WGA strike over, NIP/TUCK somehow still on the air.

TO all the writers back at work, let's start today's reviews off with a review of a film that truly embraces the noble profession of writing:

BASIC INSTINCT 2: RISK ADDICTION (HBO)
I watched this on HBO over a few nights and I must say – for bad movies that are so bad they’re good – this one is GOLD. The most ridiculous plot, the most ridiculous dialog, the worst acting on every level – thank God they made this film. Best moment, where Sharon Stone stands in front of the shrink’s office, summons up the 80s and whispers to him in her weirdo retro “is this really sexy” kinda voice “So this is where we – do it?” And while she does not show the famous cookie again – she does take off her top in a Jacuzzi scene. I think Sharon is gorgeous for her age, at any age – but this shot of her topless by the Jacuzzi kind of reminded me of those shots of the older swingers who go to those horrifying swing parties with tons of food and older people…you get the idea.
Grade: F
as so – bad-it’s-good entertainment: A +


AMERICAN GLADIATORS (NBC)
I kind of get this show – but I still can’t believe what a hit it is. The contestants seem like money hungry dead eyed zombie soldiers, Hulk Hogan seems strange and a LONG way from the WWE or even his highly scripted and cloying and annoying reality show, and the whole thing is just…really low rent. The contestants come off like money starved junkies – always trying to get the tired crowd to cheer them on in their quest of the dollar bill. There is something just – too retro about this show somehow. And the stunts kind of seem like 3rd rate Jackass bits. This ain’t for me.
Grade: D


ROCK OF LOVE 2 (VH1)
This is one of the more fun reality shows on the air. While it’s somehow not yet as engaging as season 1, there is plenty to enjoy here. Still, the girls are not really “popping” like their season 1 counterparts just yet. I think the casting of year one was top notch and they just didn’t get the personalities this year. Or year 2 is one year too many. Not sure yet. But of course I’ll keep my eyes peeled.
Grade: B


JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! (ABC)
Sarah Silverman’s “I’m Fucking Matt Damon” is one of the funniest things I’ve seen on TV in a long time. Go here to see this clip:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LA5BnTrFAx0
(I have NO IDEA why my links aren't working - but in the meantime - cut and paste.)
And if that wasn’t great enough – on the same show this clip initially aired, Jimmy and Sarah also gave a major shout out to the incredible KEN WAHL (but no Sarah, you don’t look like him.) However, for those of you that don’t know me personally, I seriously do.

And this seems like a good time to plug WISEGUY, one of the greatest crime dramas ever made – only there is no real proper way to watch it these days. The DVD sets are all fucked up, out of sequence and missing key musical numbers, and the set is at least a season and a movie incomplete. How is it that two of our best crime shows ever – WISEGUY and HILL STREET BLUES are unrepresented on DVD? HILL ST. only got two seasons out there before FOX decided it wasn’t making enough money to honor the greatest cop show of it’s time. The situation for both shows is tragic – truly.

Back to Kimmel, who I think now has the best late night talk show on the air, Jimmy hit pay dirt again by having long time friend and creative collaborator Adam Carolla on his show. Adam and Jimmy are truly great together on the air, and the segment peaked with the funniest clip that had Adam’s young boy crying bloody murder over a segment of SESEME STREET that truly upset him. (the segment in question deals with a wheelchair bound kid.)

I fell asleep during AMERICAN IDOL last night. I think we just need to get to the competition. Maybe next year they don’t have to show us every audition – especially in its current, over produced form. My guess is that if you go back and look at seasons 1 & 2, you can see the auditions are a lot more low tech and fun – witness Clay’s initial audition. No tons of background footage to wink at the audience to let us know he’s in – just an audition that changed everything Simon thought an IDOL should look like. Anyway – the show just seems kind of dull so far. Maybe things will perk up during the competitive phase.


BOB DYLAN
I’ve been listening a lot lately to BLONDE ON BLONDE and BLOOD ON THE TRACKS. Great CDs. I don’t know how I kind of missed out on Dylan – but I’m becoming a big fan. 30 years later. Go figure. VISIONS OF JOHANNA and BABY BLUE are great songs.

