Spring Rundown

Now that the run of Spring Awakening is over in Toronto, I might actually be home at nights to watch TV live again, and I might actually blog about it again on my TV blog. You know?

Anyways, here's a quick rundown of things I've still been watching:

Shows On Tonight In An Episode I've Seen Already That I Love: My Boys

Shows I Still Love, If You Had Any Doubt: Lost, Bones, The Big Bang Theory, 30 Rock

New Shows That I'm Loving: The Unusuals, Southland, Better Off Ted

New Shows That I'm Loving Now That They "Fixed" It In Their 6th Episode: Dollhouse

New Shows That I'm Loving That Gets No Respect: Kings

Shows That I'm Loving That Gets No Respect: Chuck

New Shows That I'm Enjoying Even Though It's Pretty Much The Office In A New Setting When It Could Have Been A Bit More Original And Funnier But Thank Goodness They Have A Great Cast To Suck Me In: Parks and Recreation

New Shows That I'm Enjoying Because I'm a Romantic Sentimentalist: Cupid

New Shows That I Watched That Are Not As Terrible As I Thought They Would Be But I Would Still Rather Watch Rita Rocks: Surviving Suburbia

New Shows That I Watch But Would Have Worked Better In the Summer When There Was Nothing Else To Watch Because Really, They're Not That Good: Castle, Harper's Island, In The Motherhood

Shows That Seem To Have Rebounded To Their Fun Self Again, Mostly Because of Talk Of A Gay Threesome: Brothers & Sisters

Shows That Seem To Have Rebounded To Their Naughty Self, Though Would Benefit From Talk Of A Gay Threesome, Preferably With Matt Lanter And The Departing Dustin Milligan: 90210

Shows That I Still Enjoy but Aren't Quite Up To Their Series Best Right Now: How I Met Your Mother, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Scrubs, The Office, Desperate Housewives, Gossip Girl

Shows That I Can't Believe I Enjoy. A LOT: The Mentalist, Gary:Unmarried

Shows I Love But Am Always Behind Because They Are On Cable Channels That I Don't Get Or Are Behind Here in Canada: Greek, Damages, The United States of Tara, Raising The Bar, Leverage

New Shows I Love But Am Always Behind Because They Are On Cable That I Don't Get Or Are Behind Here in Canada: Party Down

Shows That Ended Their Seasons That I Finally Caught Up With That I Loved: Burn Notice, The Secret Life of the American Teenager

Canadian Shows That Ended Their Seasons/Series That I Loved: Degrassi: TNG, Corner Gas, Project Runway Canada

Canadian Shows That I Enjoy That Ended That I Haven't Caught Up With But Is Now Just Starting To Air in the States And Got an "A" from Entertainment Weekly: Being Erica

Reality Shows I Enjoy Watching, Though Partly for The Watercooler Talk After: American Idol, The Amazing Race, Survivor: Tocantins

Shows That I Love That I'm Totally Behind On Because As Much As I Love Them, It Creeps Me Out Too: Supernatural, Fringe

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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The TV Blog Coalition - @tapeworthy

You may have noticed that I've been twittering for a while now (as seen on the sidebar in twitterworthy) way before @Oprah but way after @aplusk. Or maybe you haven't noticed. I still think it's the most ridiculously idiotic thing sometimes so I keep it limited to things I would blog about but that don't really warrant a full post (or need one or am too lazy to post something full), and I avoid detailing every living moment of my day (because I seriously don't care what you're eating right now or that you have to pee now or what not, plus, that's for Facebook!) and I don't make every tweet a link to every new blog post I do (sorry, I know most of you do this and obviously it works to drive more traffic since I actually do click on them, but I figure if you're following my tweets, you probably already check in here from time to time and don't need an additional reminder on top of your igoogle or whatever you may use).

So yes, I've started using Twitter just to keep up with the @joneses but I promise I won't go crazy with it and usually limit myself to one or two a day. Plus I'm not crazy about the continual responses back and forth @whoever because personally, I don't want to read your shitty conversations with each other so why would you want to hear mine? Seriously, there's a few people I'm "following" but considering they update about every 20 seconds and fill up my homepage everytime I check in, I might have to unfollow them soon. (Seriously, some of you @people are just not that interesting. I hope I'm not the pot calling the kettle @black).

