And in case you missed last nights Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara, SHOWTIME has released the Season 2 premieres to be watched here:
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com
Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara are BACK tonight for both of their second seasons on Showtime (starting at 10pm, with the shows airing back to back).
I loved both series' first seasons and I've seen the first half of both shows' second seasons and without giving away any spoilers, I can say that both continue nicely deeper into the lives of Jackie and Tara.
I've heard a lot of complaints about Nurse Jackie's first season and while Gloria Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith) was sometimes a little cartoonish, and everything just seemed to work out a little too well for Jackie, the 2nd season roughs up what was too smooth (by adding Sam (Arjun Gupta), that nurse who called out Jackie as a fellow drug addict, full time) and smoothing out the series' kinks. The only negative here is the disappearance of Homo Momo (Haaz Sleiman) with little more than a throwaway line, but this gives Thor (Stephen Wallem) more gay camera time, and leaves Eve Best's Dr. Eleanor O'Hara as Jackie's sole best friend confident, and the second season really milks Eve Best and Edie Falco's subtle acting skills to great use.
The entire cast is terrific and with Eddie (Paul Schulze) finding out about Jackie's real home life, it gives Schulze a lot more to play with and he's splendid this season (though I do miss his interactions with Jackie and Coop in the hospital). This also amps up the dramatic scenes for Kevin (Dominic Fumosa), Jackie's husband as he starts growing a spine and demanding more attention from Jackie.
Meanwhile, Merritt Weaver and Peter Facinelli continue to impress and delight as Nurse Zoe and Dr. Fitch Cooper and I love where they start taking Coops character.
And while Season 2 starts off regularly, jumping away from last seasons cliffhanger, everything starts culminating together and by episode 7, everything and everyone in the cast are in perfect balance and I can't wait to see what's next.
We jump ahead a few months on United States of Tara as well but this time because Tara's alters haven't returned for a few months and life seems normal.
There's no more hot Christian boy for Marshall (Keir Gilchrist) to be confused over, but instead gets invited to the gayble (that's gay table for you) at school, while Kate (Brie Larson) has graduated high school early and found a new mentor (in a strange artist played by Oscar nominee Viola Davis).
Tara's sister Charmaine is engaged to a brand new man, but don't worry, Neil (Patton Oswalt) will be back!
But of course there's Tara, and while Toni Collette continues her Golden Globe winning/Emmyworthy performance, life goes back to normal for Tara... at first. Soon the alters will return, and guest star Joey Lauren Adams (above with Collette) gets roped into Tara's alters' messes.
The second season seems to ground itself even more with Tara's regular family life (in fact we barely see two of the alters) which ups the seriousness of Tara's life, especially with her loving husband (John Corbett making me hate Aiden just a little less). While there seems to be an even slower solemn flow to the new season, it all seems to be getting more in depth with the family which makes me more curious about their future.
Can't wait to see the ends up the second season for both shows, but for the rest of you all, you definitely need to catch the start of Season 2 to see all the terrificness!
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com
I know this is a little late AND considering how far behind I've fallen in 2009, not the most accurate or complete list. Plus, if you've already seen my Best Television of Decade list, this won't be all that different. And if it's not there, it might be in the Best One Season Hit Wonders list. So this is not going to be terribly new or exciting.
And due to cable issues, I never got a chance to see the latest season of Mad Men nor several other cable shows (including Damages, Breaking Bad or True Blood).
I know. I might as well not write a TV blog.