MILLIONAIRE MATCHMAKER (BRAVO)
Lonnie Moore, one of my best friends, friend to this blog, and, with Mike Boogie – the two guys who redefined hip eateries in L.A. (Geisha House, Bella, Dolce’, the late-great BELLY – and even the place where starlets go when they want to be bad, Le Deux) – was the subject of this dating show for women who want to hook up with the guys with the big bank accounts. I haven’t watched many of these, but I watched Lonnies’ and loved it mostly because he was really himself and didn’t bother to listen to the rules and made the show really entertaining. Stay tuned for an excusive with Lonnie in the next blog about his experience, plus an interview with Mike Boogie and Dr. Will about the upcoming season of BIG BROTHER (Which I’m very excited about.)
SHOW GRADE: B –
LONNIE SEGMENT: A +

NIP/TUCK (FX)
Continues its 3 season descent into hell. How deep can they go? I think Ryan Murphy might need an intervention. The last few seasons have been as bad as the first few seasons were good. It’s now at ground zero.
Grade: F


THE WIRE (HBO)
Is getting so good in its last few eps, it’s criminal to put this show to bed. But what a way to go. Beware of Omar.
Grade: A


HOUSE (FOX)
Laura Silverman rocked the house as a recently married orthodox Jew who collapses in her wedding dress on the big day. Religion and science clashed, and as it turned out, neither was really right. Great episode. Great performance by Laura Silverman. And whoever played her religious husband was also right on the money. And House approves of Wilson’s new girlfriend – the cold hearted bitch – though I never quite got that vibe from the actress.
Grade: A

JANICE DICKINSON AGENCY (OXY)
The big showdown with Peter is coming – be there. I guess. I like this show – but at a full hour – it’s a bit much.
Grade: C


MIKE DOUGLAS DOCUMENTARY (PBS)
Wow – Mike Douglas was the man. I’m amazed. I’m too young too really remember him – yet he had on a 4 year old Tiger Woods hitting golf balls, a pre-CHIPS Eric Estrada, Lennon and Yoko after their declared love-in, he had everybody! He was fearless and funny – yet he could hang back and let the guests do their thing. But that scene with Tiger – his dad had brought him on to hit a golf ball. It’s a pretty amazing moment you can probably see on YOUTUBE. Also – the Douglas show was 90 minutes – so it wasn’t just comedy. They had on serious political figures and the clips – my God, there is one of Copolla and Brando right after shooting GODFATHER – it’s just kind of unbelievable. I highly recommend what is now a DVD. I think you can get it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Mike-Douglas-Moments-Memories-Hitchcock/dp/B0012EM5CO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1202404556&sr=8-1


THE APPRENTICE: CELEB EDITION (NBC)
Jimmy Kimmel said recently that Omorosa is only a celebrity to Donald Trump. I think that’s hilarious – and her anti-social ways continue to tweak this celeb edition and make it interesting. Thought I don’t know that they’ll ever top the 2 hour Peirs – Vince Pastore smackdown from last week. This edition is a major winner.
Grade: B


CLOVERFIELD (IN THEATERS)
What can I say? I loved the opening, except that NONE of the dialog really rung true or real or anything. People in our century actually DO know how to work digital video cameras – this was a FANTASTIC conceit and the first few shots of the mayhem through the video was great – but nothing here was earned and in the end, it was just a conceit and not a real move. If I had anything to compare it with, it would obviously be BLAIR WITCH, who did a hell of a lot more with a hell of a lot less. See, in BLAIR, you actually believed in the characters – so when they got into the satanic shit, you were actually scared for them. This is more of a freak show with people that don’t’ really resemble anyone I know. Still, I admire the film on its own terms.
Grade: C +