Anyways, here's what the TV bloggers (many who are twittering away as well) talking about this week:

Buzz took a look back at some of the best engagements (some broken, some still going strong) of the past TV season. (BuzzSugar)

This week, Sandie spoke with Eric Lange better known as Radzinsky on Lost about what is coming up for his character, his career, and more. (Daemon's TV)

There really is no reason to debate if Friday Night Lights is the best show currently on television, instead after seeing the third season finale, it may be time to debate if it was the best show this decade. (Scooter McGavin's 9th Green)

Vance seriously can't get enough of the trailers for the new FOX musical TV show Glee. (Tapeworthy)

This week, Jace took an early look at HBO's Grey Gardens, a dramatized version of the cult 1973 documentary film, which stars Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange as Big Edie and Little Edie Beale. (Televisionary)

Jesse took issue with the tired old re-hashed formulas employed by the SNL folks on the most recent Zac Efron-hosted debacle. (TiFaux)

This week, theTVaddict.com is your source for Paley Festival '09 coverage with reports from DR. HORRIBLE, THE BIG BANG THEORY, THE MENTALIST, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, PUSHING DAISIES and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA/ CAPRICA (The TV Addict)

After listening to the latest music on 90210, Matt knew he had to include a section for it on TV Fanatic. (TV Fanatic)

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Earth Is Quite Hot

Earth Day is this Wednesday April 22nd. For my little part (on top of everything else we should be doing in our daily lives), I'll be helping out with the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) CN Tower Climb early this morning (and getting up at an ungodly hour to do so, and since I'm not a morning person, that alone is a huge charitable act on my part). I won't actually be climbing this year (I'll be controlling the masses apparently) up those 1776 steps to the top, but kudos to all that do. It's quite the stairmaster workout (It takes avg. 20-45 min. to get up, though apparently the record is like 7min. or so. I did it in just under 30 min the times I've done it before, though I'm technically more fit now, yet older, so I wonder how I would do?).

Meanwhile, Paul Rudd is looking his usual adorably dashing self being Earth Father on Sesame Street. Earth is looking really hot these days.



(towleroad)

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Wednesday July 15 2009 12:01AM Screening

I'm SOOOO there!



Is it me or does the camera work look very soft and blurryish? Is it the youtube or is that how the movie will be? Either way, I'm SOOOO there. Here's the pictures when it was still supposed to open LAST year. Instead, we wait until July 15th (at least up 2 days from the July 17th release date it was first rescheduled to).

Here are some more trailers for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince:







Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Reality Redux - The Amazing Race, Survivor, Project Runway Canada, American Idol

There seems to be a lot of second chances going around reality TV these days. I'm not sure how I feel about all that. Kinda puts an

The Amazing Race - Rooting Around in People's Mouths Could Be Unpleasant - Ep. 1408

Oh sure, a week after Mel and Mike were eliminated on a round I was SURE would be a non-elimination round, NOW there's a non-elimination round which saves Mark and Michael. WRONG MIKE. UGH. Not that I hate Mark and Michael but I wanted Mel and Mike to stay around a lot longer. Oh well, considering how far behind Mark and Michael are now with their penalty, AND the extra challenge they're going to have to do, I'm sure we will soon say goodbye to them.

Alas, I'm just waiting to see the "bitch" comment fallout with Luke.


Survivor: Tocantins - The First Fifteen Days, One of Those Coach Moments, The Dragon Slaye - Eps. 1806-1808

They finally merge and then get a reprieve from Tribal Council. Whew for them. Sucks for Joe (who was taken away for medical purposes). Still, I'm waiting for the real action to begin now that the sort of secret cross-tribal alliance are now together. I've felt before the merge, it came down to just surviving until the merge and losing some of the loose ends (seriously, I can barely remember who already got kicked off). Let's hope tonight gets more exciting, since it seems since the pointless recap episode (where about the only new and interesting thing we learned is that Stephen and Brendan like to cuddle on Exile), it's been calm, let's hope before a new storm.

