WEEDS (SHOWTIME)
Weeds SCORES with a great ep including Snoop Dogg, MILF WEED, and some very hairy changing to an old acquaintance.
Grade: A
Weeds SCORES with a great ep including Snoop Dogg, MILF WEED, and some very hairy changing to an old acquaintance.
Grade: A
THE BACHELOR (ABC)
Another great installment. I love the girl with the angry/pouty face. And Erica, the "princess" is a total trip. I love when she said "that girl didn't go to college so you won't be able to talk to her about anything." When the bachelor was taken aback by her meanness, she simply replied "Sorry. I judge." Then when she didn't get her rose during dinner she completely fell apart. The girl form Italy is adorable. I love the girl who keeps calling him "baby" - I keep waiting for her to say "Shagadelic." And then there was the blonde who fell asleep - the camera operator did her no favors by literally shooting right up her nose - the bachelor awoke her - and she LITERALLY started talking sleepy gibberish which was funny - and to top it all off - she thought for a few minutes, in her stupor, that the bachelor was her waiter and was lambasting him for waking her up. She did not receive a rose. Go figure. This is one of the best seasons of THE BACHELOR ever.
Grade: B +
DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
Episode 2 continues down the same creepy path, and I'm loving it.
Grade: A
STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP (NBC)
What a weird show. On one hand, there's the Sorkin rapid-fire dialog to marvel at - but on the other - what the fuck planet is this show from? The "comedy" show they put on seems to be the worst show ever put on the air in the history of television. The "jokes" they come up with wouldn't even get on MAD TV. I mean - who are they kidding? And now even the drama is forced - Chandler's attraction to the blond Christian girl is so ridiculous - his going to the dancers to get advice was mind numbingly dumb - and they have DAWN from THE OFFICE BBC there in the writer's room and don't give her anything to do! But she does look fetching. Oh, Tim. Anyway - this show appears headed for the rails. I loved how they went to their faux "UPDATE" and the actors were so unfunny - I mean, Nick Cage and Juliette Lewis impressions would be funny in 2006? Wow - yet, as I berate the show, I also find it somewhat compulsively watchable - and that's my problem - for now. Most ridiculous was the reporter (Christine Lahti) who appeared to be covering the Iraqi war. This show....kinda sucks in a good way - but I suspect will soon start sucking completely.
Grade: C
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (CW)
I can't believe they let that gorgeous black girl go - but she was a real jerk - which lead me to believe she'd be sticking around a while longer. I REALLY like the twins. Tyra's self-promotion, self-talk, constant references to herself and her REALLY BAD "acting" on all shows Tyra - they have got to stop NOW. Tyra used to be the level head on this show - now she's the biggest.
Grade: B -
FOR THOSE KEEPING UP - I think I lost the weight competition.
Why does IN DEMAND keep running promos for LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG like it just came out yesterday and is the biggest hit of the season? I could actually quote the promo for it at this point - "I'm just a girl - don't you get it!!!!"
HOWARD STERN ON DEMAND remains one of the funniest things on tv.
I can't believe they let that gorgeous black girl go - but she was a real jerk - which lead me to believe she'd be sticking around a while longer. I REALLY like the twins. Tyra's self-promotion, self-talk, constant references to herself and her REALLY BAD "acting" on all shows Tyra - they have got to stop NOW. Tyra used to be the level head on this show - now she's the biggest.
Grade: B -
FOR THOSE KEEPING UP - I think I lost the weight competition.
Why does IN DEMAND keep running promos for LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG like it just came out yesterday and is the biggest hit of the season? I could actually quote the promo for it at this point - "I'm just a girl - don't you get it!!!!"
HOWARD STERN ON DEMAND remains one of the funniest things on tv.
One of my favorite sites is back up - go here for ZENtertainment!
http://www.zentertainment.com/blog/
WINDY CITY HEAT (DVD)
For those who didn't read my last column, WINDY CITY has been released on DVD. Only rent or buy if you want to watch the funniest movie of the last 4 years.
Grade: A +
E.R. (NBC)
Keeps chugging along. This week John Stamos joined the cast and John Mahoney was fantastic as a gay man who's live partner ends up in the hospital. 13 years later, this show still earns itself a solid:
Grade: A
THE OFFICE (NBC)
Dwight uproots Michael for the prime gig in the office. I didn't really buy it - thought this was a rare ep that didn't really stay true to the format - and any episode that's DWIGHT-CENTRIC is always going to be over the top. On the other hand - the stuff with Jim and that video game he was playing and all the scenes built around it - gold.
Grade: B -
ROGER WATERS AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL (THURSDAY NITE)
Nothing short of spectacular and one of the best shows I've seen in FOREVER. This was a truly epic retelling of much of the THE WALL and he then played DARK SIDE in it's entirety - complete with 6.1 like sound thought out the venue, and with imagery and great voice - this WAS a Pink Floyd concert and it truly came off perfect. Highly reccomended.
Grade: A +
From time to time, my old friend Anthony, both my ex-boss at SAM GOODY and now a media consultant - gives his reviews on the current crop. Again , these are not mine, but ANTHONY'S REVIEWS and the comment page should reflect if u're talking about my reviews or Anthony's. But he always offers a valuable contrast to my opinion and I'm glad to share his views - he also watches a lot of shows I don't see - so here goes Anthony:
ANTHONY'S REVIEWS:
THE CLASS
I am shocked at how the show hasn't caught on. However, I just wonder if it is simply too sophisticated for CBS's more rural, older audience. I find myself down to only a handful of comedies (three of them are animated). This is definitely one of the best new shows in years. The cast is terrific, and it balances comedy and emotion very well. Glad to see CBS swap it with the not as funny - but still good "How I Met Your Mother"
Grade: A
BROTHERS & SISTERS
Speaking of exceptional casts, ABC landed a strong one here. However, as a big fan of "Picket Fences" - and of Tom Skerritt, I think the show would've been much stronger had he not died in the first episode. A big waste of a talented actor. Despite all the upheavel that apparently has gone on behind the scenes, it sure did not show in the finished product.
