Tuesday, October 18, 2005

TV Tues - Have a Cluckity Cluck Cluck Day

Some good news: My Name Is Earl, Bones, Prison Break, How I Met Your Mother, Supernatural, Criminal Minds and Surface have all been given full season orders. Keeping the fingers crossed for Threshold


Supernatural: As I promised dear Cap'n Cluck last week, here are my thoughts on the Bloody Mary ep: very very creepy, and very very cool. Interesting that Sam dreamed about his girlfriend's death before it happened; makes me wonder if their dad did the same before their mom died. The chemistry between Sam and Dean is still a big draw for the show. Wasn't the biggest fan of Jensen Ackles' character on Smallville, but he has totally redeemed himself as the smarmy, cocky, and funny Dean.

Gilmore Girls: I loved hearing Richard Gilmore calling others "fuddy-duddies" and Emily baring her claws at Logan's mom, almost as much as I loved seeing Paris turn commie and proselytizing for the proletariat. But all of that paled in comparison to the joy of seeing Kirk perform "The Journey of Man." Although it couldn't compare to his role in the elementary school production of Fiddler on the Roof last season, which ranks as one of the high points of the series.

Everwood: Think this show is operating at the top of its game right now. My only complaint was that Hannah didn't tell Bright how uncomfortable she felt at the party, but the final shot of her popping the aspirin was great. It was also nice to see non-sullen Ephraim for a change, I hope he sticks around for awhile before the next big father/son blowout.

Veronica Mars: One the one hand, I hate seeing Charisma Carpenter being pigeonholed into the Cordelia Chase type uber-bitca role; on the other, she’s just so danged good at it! Nobody does stuck-up cheerleader better than Ms. Carpenter.

Threshold: The show is still holding my interest so far. At this point, Peter Dinklage is the most entertaining aspect, which makes me worried that the ads promising that one of the team will die are all about him. About the only character I wouldn’t mind losing at all is Charles Dutton; he’s just so darn angry all the time!

Celebrity Poker Showdown: The ep with the husbands from Desperate Housewives was much more entertaining than I had expected; they all play such straight characters on the show that I never would have guessed they’d be as fun and funny as they were.

Smallville: Arrrggghhh!!! This . . . I can't . . . brain hurting . . . how can they . . . Okay, deep breaths, Cap'n, deep breaths. Let's take a look at the events of this episode from the point of view of Lana: Clark dies; Clark's body disappears from hospital; Clark appears alive and well in singed and blackened clothes; no explanation for miraculous recovery and charred condition is proffered; everything's hunky-dory. What the heck? Look, I don't care how hare-brained or cockamamie a story they feed to the public to explain Clark's resurrection, but there's got to be something. I'm now remembering why I gave up on this show for a season and a half; plot holes you could drive a freight truck through. If it weren't for the upcoming Brainiac storyline, this show would be sent packing to the DVD waitlist so fast it would give Clark whiplash.

Amazing Race: Glad to see the team of siblings move to the front of the pack and not make any stupid mistakes this time around. Unfortunately, Team Bickersons is still in the race, but at least they weren't in full-on fighting mode this ep.

Invasion: The show is slowly growing on me, but I still haven't been able to connect to the characters enough to make me give a dang about any of them. And even the whole creepy-sheriff thing, which might normally make me go "cool," only winds up bugging me because he's too creepy, takes me out of the show.

Survivor: One of the things I have come to love about this show is just how blunt and brutal Jeff can be to the contestants, calling them on all their crap. And to come out and say "You guys got totally blown out, and it's all this one guy's fault": awesome.

Apprentice: Oh, Toral, you silly, silly girl. What part of "You need to step up and work doubly hard" did you not understand? Yeah, the sorority chick mentality went a little overboard, but she did herself no favors. And speaking of stepping up, how about those guys? Writing the jingle was cool, but seeing redneck Mark become the Dairy Queen Drag Queen could very well be the high point of the season.

Two and Half Men: Best episode of the season. Is it mere coincidence that it was also the first episode to have a substantial Rose subplot? I think not!

Lost: While this was definitely an improvement over the last couple of episodes, only one thing really stood out to me: “Have a cluckity cluck cluck day.” Somehow, I think Cap’n Cluck would approve of that sentiment.