At this point, I don't really know who to root for anymore. Well, besides Brendan of course. Well, I don't really care if he wins, as so much as I want him to marry me. Although if he does marry me, it would be nice if he had the million dollars. Am I asking for too much?

I like JT but boy better not make a boneheaded move, and I'm afraid he just might soon. Plus stop talking to Coach. If only for Coach's icky factor. I still like Taj but half the time I think it's just because she lucked out and teamed up with Brendan.

Also, because I'm shallow, is Stephen's body WAY hotter than you would have thought he would be?

More on Project Runway Canada, American Idol (Spoilers for those that haven't watched):

Project Runway Canada - The Final 3 Recap, Toronto Fashion Week - Eps. 211-212 - Season Finale

I love Iman. She makes this show. LOVE HER! Her presence has definitely kept this second season interesting because lets face it, it was the most predictable season of the show ever. Because Sunny just rocked it from the start. So if he didn't win, it would be a joke. And if he did, it would have been pretty much expected all season long.

Seriously, Sunny was heads above the rest and never faltered any week. Jessica did well, and it was so great to see her really come into her own but Sonny had been consistent right from the start.

Meanwhile, while I do think Jason has lots of talent, he still needs to hone in his imagination and figure himself out, cause boy is inconsistent. Plus, the fact that he was kicked off, then brought back in a save, makes his final 3 appearance in Toronto's Fashion Week a little bit of a sham. It should have been Adejoke. Jason's collection was decent though I am surprised at how badly he got criticized by the judges.

But alas, it doesn't really matter since the winner had to be Sunny. Who finally (and deservedly) got a second chance at Fashion Week.


American Idol - Top 7 - Results Night - The Cut from 7 to 6 (Or Not)

So they used the save on Matt huh? You know what this means? More people actually voted for Lil than Matt. Who ARE they? And WHY?

On the other hand, she's one of my pool picks so more points for me!

This also means next week could be a bloodbath, knowing America's inconsistent voting patterns. Since Allison was safe this week (whew!) and Anoop and Lil were bottom 3 still, whatever fans they may have left might run to the phones. I hope everyone else realizes that you need to keep dialing for Allison and Kris.

Oh well, I was hoping they wouldn't ever use the save and now it just really prolongs Matt's eventual ouster.

Oh, also, with Miley performing. It proves anybody can be a star. ANYBODY. And with Jennifer Hudson performing proves, you don't have to win to be a true star. So really, anything goes.

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...

More Glee!

Seriously, this cannot premiere fast enough. There's a new longer trailer for Glee. Not as perfect as the Don't Stop Believin' trailer (though it's integrated into this longer one) but still looks amazingly hilarious. You don't realize HOW MANY times I've rewatched the Don't Stop Believin' trailer so far, seriously, even if the series sucked, it was well worth it just for that trailer (which I'm reposting below after the jump).



I still laugh at "You want to captain the Titanic too?" everytime still. And the "i'm living with hepatitis, THAT'S HARD".

Now if only they would release the full clip of them singing Amy Winehouse's "Rehab". Those brief little edited snippets looked AWESOME with it done in full choir (in blue).

I know Lea Michelle (Spring Awakening) already has an amazing voice, and Matthew Morrison (South Pacific) is positively handsome and here seems like he'll be able to play funny. But Jessica Gilsig looks surprisingly hilarious as the long-suffering tough-as-nail wife. And Jane Lynch (Party Down), can she do wrong? And Jayma Mays!

And Amber Riley's Beyonce wannabe-diva is PERFECT!

Here's the 1st trailer and here's the second trailer: Don't Stop Believin'



Here's pictures of the cast. Glee premieres Tuesday, May 19th 2009 at 9pm after American Idol.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Sleeping Overnight To See Twelfth Night Anyone?

As if the lineups weren't going to be insane enough for Anne Hathaway in Twelfth Night at Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park New York.

Now Audra McDonald (theatre diva extraordinaire and FOUR time Tony winner, Private Practice) joins the cast?!!!

Now Raúl Esparza (the quintessential Bobby in Company, Pushing Daisies) joins the cast?!!!