Grade: A-
JUSTICE
David is correct that this show does a nice job of telling its story in an hour. And, you definitely feel the payoff when you find out the real deal at the end of the episode. So far, I have yet to be disappointed and Garber is strong in the lead. Glad to see Fox move it to Monday.
Grade: B+
STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
As someone who was always thought that "The West Wing" was overrated (that is until NBC booted Sorkin's ass out of there and it turned into a great show), I kind of feel the same with "Studio 60." A lot of hype and critical praise. I didn't care too much for the pilot - but I did think the second episode came back better. The cast is solid - but Sorkin tends to lose me because he takes himself way too seriously.
Grade: C
THE NINE
I guess the theme for the new fall shows is generally some strong casts - and this show is no exception. Because I only saw the pilot - and I thought it was just OK - I will reserve judgment ... Right now it's a Grade: C, but check back,
SIX DEGREES
I think a weak cast full of characters who no one could care less about will doom this show. Ratings have been nothing short of a disaster - and I don't expect to see it last into November. I like the concept - but not the execution.
Grade: D
RUNAWAY
I really like the premise here and Wahlberg and Hope are strong as the parents. But the CW made a big mistake in not keeping "Everwood" as a back up show. This show has a little bit too much bite to follow the campy "7th Heaven." Like the show, but it will be gone soon.
Grade: B
UGLY BETTY
Only saw the pilot and I think it has potential. Want to see how the other characters develop. It is sort of early to judge it so I will give it an incomplete.
I am shocked at how the show hasn't caught on. However, I just wonder if it is simply too sophisticated for CBS's more rural, older audience. I find myself down to only a handful of comedies (three of them are animated). This is definitely one of the best new shows in years. The cast is terrific, and it balances comedy and emotion very well. Glad to see CBS swap it with the not as funny - but still good "How I Met Your Mother"
Grade: A
BROTHERS & SISTERS
Speaking of exceptional casts, ABC landed a strong one here. However, as a big fan of "Picket Fences" - and of Tom Skerritt, I think the show would've been much stronger had he not died in the first episode. A big waste of a talented actor. Despite all the upheavel that apparently has gone on behind the scenes, it sure did not show in the finished product.
Grade: A-
JUSTICE
David is correct that this show does a nice job of telling its story in an hour. And, you definitely feel the payoff when you find out the real deal at the end of the episode. So far, I have yet to be disappointed and Garber is strong in the lead. Glad to see Fox move it to Monday.
Grade: B+
STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
As someone who was always thought that "The West Wing" was overrated (that is until NBC booted Sorkin's ass out of there and it turned into a great show), I kind of feel the same with "Studio 60." A lot of hype and critical praise. I didn't care too much for the pilot - but I did think the second episode came back better. The cast is solid - but Sorkin tends to lose me because he takes himself way too seriously.
Grade: C
THE NINE
I guess the theme for the new fall shows is generally some strong casts - and this show is no exception. Because I only saw the pilot - and I thought it was just OK - I will reserve judgment ... Right now it's a Grade: C, but check back,
SIX DEGREES
I think a weak cast full of characters who no one could care less about will doom this show. Ratings have been nothing short of a disaster - and I don't expect to see it last into November. I like the concept - but not the execution.
Grade: D
RUNAWAY
I really like the premise here and Wahlberg and Hope are strong as the parents. But the CW made a big mistake in not keeping "Everwood" as a back up show. This show has a little bit too much bite to follow the campy "7th Heaven." Like the show, but it will be gone soon.
Grade: B
UGLY BETTY
Only saw the pilot and I think it has potential. Want to see how the other characters develop. It is sort of early to judge it so I will give it an incomplete.
Grade: C
KIDNAPPED
NBC stuck this marvelous show in a bad slot on Wednesday against heavy competition - and with a horrible lead-in. When they re-ran the pilot on Saturday - it almost garnered similar numbers to Wednesday. Now that NBC has shut production and moved the show to Saturday, I am hoping that we will at least be able to see it wrap up. I think this was a good show lost in the shuffle of similarly themed programming.
Grade: A-
JERICHO
The critics kept saying this show would be an early goner - and as I expected, it has surprised many. Granted, it will have its work cut out for it when "Idol" and company return - but I fully expect it to have a loyal audience. We're still learning the characters but I hope to see it flesh out.
Grade: B
KIDNAPPED
NBC stuck this marvelous show in a bad slot on Wednesday against heavy competition - and with a horrible lead-in. When they re-ran the pilot on Saturday - it almost garnered similar numbers to Wednesday. Now that NBC has shut production and moved the show to Saturday, I am hoping that we will at least be able to see it wrap up. I think this was a good show lost in the shuffle of similarly themed programming.
Grade: A-
JERICHO
The critics kept saying this show would be an early goner - and as I expected, it has surprised many. Granted, it will have its work cut out for it when "Idol" and company return - but I fully expect it to have a loyal audience. We're still learning the characters but I hope to see it flesh out.
Grade: B
No comments:
Post a Comment