THE GRAMMY AWARDS (CBS)
Okay, where do I begin. Alicia Keys was somewhat annoying in her duet with the very dead Sinatra (“You tell em’, Frank”) – okay, we get it – he’s dead. You don’t need to hang a fat hook on it by talking to the dead person in a very….condescending way. Anyway – she redeemed herself by singing a GREAT version of NO ONE – her awesome single from her great new CD. Other than that – I don’t know – I FF a lot of it – so much boring jazz, and such. The Hancock win? Here we go again. I’ve always said that the GRAMMYS are the least important awards show because it’s extremely based on sales and goofy ideas. The list of greats who haven’t even been nominated would shock you. Do you know that Milli Vanilli beat Terence Trend D’Arby for best new artist back in the day? More to the point, the entire show was really a tribute to the tortured, troubled and fantastic singer Amy Winehouse. Amy won almost everything she was nominated for, which was heartening, then did a really borderline scary/playful perf. Of both “YOU KNOW I’m NO GOOD” and a really wink-wink version of “Rehab.” I think she’s getting her game back – she’s a troubled girl, but she’s a true original – which is a real commodity in music these days. For Nat Cole to come out and say “I think we should not award Amy for her behavior…blah blah blah “ Really – fuck you, Cole. She’s being nominated because people love the music. You think your life is so fantastic – I’d love to see the file on you and everybody you’ve fucked over in your life.
Grade: B
AMY WINEHOUSE PERF: A

THIS JUST IN FROM www.thesuperficial.com

Multiple Grammy winner Natalie Cole made a stink yesterday to People about Amy Winehouse's wins at the Grammys:

"I don't think she should have won. I think it sends a bad message to our young people who are trying to get into this business, the ones who are trying to do it right and really trying to keep themselves together," said Cole, 58. "We have to stop rewarding bad behavior."
This would be all well and good if Natalie Cole didn't have a long history of crack use according to her Wikipedia bio:

Cole continued to spiral out of control - including one incident where she refused to evacuate a burning building, and another where her young son Robert nearly drowned in the family swimming pool while she and her first husband, the late Reverend Marvin Yancy, were on a drug binge.
Natalie Cole won a bunch of Grammys and was a crackhead, so I think it's only fair that Amy Winehouse gets to win a bunch and also be a crackhead.

TIM AND ERIC”S AWESOME SHOW (TOON)
Okay, you may have to be under the influence of something to properly enjoy this, however – if you ARE – tune into this hilarious fucking steam of conciseness show that parodies EVERYTHING.
Grade: A


ROBOT CHICKEN (TOON)
Same review as above – a tad more mainstream, just as beguiling.
Grade: A


THE SOPRANOS (DVD)
What better way to celebrate the ending of the WGA strike than by watching two stellar episodes of this towering show? I caught both LONG TERM PARKING and ALL DUE RESPECT – the last 2 eps of the 5th season. LONG TERM was written by the great Terry Winter, and dealt mostly with the mounting problems of Adriana – who had nowhere to run in this ep. The fact that this show took these people that we LOVED (Christopher, Tony and Silvio were directly responsible for her getting killed) and still – in that very last episode with Tony sliding down the snow banks in order to evade the Feds – we really loved these characters. Just about no matter what they did. I know I’ve said there will never be another show like this again – I might actually be starting to believe it.

Don’t ask me why , but I’d simply kill for a dvd of THE HOTTIE AND THE NOTTIE.

THE KING OF KONG (DVD)
Two guys. One game. One high score. This was one of the very best docus I have seen in a long time. It was really funny and somehow inspiring. It's about these two very different guys who have been battling it out for the DONKEY KONG high score - but it's a lot more than that. It's a real look at the world of classic gaming, and some of the characters here are simply...the best. It reminded me in a really good way of AMERICAN MOVIE. You should rent this.
Grade: A

THE GIANTS!