But alas, in keeping with my yearly lists, Here's my picks for the Best of Television for 2009
(With the ranking from the two previous lists (Best of 2008/ Best of TV - Fall 2007/ Winter 2008 Season) in parenthesis.):
1. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC) - (1, 3)
2. Lost (ABC) - (2, 1)
3. Modern Family (ABC) - (New)
4. Glee (FOX) - (New)
5. Nurse Jackie (Showtime) - (NEW)
6. The United States of Tara (Showtime) - (NEW)
7. Gavin & Stacey - BBCAmerica (4, New)
8. 30 Rock (NBC) - (5, 4)
9. Better Off Ted (ABC) - (NEW)
10. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - (20, Not Ranked)
11. Ugly Betty (ABC) - (7, 9)
12. Southland (NBC) - (NEW)
13. Bones (FOX) - (15, 15)
14. Top Chef (Bravo) - (14, Not Ranked)
15. Desperate Housewives (ABC) - (13, 18)
16. Chuck (NBC) - (10, 12)
17. Greek - (abcFamily) - (Not Ranked)
18. The Office (NBC) - (16, 14)
19. So You Think You Can Dance/So You Think You Can Dance Canada - (FOX/CTV) - (9, 8/11)
20. Burn Notice (USA) - (17, 7)
Shows I've Totally Fallen Behind On That I Still Love:
Breaking Bad
Damages
Fringe
Mad Men
Supernatural
Old Shows That Got Great Again:
The Real World: Brooklyn
New Shows That Turned Out Better Than Expected (that aren't already listed above, here listed alphabetically):
Cougar Town
Dollhouse
The Good Wife
The Middle
Party Down
Royal Pains
10 Things I Hate About You
The Vampire Diaries
White Collar
New Shows That Had a Slow Start But Have Vastly Improved:
Community
Parks & Recreation
Shows That Are Slipping
Gossip Girl
The New Adventures of Old Christine
Weeds
Shows That Deserved More Life
Kings
Privileged
Pushing Daisies
The Unusuals
Worst Week
Shows I've Dropped Or Considering Dropping
90210
Grey's Anatomy
Melrose Place
Private Practice
______________________________________
Best of 2009 Lists: Coming soon
Best of Music 2009
Best of Television 2009
Best of Stage 2009
Best of Movies 2009
Decadeworthy - The Best of 2000-2009 Lists:
SYTYCDworthy (w/ Videos) - List Format
Theatre of the Decade
Best Films of the Decade
Favorite Films of the Decade
Television of the Decade
Television of the Decade - 1 Season Wonders
Previous Best-of Lists:
Best of 2008 Lists:
Best of Music 2008
Best of Television 2008
Best of Stage 2008
Best of Movies 2008
Best of Television Fall '07 - Winter '08 List
Best of 2007 Lists:
Best of Music 2007
Best of Television 2007
Best of Movies 2007
Best of Stage 2007
Best of 2007 (The Final Wrap Up)
Best of Television Fall '06 - Winter '07 List
Best of 2006 Lists:
Best of Music 2006
Best of Television 2006
Best of Movies 2006
Best of 2006
Best of Television Fall '05 - Winter '06 List
Best of 2005 Lists:
Best of Television 2005
Best of Movies 2005
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com
Is it me or is Ken Marino everywhere these days? What I love about him is that he's a pretty handsome fellow but he usually makes himself look pretty slimy and full in character on various shows. While he was lovely and charming on Leap of Faith, he was positively... icky/charming/doofusey as Vinnie on Veronica Mars. 
I haven't even caught up with him on Reaper yet (this season or the second half the of the 1st season, I only got to the first few eps with him and Ian Michael Black as the devilish gay couple) but he's the main reason why I've haven't deleted the show yet. Plus he appeared in the pilot for In The Motherhood as yet another slimy coworker to Cheryl Hines.
Now he's in the new show Party Down from the Veronica Mars gang led by Rob Thomas AND co-created by Paul Rudd, he cameo'd in the season 2 part 2 (seriously, just call it season 4 would you abcFamily?) of Greek and he guest starred as a slimy convention guy in The United States of Tara. Does the guy rest?
So I'm behind on all three shows (because I just don't get those those US cable channels up here in Canada so it's all on delay) but I'm loving them all!
Party Down - Willow Canyon Homeowners Annual Party, California College Conservative Union Caucus - Eps. 101-102 - Series Premiere
Seriously, it's like a Veronica Mars reunion. Rob Thomas!? (Cupid), Ken Marino (Vinnie Van Lowe) AND Ryan Hansen (Dick Casablanca)! And a guest staring role for Daddy Mars Enrico Colantoni (Flashpoint) in the first episode and Jason Dohring (Logan Echolls) in the second episode!
AND to have my favorite under-appreciated actor Adam Scott (Step Brothers, Tell Me I Love You, and who guested as a teacher on Veronica Mars) as Henry Pollard, the lead loser who winds up working for Marino's Ron Donald's party caterers company. 
Add Jane Lynch (upcoming Glee, Role Models and apparently every TV show EVER, including of course, Veronica Mars), Lizzy Caplan (The Class, Cloverfield) and Martin Starr (Freaks and Geeks, Superbad), I'm loving all the loser characters on this show.
