LOST premieres - what happened!

BACHELOR: PARIS (ABC)
What a premiere. The "bachelor" in question seems like a real shchmendrick - I can't vouch for this but I hear he's no prince - he's just a normal guy with royal lineage who lives in a one bedroom condo in NY. While I don't think he's Brad Pitt, he does seem a little goofy, way over his head - and actually seems like a really nice guy. The girls are a great mix of lunatics (mostly.) Some of them seem very sweet - and I can't wait till next week when everybody is at each other's throats.
Grade: B

DEXTER ( SHOWTIME)
An excellent new hour from Showtime that posits Michael C. Hall (6 FEET UNDER) as a Forensics expert who has a girlfriend and a secret double life in which he serial kills the bad guys that got away. If that sounds gimmicky - it plays really well - Michael Hall is a GREAT actor, the supporting roles are mostly well cast - the dialog original and quirky - and a great, creepy vibe. This is a completely solid new show and maybe the best show SHOWTIME has ever given us. Makes a very nice companion with WEEDS.
Grade: A

THE SHIELD (SEASON 2 DVD SET)
So - me and the girl finished season 2 - the money train went down and there is this great shot of all the strike team looking at the loot - great finish to a fun season - but looking forward to future seasons - as 3,4 & 5 kept getting progressively better.
Grade for season 2: A -

SHOPGIRL (DVD)
A very slow but completely absorbing straight forward drama about a girl (Scarlett Johansen) who sees two very different guys - the kid from RUSHMORE and Steve Martin, who plays a very rich man who is mostly interested in sex. No real surprises, but recommended
Grade: B -

THE WIRE (HBO)
Keeps getting better - so bleak, moving, funny, sad - God, I'm glad I got in on this at the beginning. After it's gone there will likely never be a show like it again. What it revealed this week about the Baltimore school system was deplorable.
Grade: A

PRISON BREAK (FOX)
I hate to give out spoilers - but suffice it to say that this is one of the most twisty, inventive action dramas out there. It works the same way 24 does in terms of adrenalin - but it has it's own vibe - and this season is turning very nasty. This last ep, where the gang tries to dig up some money located in a garage - was a stunner on many levels. Kudos.
Grade: B +

LOST (ABC - SEASON PREMIERE)

Season 2 ended on a fantastic note.
The promos promised the opening of season 3 would BLOW OUR MIND.
Uh huh.
Grade: C -

NIP/TUCK (FX)
The season had been going SO nicely - then Rosie O'Donnel shows up - has TONS of LIPPO - yet remains huge. She was terrible - her storyline could've been good had they not played for really bad laughs. The stuff with Matt and Kimber is RETARDED, and - on an obscure note - do you remember that really awful music they played during the CARVER finale? That really MIAMI sound? For some reason - they are now putting this samba music into every single episode - wow - I was really into the new season and then last nite - that shark just keeps swimming around the edges. This was truly the worst episode not only of the season, but one of the worst of the series. And why did Christian just give away to that lady that he's sleeping with the married woman and then he was SHOCKED that she used the info to blackmail him. Wow. This was about as bad as it gets.
Grade: D

WINDY CITY HEAT (DVD)

Finally - one of my favorite movies of all time is released on dvd. There are plenty of extras - but the film itself remains the brilliant centerpiece. Thank Comedy Central for putting together such a nice package and the extras are plentiful. I can't really describe this film - only to say in it's own way - it's as good as CITIZEN CANE.
Grade: A +