Matt Girard, Allison Iraheta, Kris Allen, Jasmine Murray and Adam Lambert). Who does that leave for Group 3? Basically Lil Rounds and Arianna Asfar. Then again, after seeing Group 1, don't count your chickens just yet...

The good news is, my pool pick Danny Gokey made it to the Top 12 (and he was the last to sing, which I think get's me a few more points!). The bad news is, Danny Gokey made it to the Top 12 and will undoubtably milk his wife's death for many more weeks to come. Yet from the web and talking to friends, seems like a LOT of people are falling for it all. Ugh.


More on Lost, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Lie To Me, Worst Week, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, The Bachelor, True Beauty, The Amazing Race, Project Runway Canada, 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, The Office, Private Practice, Desperate Housewives, Gary Unmarried:

Lost - This Place Is Death, 316 - Eps. 505, 506

Jin's alive, most of the Frenchies that found him are now dead by their own young Danielle Rousseau, Charlotte and co. are dying from the spinny time-travelling, Daniel Faraday seems to be everywhere (and by everywhere I mean that timewise and not location wise and I love that I actually have to point this out when it comes to this show), Jack is going to go back to the island after some persuasion from Mrs. Hawking and a dead (from suicide?) Locke, more kissy kissy with Jack and Kate. Hurley, Sayid, Sun, Jack and Kate (and a dead Locke) are on the way back to the island... and more and more...(with Ben in tow and Frank at the helm of the plane? Another crash? What a way to start the episode like the pilot again though!) Seriously, we're already on episode 6 now? Seriously, we're only on episode 6 now?

I'm loving this undecipherable season! Jin's working for Dharma now? WTF? LOVE IT!


The New Adventures of Old Christine - Reckless Abandonment, Honey, I Ran Over the Kid - Eps. 415, 416

Old Christine is really just a slightly more pleasant Elaine and who has a nicer family isn't she? In fact, that flashback looked SOOOOO Seinfeld in last week's episode that I wasn't even surprised when she ran over Richie in this week's episode. And still she's trying to "win" against Richard as the best parent. See, it's Elaine with a better wardrobe and hairstyle.


Lie To Me - Love Always - Ep. 104

Still enjoy the show as something in the background but it's going to really have to start adding more to keep me tuned in. The slow looks into their private lives is helping. Cause sooner or later, those video shots of them pointing out famous people lying is going to get tired.


Worst Week - The Epidural - Ep. 115 - Season Finale

Well, it's been one season and they've planned the wedding, had the wedding, survived the pregnancy and now finally had the baby! They actually had the baby! But not before SAM (and not Melanie) got an epidural.

Again, it was totally ridiculous and again, it was totally hilarious. Kudos to the writers for continuously coming up with more things to get Sam in trouble (and for twisting it a bit sometimes and having the parents Angela and Dick (the always terrific Nancy Lenehan and Kurtwood Smith) involved/in trouble) but I don't think anything could have worked without this awesome cast led by Kyle Bornheimer as Sam who seriously retains his cute charms even while he makes the dumbest moves around. And Erinn Hayes' Melanie could have been annoying but she's so loving and understanding without being condescending that it's really a joy to watch.


Desperate Housewives - In a World Where the Kings Are Employers - Ep. 515

I'm loving all the kids right now.

Love that Andrew makes more than Orson but I wish we saw more of Andrew and his former-porn-star-hubby. Love the kid who plays MJ. Too cute and too hilarious. And the Scavo son who isn't the twin, the one with the cartoonish big nose is simply adorable with his red hair and all.


Brothers & Sisters - Lost and Found - Ep. 315

I know Twilight is huge and all but did they have to go and cast Robert Pattison as Ryan technically-a-Walker? Okay, it's actually newcomer Luke Grimes but the similarities down to the greasy hair is uncanny.

Meanwhile, is it me or are Rebecca's parents simply the worst people on the planet?


The Bachelor - Jason Mesnick - Ep. 1307
True Beauty - Ep. 107

I knew Jason wouldn't pick Gillian but I thought THIS was the episode DeAnna was coming back. Boy, I feel more duped than Gillian. But boy, they've strung along this whole season with her return, and I can't WAIT! Plus a bonus After-The-Rose episode... dun dun dun!!!

And sadly, I sort of can't wait to see the three remaining "beauties" find out the twist on True Beauty, even as non-event as it will probably actually be. I did like how the judges actually seemed clenched and furious debating between Laura and Joel. It was kinda hilarious how into it they got and how serious they debated about who was less "beautiful".


Project Runway Canada - Re-Fashioning the Houses - Eps. 204

Don't forget, you can apparently watch it on youtube and catch up with us in Canada!

(SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED)

Though at this point, does it even matter? Sunny won AGAIN. Genevieve (I think it was her, I get confused between her and Kim, maybe it was Kim since Gen was on Sunny's team), Kim points out that Sunny's outfit is the same bustier with different layers overtop but who cares when it looks THAT good.

Though generally, I thought most of the outfits looked good this week but I guess the YSL team didn't follow the instructions and did Rive Gauche Ready to Wear and not Haute Couture. I don't know YSL well enough (I'm gay but I'm not THAT gay) so I couldn't really tell but I guess Brandon was stupid enough to admit the same fact. Seriously, you should be smart enough to know that Iman will pounce on you for that. Rowr (And I don't mean that in the cougar way, I mean that in the fashion is vicious way).


The Amazing Race - Don't Let a Cheese Hit Me - Ep. 1401 - Season Premiere

That cheese thing was the funniest/most horrifying thing in a long time.

And Luke is CUTE!!! And apparently gay (which I kind of figured just moments into the episode). So that makes 3 gay guys. Though I wonder about Victor too.

So far, so good with the race, as teams I like are leading the race so far! Which means nothing of course.

And new graphics! I'm not sure I love them but I do like the time stamps and editing so we get a better sense of the actual race in a real time format. It's about time!


30 Rock - St. Valentine's Day - Ep. 311

Once again, Jessica Westfeldt is on Grey's Anatomy and her real boyfriend Jon Hamm is on timeslot competitor 30 Rock. Which one did they watch? I wonder.

Loved Liz's Valentine's Day date with Mr. Hot Hamm and his ungelled hair, while Elisa takes Jack to church. Oh god. Another hilarious episode!


Ugly Betty - The Courtship of Betty's Father - Ep. 314

Oh god, Ignacio is having an affair with his nurse. Another okay episode. But the zing is gone and there's not enough Mode and not enough Marc and Amanda and definitely not enough Betty at Mode. (Though this week's episode sounds like it's a return to that FINALLY).


The Office - Lecture Circuit: Part 2 - Ep. 514

Doh, Michael goes to see Holly and Holly isn't there. Damnit, I thought this was the episode Amy Ryan was returning. Duped again, but entertainingly duped nonetheless. Though the point where Michael cut off a section of Holly's yellow sweater might have gone a bit too far in believability. I did enjoy Pam taking over Michael's presentation.

And Angela's cat. The hairball thing might have gone too far but I still laughed. Just like I laughed at Kelly's birthday party and gift.


Grey's Anatomy - Before and After - Ep. 514
Private Practice - Ex-Life - Ep. 216

Finally, the crossover happens and finally the episodes on both shows are actually quite decent, but harsh reminders of the great casts they have assembled and what a waste they've become in the trite writing. I mean, no wonder Heigl and Knight are rumoured to be out, I barely remember they are on the show anymore. In fact, I'm not even sure what's going on during Grey's since I feel like Callie, Christina, Bailey and Alex barely have storylines anymore (on top of disappearing George), and even I forget where Mer and Der are in their relationship. Who HAVE they been concentrating on?

Still, seeing Audra, Taye, Eric Dane, McDreamy altogether was kinda cool. It may have bought themselves a bit more time with the shows but I still think I'm dropping PP and I'm not sure how much more patience I have for Grey's.


Gary Unmarried - Gary and Dennis' Sister, Gary's Ex-Brother-In-Law - Eps. 114, 115

A few months ago I asked what happened to Matthew Lillard. Apparently he's now guest starring on bad sitcoms that I still secretly love to watch. Lillard shows up at Gary's ex-brother-in-law (hence the title of the episode, can you guess what happens in the previous episode? See above pic if you can't figure it out. This show ain't that complicated) who is back to help with Gary's tax audit. And Lillard... is still exactly like Lillard we remember from Scream days. Though I still won't forgive him for the 2 hours I'm never getting back for Scooby-Do, though that was really my own stupidity for renting it free from the library. Stupid me and that I'll watch anything that's free... which might be the reason I still keep watching this show.

For more on American Idol:
Click here for the most recent posts.
Season 8:
Top 2 Performance
Top 3 Performance, Top 3 Results
Top 4 Performance, Top 4 Results
Top 5 Performance, Top 5 Results
Top 6 + Matt (Top 7 Redux) Performance, Top 7 Redux Results
Top 7 Performance, Top 7 Results
Top 8 Performance, Top 8 Results
Top 9 Performance
Top 10 Performance
Top 12 Performance, Top 12 Results
Top 13 Performance, Top 13 Results
Top 36:
Group 1, Group 2, Group 3
Wild Card, Wild Card Results
Pre-Top 36:
Who Are You Going To Vote For?
Handicapping the Alleged American Idols
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...