I love that the show is partially serious but with a dry wit, yet is completely ridiculous without seeming like it's ridiculous. They've built a nice set of losers (with the great set of comedic actors to back them up) and then let them roll with a new party set up for every episode (the first one at a loser's suburban home (Colantoni) and the second at a college republican's group with Dohring AND Alona Tal (Meg Manning on Veronica Mars) as the plastique young republicans (LOVED Dohring's wiglike hair. Hysterical!!!).
Plus, Ken Marino, with that flattop buzzcut is such an outrageous character, but is nicely balance with Adam Scott's moroseness. Yet Marino never makes it like a sketch comedy character but reigns it in just enough to make it plausible (as is Lynch's portrayal).
Love the format, love the cast, and love the pseudo Veronica Mars reunion.
More on Greek and The United States of Tara:
Greek - Take Me Home, Cyprus-Rhodes, From Rushing With Love - Ep. 211-212 - Season 2 Part 2 Premiere
Okay, so Ken Marino's little guest cameo seemed a bit wasted as a camp counselor at Rusty's summer job. I kept thinking it would be far more hilarious than it was. But let's face it, the real awesomeness is back at Cyprus-Rhodes.
Especially now that it's FINALLY a brand new year and Rusty is finally a Sophomore. And new pledges are descending upon the Kappa Tau house (and every other house on the block). And Jesse McCartney is Andy, one of the new rushes!!! 
Seriously, how cute is the new bromance rush crush developing between Rusty and Andy?!!
Plus I'm actually loving this new Frannie rival house IKI (stupid and hilarious) and Rebecca as the mole.
Plus I can't believe how much I miss The Beaver (the adorable Aaron Hill) and I love that Heath (Zach Lively) is still prominently featured as a glorified extra, if only to remind us that gays do exist in the greek system. (Though Heath's reaction to Beaver's girl callout was freaking funny and a nice way to slip in a gay shout out).
I'm also glad Max is back (Michael Rady) and I like the subtle meta-joke when some of the Zeta Beta girls declare their love to the hot greek guy in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
The United States of Tara - Revolution, Transition, Alterations, Abundance, Possibility, Betrayal - Eps. 105-110
I still haven't finished watching the final 2 episodes of the terrific first season but while I initially had some reservations for the show, I grew to really love the first 4 episodes, but since then, I found it's only gotten better and richer and deeper, especially with Tara's sister character Charmaine (a terrific Rosemarie DeWitt) and Tara's husband Max (John Corbett who is finally really growing on me with this show). 
Obviously I was loving Marshall (Keir Gilchrist who is WAY beyond his actual years in maturity and understanding his character) and his gay storyline with religious Jason (Andrew Lawrence). I like that Max is cool with it, and that Charmaine has this strange relationship with Marshall. Plus, kissing the hot religious boy-next-door story is always hot.
Brie Larsen has also made Kate so much more than just the pretty misunderstood blonde teenager, and her hilarious outburst, reactions and actions against Tara, her job, and the creepy boss Gene (Nathan Corddry, so good at the geek creep thing).
And Tara/T/Buck/Alice. It's already a role made for awards. Still, you have to give Toni Collette credit for making you forget it's a role and making you believe that this Tara really does exists. It's simply fabulous but she doesn't overplay it either (which could have been so easy here) and she doesn't take over the whole show. It's to her credit (and writer Diablo Cody) that she's just part of the marvelous ensemble that bounces off this odd situation the family is put in.
And while the show may have started like some kind of cable gimmick with the multiple personalities, it's really turned into a compelling family drama.
Oh, and yeah, Ken Marino was hilarious as the creepy guy at the convention, who with his friend (Ryan Eggold! Teach! from 90210) were trying to pick up Tara and daughter Kate. Also, bonus points for the show for having Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille)!
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com:
The United States of Tara starts on Showtime a week tonight (on Sunday, January 18th at 10pm) and they are having FREE screenings in cinemas across the States on Tuesday, January 13th (with free drinks and snacks!) starting at 7pm which will show the first 2 episodes! (Details below or in the link).