Now Hamish Linklater (hilarious as Christine's brother Matthew in The New Adventures of Old Christine, Gideon's Crossing) joins the cast?!!!

Now David Pittu (so hilarious in Mark Twain's "New" play Is He Dead?) joins the cast?!!!

Crap. Now I'm REALLY going to have to lineup for this. Who's with me at 5 am to go join the lineup?

Twelfth Night starts June 10th and runs until July 12th 2009. Directed by Daniel Sullivan (Accent on Youth, Top Girls, Rabbit Hole)

There's no ticket info yet but usually they are given out free at 1pm in the park on a first-come-first-serve basis. Last year, they implemented a new online lottery system on the day of (starting at midnight I believe though not awarded until the afternoon).

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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American Idol - The Scripted Seven

American Idol - Top 7 - Performance Night - Theme: Movie Songs

Okay, before we get to this week's performances, I would like to apologize for my quick dismissal of Megan Joy Corkrey. While she did grow on me, I still think she stole Ricky Brady/Kristen McNamara/Felicia Barton/even Jesse Lanseth's spot. But in fact, I now take that back. Scott took their spot. Megan was just misunderstood. And because in some of her post-elimination interviews, (like on Idolatry) she actually comes off as quite lovely. Plus her performance on Ellen yesterday was actually pretty great. I actually wanted to hear it again.

Okay, so it's movie music week. Quentin Tarantino is the guest advisor. Eh, crazier things have happened on this show.

Allison Iraheta
16 years old
Home: Los Angeles, CA
Audition: San Francisco, CA
Song: "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (by Diane Warren, made famous by Aerosmith in Armageddon)

Grade: B-

Well like the movie, that was a bit of a disaster, at least for Allison. LOVE LOVE LOVE her but I didn't love the performance. Of course, that means the judges LOVED it. I so want her to be in the Final 3 while the judges never seemed to conspire against that, yet this week, on probably her worst week yet, they are finally giving good comments. What the? I'll take it just to keep her safe. But I still didn't really care for it, though probably cause I never really cared for the song to begin with (though I did feel she was off on some notes, on top of her already scratching sounding voice).
Here's the video:



Anoop Desai
21 years old
Home: Chapel Hill, NC
Audition: Kansas City, MO
Song: "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" - (by Bryan Adams, Michael Kamen, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, made famous by Bryan Adams for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves)

Grade: A

Boy, remember that movie? I just saw it on the shelves of a store the other day and forgot everything about the movie but I remembered LOVING it when it came out. I was in my Kevin Costner phase back then. He was dreamy to be back then.

And now, I'll probably say the same about Anoop, and then wonder what the hell was I thinking years from now.

My reaction to Anoop choosing this song made me groan and I thought it was going to be a disaster like Randy. And I'm actually glad Quentin Tarantino told him to rough it up. He didn't really but it turned out to be a GREAT rendition of a really hokey song and Anoop sounded GREAT!

Just when I thought Anoop was out of the running, he comes back with a perfectly swoonworthy performance that somehow avoided being totally sachrine and smarmy.
Here's the video:



Adam Lambert
26 years old
Home: Los Angeles, CA
Audition: San Francisco, CA
Song: "Born to be Wild" (by Mars Bonfire, made famous by Steppenwolf, as seen in Easy Rider)

Grade: A-

Finally he picks a song that can utilize his screaching properly. I still don't think I would want to buy his album but he puts on the perfect theatrics here and continues being audacious which is leading him straight to the inevitable winners circle.
Here's the video:



Matt Giraud
23 years old
Home: Kalamazoo, MI
Audition: Louisville, KY
Song: "Have You Really Ever Loved A Woman" (by Bryan Adams, Michael Kamen, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, made famous by Bryan Adams for Don Juan DeMarco)

Grade: C+

This is what I thought Anoop's performance would turn out like, and instead it's Matt who bored me with his schmaltzed up Bryan Adams song (I know, it's redundant). Who would have thought at the start of the competition that Anoop would have more "artistry" then Matt, who has so far never fully won me over. Here again, he shows he has enough chops, then disappoints when he doesn't fully live up to his own standards, and then in the process, bores me end up watching Megan's Ellen performance again on youtube. (Seriously, now that she's out, NOW I finally get her? Maybe I need to give Matt the same benefit of the doubt, if he survives next week).
Here's the video:



Danny Gokey
28 years old
Home: Milwaukee, WI
Audition: Kansas City, MO
Song: "Endless Love" (by Lionel Richie, made famous by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie for Endless Love)

Grade: A-

Like Anoop, I groaned when I heard Danny was singing this song. Yet like Anoop, it was shockingly good. Danny's vocals weren't as perfect as Anoop's (wait, did I actually just say that?) with a couple of off-key notes at the start, but the rest actually sounded pretty great. Plus, without the glasses, I want to punch him in the face just a little less. He's still douchey but now I just want to smack him, and then bounce my hand on his spiky hair. I know. Makes no sense. I'm weird and gay that way.
Here's the video:



Kris Allen
23 years old
Home: Conway, AR
Audition: Louisville, KY
Song: "Falling Slowly" (by Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, for Once)

Grade: A-

First of all, the guy gets huge points for picking the coolest song of the bunch. For picking the most recent song of the bunch. For picking a song from a musical. From an indie movie. Seriously, this alone wins him HUGE credibility from me (I know, it doesn't take much for me, especially when you look like him).

Unfortunately, my TV or cable went funny and cracked midpoint during the song so I didn't hear his whole rendition perfectly but I'm assuming it was awesome based on the sections I heard. Randy hated it. Kara loved it. Which brings me to another debate this season. Most people have been hating on Kara (okay, she does say "package artist" and "artistry" a little too much) but generally I like what she has to say. What has Randy done for us lately?

Okay, I'll watch it again on the video here:

Okay, so a little shaky at the start and on the lower notes but once he gets into the main section, it sounded great. Still love him and still the most likely person I would actually buy an album from.


Lil Rounds
23 years old
Home: Memphis, TN
Audition: Kansas City, MO
Song: "The Rose" (by Amanda McBroom, made famous by Bette Midler for The Rose)

Grade: C

Lil is really after the big diva's isn't she? She's already ruined Tina Turner, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, now Bette Midler. Anytime she went down on her notes, it sounded scary wrong. It wasn't as shaky as some recent weeks but it was nowhere near what it should have been.
Here's the video:



The Final Round Up:

Best of the Night: Anoop Desai
Second Best of the Night: Adam Lambert
Third Best of the Night: Kris Allen
Fourth Best of the Night: Danny Gokey

At this point, we all know Adam Lambert is going to win. Matt and Lil have no chance anymore after never living up to their early hopes. And if it were up to me, Kris and Allison would be in the final 3 (or final 2 even!). And I almost wrote off Anoop but he may just fight long enough to knock some favorites out (though he will never win). And Danny? I know the show wants him in the final 2 and seems to be doing everything possible to make that happen (well, until this week at least). I'm still hoping Kris is doing the slow build that Kelly Clarkson did to finally beat early frontrunner Justin Guarini (remember him? I barely do either). But maybe the judges have picked up on our criticisms that they seem to be unnecessarily pushing undeserving or overrated contestants (Lil, Danny, Adam, oddly, my three pool picks which is still keeping me up near the top of the list at least), while never fully accepting the awesomeness of Allison or Kris, but of all weeks, they seemed to shake things up a little this week (even though I STILL didn't always agree with the judges assessments). Oh well, at least they aren't SO obvious about it now.

Worst of the Night: Lil Rounds
Second Worst of the Night: Matt Giraud

Bottom Three Predictions: Allison Irahetta, Matt Giraud, Lil Rounds

Going Home: So I've predicted Lil Rounds 2 weeks in a row already so I'm SURE I'll get it right this week, right? Wait, but I think Matt might be in grave danger. It better not be Allison. But I'm thinking it's finally Lil's time to go.


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...

Ken Marino Is Everywhere - Party Down, Greek, The United States of Tara

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

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Cops Rock - Southland and The Unusuals

The Unusuals - Pilot - Ep. 101 - Series Premiere
Southland - Pilot - Ep. 101 - Series Premiere

Two new cop shows. Two great ensemble casts. Two refreshing retro twists on the formula.

