The Death Of Boston Legal

30 ROCK (NBC)
This is a really good show - last night's ep was particularly good. It's kind of cool that all the new Thursday Night shows on nbc this year are laugh track free. 30 ROCK is one of my new favorite shows, and again - last night's was kind of exceptional. But the show rarely lives up to the very funny pilot. It's a good show that I hope gets better - but this Rachel Dracht thing will probably haunt it for the rest of its existence. (She was supposed to play Jane K's character, but instead does these not quite that funny cameos that are truly beneath her. On the other hand, Tina Fey & Alec Baldwin are superb, particularly in their scenes together - and Tracy Morgan is right on the money when the script is serving him.
Grade: B


SCRUBS (NBC)
I watched this last night for the very first time - it was their 6th season prem. I remember trying to get into this show a few years back but not liking the style of it - that said, I thought most of last night was pretty funny - pretty bold, yet they still try to hard. But it did make me think that maybe this was one of the better comedies on the air. They do this quick style of jokes with sound effects that could probably have been rendered better - but they took chances with their storyline in an unusual way for a comedy.
Grade: C +


THE OFFICE (NBC)
We got a very special treat last night, as in an episode penned by Ricky Gervais (the original David Brent, creator of OFFICE BBC along with his partner, Stephen Merchant) - that was truly a cut above the usual episode. The laughs were harder, stranger, and you could almost hear the BBC OFFICE in the dialog. Great episode that Steve Carrel was incredibly funny in - and they should let those guys write more of these episodes. The Jim/Big Tuna/Pam stuff was GREAT. So was the reveal regarding an ex-con working at Dunder-Mifflen. It made me wonder what a OFFICE BBC reunion might be about - but they said they'd never revisit. And I guess that's for the best.
Grade: A


TRIBUTE TO JAMES TAYLER (PBS - I think?)
I didn't watch the whole thing yet, but just based on the first 40 minutes - the performers (including Springsteen, Costello, etc.) are fantastic and based just on what I've heard so far - this is one to record.
Grade: B+

God - did anybody see Billy Crystal on COMIC RELIEF doing that bad impression of a black man? He might want to kill himself after he sees the playback. Nothing I could say would prepare you for this.

THE WIRE (HBO)
Continues to great - one of the truly complex crime treatments on tv - I've been catching up on them
ON DEMAND and they never dissapoint. The humor is subtle and sly - and some of the scenes are just so bleak - even the actors I didn't like at the beginning are now in my favor.
Grade: A


MY BROTHER SCOTT
Came over and spent 9 hours fixing my computer problems when he was busy as shit with his own life.
Grade: A +


BORAT (IN THEATRES)
I think I was oversold on this one. Don't get me wrong - I loved it, have to own the dvd of it and will see it many more times on dvd and cable - but it's not quite as good as I'd been hyped to believe. Nonetheless, go with a crowd and laugh your head off at some truly inspired and insane and almost always profane situations.
Grade: A

FLIGHTPLAN (HBO)
Me and The Girl watched this for 20 minutes and decided life is too short. It's exactly what you think it is. Exactly.


BRICK (DVD)
Heard many good things about this teen thriller - me and The Girl tried for about 20 minutes - and was not able to make sense of any of it - so Brick, which sat like a brick in my dvd player for about a month, will be headed back to netflix without a fair review. Sorry.


FLASH GORDON (HBO)
A great, great relic of the 80s. And a truly fucking kick-ass score by Queen with some original songs and a shockingly good performance by Sam Jones as Flash, whose only credit later in life was living with Olivia Newton John for 13 years. But he was good here in this completely preposterous comic book adaption helped along by great performances (if over the top) from Topol as the mad scientist, Tim Dalton (Pre-Bond - he was great here) as a rival spaceman and Max Von Sydow right on the money as Ming the Merciless. This was a favorite of mine growing up, and it has a cult following. I'm surprised there hasn't been a dvd release yet, but I'm guessing there are music issues with Queen tying that up. But this is really deserving of a dvd treatment. As ridiculous as the various scenarios are, they're really exciting and you can really get into this movie, which gets much better after an awkward 20 minute opening sequence. Once they get to Ming's planet - things really get good in a 50s pulpy sort of way.
Grade: A

DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
Just keeps having great episodes. Just thought I'd mention that.


FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (MAX)
Watched with The Girl for about 40 minutes - what a great movie and a great, hammy performance from Topol. Singing and choreography are first rate - and Mel Gibson does a commentary track.


STUDIO 60 (NBS)
I love it/I hate it. I love it/I hate it.


BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
D.O.A. TIME OF DEATH - this last episode 2 parter where Shirly is taken hostage. The show went brain dead when Denny and Alan talked extensivly (yet again) about their love of their "balcony time" and screaming "I love you" to each other. This would be great if the rest of the show were on the ball - but it's just like - filler to get Shatner and Spader in a room together. And boy, theyre sticking witht that insulting soundtrack. The shame of this show is it had true potential - great actors, David Kelly - awesome characters - but they just went a different way. And now I go mine. Boston Legal, R.I.P.

BOSTON LEGAL WILL NO LONGER BE REVIEWED HERE.


NIP/TUCK (FX)
On creative life support but barely ingesting oxygen. Another show with creative potention, but they seem so much more interested in these cut-rate bad thriller plots that they never become what the show should really be about - instead it's just...ridiculous. They're hanging onto my dvr by a thread.
Grade: D -


THE REAL WORLD: COLORADO (MTV)
Watched the first two. What a strange bunch this time around. Colie is ridiculous - that short girl that slept with Alex is a major wierdo - though she got off the early season's best line so far - after knowing Colie for less then 36 hours, she sleeps with someone she slept with hours earlier, and then declares "Screw that guy - Colie is someone I LOVE and who will be at my wedding!" So far, so good. Everyone seems to really hate each other.
Grade: B

THE SOPRANOS: ROAD 2 RESPECT ( PS2)
So far - a complete waste of all the SOPRANOS talents - But I haven't gotten that far yet - will let you know how game progresses. So far, a waste.