The United States of Tara is the new show created by Diablo Cody (Juno), produced by Steven Spielberg and stars Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine, In Her Shoes, Muriel's Wedding) as Tara, a mother with multiple personalities who come out fully in real life, all while the family (including John Corbett (Sex and the City, My Big Fat Greek Wedding) as Tara's husband and Rosemarie DeWitt (Mad Men, Rachel Gets Married) as her sister) must cope with appearances by "T" (a slutty teen), "Alice" (a 50's housewife) and "Buck" (a white trash dude).
I've seen the first four episodes and while the pilot has too much exposition disguised within Diablo Cody-speak, give it some time and it'll start flowing nicely and won't seem like it's trying too hard to sound smart and cool.
Toni Collette, who is always a fantastic actor anyways, is given a fun role to completely transform herself in SEVERAL ways and it sort of screams Emmy Award (and I would be annoyed if Collette didn't totally grab the role and run with it). John Corbett, who I'm not a screaming fan of (I don't mind him but I was a Mr. Big man, not an Aiden man), reminds me that he has this strong but chilled allure. Rosemarie DeWitt's sister Charmaine seems a bit too designed to be Tara's counterpoint in the early episodes but by the fourth episode, it seems like there will be more growth in the sister relationship and DeWitt already turns a glorified side character into something more, so there's a lot of potential in future episodes.It's the two kids though, Kate and Marshall, played respectively by Brie Larson and Keir Gilchrist who really impressed me and hold their own against Collette (not an easy feat). Kate's character is a bit too "wild" by design and her pop goth punk look feels at odds with Larson's natural beauty (and her boyfriend in the pilot is WAY too cliched and makes no sense to the character but is solely designed for a comedic showdown at the ends climax) but Larson really adds a depth and humanity to the spoiled brat blonde pretty girl character.
Keir Gilchrist plays the younger son Marshall and while I'm not sure how open his character is about being gay, he does start pursuing a crush Benjamin (Shiloh Fernandez) who happens to be a school jock AND a crazy Christian. Gilchrist is amazing as Marshall and while Collette gets the showy role(s), Gilchrist and Larson really keep the series grounded and emotionally compelling.
Based on the first four episodes, this is definitely on my must see list and I'm giving it ****1/2 stars (out of 5) at this point.
The pilot is also available online for free (to those in the states) in case you can't make it to a screening (details after the jump):
Screening begins at 7:00pm. on Tuesday, Jan. 13th 2009
NOTE: This screening has been overbooked to ensure auditorium capacity. This invitation is NOT a guarantee of admission to the screening. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, so please arrive early.
Theatre Locations
1. Atlanta Midtown Art Cinema 931 Monroe Drive
2. Austin Dobie Theatre 2025 Guadalupe Suite 268
3. Baltimore Landmark's Harbor East 645 President St
4. Berkeley Shattuck Cinemas 2230 Shattuck Avenue
5. Boston Kendall Square Cinema One Kendall Sq Bldg. 1900
6. Chicago Century Centre Cinema 2828 N. Clark Street Century Shopping Centre
7. Dallas The Magnolia 3699 McKinney Avenue Suite 100
8. Denver ChezArtiste 4150 East Amherst Avenue
9. Denver The Landmark 5415 Landmark Place
10. Detroit Maple Art Theatre 4135 W. Maple Road
11. Houston River Oaks Theatre 2009 West Gray
12. Indianapolis Keystone Art Cinema 8702 Keystone Crossing, #201A
13. Los Angeles The Landmark 10850 West Pico at Westwood Blvd.
14. Milwaukee Downer Theatre 2589 N. Downer Avenue
15. Minneapolis Lagoon Cinema 1320 Lagoon Avenue
16. New Orleans Canal Place Cinema 333 Canal Street Suite 329
17. New York Sunshine Cinema 143 E. Houston Street
18. Philadelphia Ritz at the Bourse 400 Ranstead Street
19. San Diego Hillcrest Cinemas 3965 5th Avenue #200
20. San Francisco Embarcadero Center Cinema 1 Embarcadero Center Promenade Level
21. San Francisco Lumiere Theatre 1572 California Street
22. Seattle Metro Cinemas 4500 9th Avenue N.E. Suite 200
23. Seattle Varsity Theatre 4329 University Way N.E.
24. St. Louis Plaza Frontenac Cinema 210 Plaza Frontenac
25. Washington D.C. E Street Cinema 555 11th Street NW