While I wasn't exactly looking for more cop shows, I found myself really enjoying ABC's The Unusuals, which is sort of a quirky, if mysterious and amusing take on the cop genre. It sort of reminded me of Denis Leary's The Job, which was a hilarious cop show but this time with a serious side too.

Meanwhile, Southland is basically ER but with cops. Even down to the wide-eyed newbie (The OC's Ben McKenzie (above) in the Noah Wylie role), the hyper realism, and the tracking cams with LA now instead of the insides of a hospital. Considering it's also John Wells show, it's not a surprise. All of which may seem like I'm saying I didn't like the pilot. But I REALLY REALLY liked it. I loved Michael Cudlitz's John ushering in Ben McKenzie's Ben and after all the recent glossified cop/crime shows like CSI, it was nice to see a show that harks back to the grittier cop show format. While I was never a fan of NYPD Blue and have yet to catch up on The Wire, I'm glad the grit is back, at least the way it's done here.

Plus there are fabulous casts in both shows, with actors that I've always liked but never seem to have found that hit. With Regina King (24), Tom Everett Scott (above with King, That Thing You Do), Shawn Hatosy (Ouside Providence, Kevin Alejandro (Ugly Betty), and Michael Cudlitz (Band of Brothers), they seem to be finally plucked from go-to-guest stars and given nice juicy headlining roles of their own here on Southland. Plus it's nice to see them all fulfill their early promise.

Meanwhile, I was NOT of fan of Joan of Arcadia and thus didn't really care for Amber Tamblyn, and while I tolerated her in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, I had some sort of weird grudge against her (really for no apparent logical reason). But she's terrific in The Unusuals as the rich girl-turned cop who is being shifted up to the detectives department to find out the secrets amongst the cops. She's paired with Jeremy Renner's Jason (both above), who himself has an unusual past as a former Major league baseball player turned short-order cook/diner owner turned cop. Renner (North Country) is one of those actors I've always wanted to champion (plus even though his eyes are kinda funny, it makes him all the more cute and hotter, so that certainly helps) with an underlying intensity but mainstream fame has sort of alluded him.

Now, I'm not an Adam Goldberg fan (I still think of him as annoying Ross on Friends) but he's nicely paired up here with Harold Perrineau (Lost) so it kind of works, especially with the duality of Goldberg's Det. Eric mysterious aura of constantly missing death and Perrineau's Det. Leo who is always afraid of dying (like the rest of his family).

Add an eclectic mic of other characters with Terry Kinney (Oz) as the Sergeant in charge, overly religious Det. Henry Cole (Josh Close), weirdo Det. Eddie (Kai Lennox) and token sassy latino girl Det. Allison Beaumont (Monique Gabriela Curnen), and I'm game to find out what everyone's unusual secrets and pasts are hiding, and how the unusual cases this group of detectives seems to be getting will be solved. There's a nice balance of serious drama and the story arch of an internal investigation with some of the more quirky lighthearted and amusing cases and characters.

The Unusuals is getting a ***1/2 (out of 5) from me so far but it's leaning so close to the 4 stars or more. Meanwhile, I'm giving Southland ****1/2 (out of 5) right off the bat because that's how much I loved the pilot. Okay, so I'm a sucker for Ben McKenzie shows but I'm sticking to my score.

The Cast of Southland:

Ben McKenzie as Ben:

Regina King as Lydia:

Tom Everett Scott as Russell:

Shawn Hatosy as Sammy:

Michael McGrady as Sal:

Michael Cudlitz as John:

Kevin Alejandro as Nate:

Arija Bareikis as Chickie:



The Cast of The Unusuals:

Jeremy Renner as Detective Jason Walsh:

Amber Tamblyn as Detective Casey Shraeger:

Harold Perrineau as Detective Leo Banks:

Adam Goldberg as Detective Eric Delahoy:

Josh Close as Detective Henry Cole:

Kai Lennox as Detective Eddie Alvarez:

Monique Gabriela as Detective Allison Beaumont:

Terry Kinney as Sergeant Harvey Brown:


Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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