THE APPRENCTICE: CELEB EDITION (NBC)
Pierce and Vincent Pastore had the best thing going ever on this weeks special 2 hour edition. Pierce sent Pastore to rat on the girls, then gave him up while he was still under, unaware that Pastore had become a double agent. Okay – Vincent Pastore the actor, historic as Big Pussy – is somewhat out of his mind. But the show was great, it deserved it’s 2 hour running time, and the SOPRANOS joke at the end with the Journey song was fairly priceless.
Grade: B +

ELI STONE (ABC)
I hadn’t heard too much about this show before it aired, and ended up really loving it. Jonny Lee Miller plays Eli, a cutthroat lawyer who begins to have hallucinations (including George Michael singing FAITH – which includes cameos by Mr. Michael.) He eventually is diagnosed with an inoperable brain aneurysm, and the show, which also includes the great actor Victor Garbor, is about Eli’s decision to change who he is. The show is well written with humor and compassion, and I highly recommend it. In a box full of cynical, negative shows – this one with the heart wins.
Grade: A


THE SUPERBOWL (FOX)
What a game. This was the first time in a long time I wanted to put money on the Giants. I was at the greatest superbowl party and was too busy stuffing my face to watch the commercials or the halftime show – I can just say this was one of the very best games and dramas in a long line of boring superbowls. This game ruled.
Grade: A


THE WIRE (HBO)
Is getting really tense in its final few episodes. While the story goes on, there are some clear signs of finish, resolve and "adios, pal" in the air. THE WIRE - will be greatly missed. The scenes last week involving “Proposition Joe” were fantastic.
Grade: A +


LOST (ABC)
"Through The Looking Glass" - a 2 hour repeat of the mind-bending season finale that aired last year. What a great concept for the re-airing - a sort of "pop up video" with all kinds of theories and facts about the show. I forgot just how insanely good this 2 hour finale was, and I can't WAIT for the new eps to start rolling out next week. From what I know, there are 8 that are filmed - so who knows - but I'm sure the 8 will hold me over for a while. It's very rare that a show rebounds the way this one did - the third season started truly horribly - the fact that it got so good is a testament to the writing and care that the producers and creators invested into this very special show.

UPDATE: By the end of the 2 hours, the “pop-up” stuff had become really cloying, annoying and started to make me hate the show. (BEST WEEK EVER echoed my statements, saying they started out being really helpful, and the pop ups got downright chatty!) Please ABC, never do that again.
Grade: A (It’s still a superb episode) And no, I haven’t watched the new one yet.


AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)
Yawn. Sigh. Yawn. Bring on the competition.


THE BAD GIRLS CLUB (OXY)
These chicks are insane! I love how that chick LYRIC thinks she's above it all. And I love how that chick who claims to be a radio host (what host leaves for 5 months to be on a reality tv show???) - is just such a follower and NEVER a leader of anything that goes on in the house. This is truly insane television - I love it.
Grade: B


NIP/TUCK (FX)
Gina left the show - I had no idea she was still on it. I don't remember her coming back. This episode, which also featured an older woman forcing her young lover to get a mustache implant (?) - was actually more in the vein of the still crappy - but better Nip/Tuck. There were strong themes and flashes of actual with and some profound statements. Unfortunately, it was ruined by the casual way the writers have treated the break up of Christian and Julia (or the coming breakup) and the cheap way they exploited AIDS in this episode. Still, for a show that's on life support, this was definitely one of the season's better showings. And that's saying a lot. And I guess, in the end, Gina was a monster, but she was a great character and her final speech might've been the last time we'll ever see some good Nip/Tuck. That said, Sharon Gless is unusually good in the role of the agent. God, this show used to have it all. Now it's just such patchwork. Good parts here, terrible parts here, a decent episode here, the worst episode in their history there - like I've said in the past, Ryan Murphy should write a great batch of eps that step up the NIP/TUCK endgame and get out while they still have a legacy. One more season - and I think this will have stepped over into PICKET FENCES territory - where the latter, bad 4 seasons truly outweigh the first 2 good seasons. Still, how many times are we going to have a woman in Christian’s life tell him “what a piece of shit he is and that sex is the only blah, blah, blah.”
Grade: B –

NIP/TUCK (FX)
Another show airs – another true piece of crap. This one had Sharon Gless’ increasingly demented agent stuff a live CAA agent with teddy bear stuffing. And it wasn’t funny, nor satiric. Just really dumb. Like the whole show.
Grade: D