And now, time for a new feature here at CoIM’s TV Tuesdays: STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS REVIEWS: OR "HERE'S WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS EP"

My Name Is Earl: The look on Earl's face when trying to comprehend the peppy girl. Randy taking a long road to a simple thought. Randy's toes curling. Randy being convinced E.T. was a little monkey. Dirk wanting to hang himself with a papier-mâché noose at a picnic. The soaking up of random information for later use.

The Office: You have to play to win, but you also have to win to play. Lone Ranger and Tonto and Bonto. Adapt react readapt act. Not wanting to be the "something" guy. Dwight's fist-pump at the firetruck arrival. Dwight's desert island strategy. Acting out the scene from Ghost. "Everybody Hurts." Dwight backtracking: "Just part of me meant it." *singing* "Ryan started the fire, garble garble garble garble, Marilyn Monroe!"

How I Met Your Mother: It was a friend of mine named "Shut up!" She's ugly, she's ugly, and she ugs in the ugly. 24 similarities between women and fish. "You really never read my blog, do you?" Not awkward unless we let it be awkward. Talking during the breaks in the song. Marshall busting a move.


10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, our fearless Cap'n Leader, I most certainly approved of having a cluckity cluck cluck day. In fact, I think I shall end all of my comments with that from now on.

Have a Cluckity Cluck Cluck Day!

Unknown said...

Dear Todd,

I only watch 2 shows listed in this blog. Shocking, eh? Yes, I have been taken over by gooey aliens. I like being squishy, so BACK OFF!

Btw, I am now going by Rebel Monkey. I am no longer The Wiz, Joe, Chicagal, or any of the other billion nicks I've had over the years. The times, they are a changin' and so must I 'cuz whatever the times do, I do too. I am nothing but a no-good dirty time copy-catter.

Confusingly yours,
Rebel Monkey

Cap'n Neurotic said...

Now, Rebel Monkey, you don't really like being squishy, y'know, that's just what the aliens are making you think. But don't worry: I will soon organize a Book Monkey rescue squad which shall fly down to Austin, de-alienify you, and make sure that you are once again trapped in front of a TV 40 hours a week, incapabable of leaving the aparment for fear you'll miss the latest hilarious gay joke on Will and Grace

'cause that's the kind of friend I am.

Cap'n Neurotic said...

Oh, and another question for you, dear Rebel Monkey: what are your two alien-sanctioned TV shows? I'm guessing its not Threshold or Invasion, unless your inner alien enjoys a good laugh: "Silly humans, they've go it all wrong!"

Unknown said...

That'd be Gilmore Girls and Lost.

While I like Lost, I'm debating whether or not to get out while the getting's good 'cuz I was mightily burned by a little show called Alias.

I thought Alias was tha coolest show ever the first couple of seasons, but then it went all crapsville when it was obvious the writers went "Holy crap! We're still on the air?!?! We didn't sufficiently plan the plot past three seasons! Quick, grab a monkey and a type writer!".

Cap'n Neurotic said...

I think I detect a subtle dig at the writing prowess of monkeys, which might not sit well with the staff of Infinite Monkey Press. That being said, I think you're being entirely too generous saying that Alias lasted three years before they started brining in the monkey ghost writers. Or is that ghost monkey writers? Or ghost writer monkeys?

As for Lost falling prey to the Alias syndrome, from all of the interviews I've read, they actually do have an overall plan for the series, and have the big beats mapped out for the next several years. I'm just hoping that they follow the JMS Babylon 5 strategy of "once the story is done, it's done."

Anonymous said...

Charisma Carpenter is very good as the uber-bitca, but what's really interesting is that Kendall is very much not Cordelia.

That takes talent for CC to play what could be a sort-of grown up version of Cordelia, but have her be a completely different person. Kendall makes Cordelia look like Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm.

Alias? Eh, it's definitely on the other side of the shark now. Thank goodness for VM.

Cap'n Neurotic said...

Valid point, my anonymous friend: Cordy and Kendell, while members of the uber-bitca sorority, are most definitely different breeds. I keep hoping that Alyson Hannigan can work out her schedule to return as Logan's very non-Willow-ish sister for an ep, would love to see the two of them come to blows in this new setting. And if it could have happened on the upcoming guest appearance of Joss (who, sadly, probably will not be performing Numfar's dance of joy and/or shame), it would have made this Whedonite's heart grow three sizes.

As for the shark-jumping of Alias (not to mention Whedonverse alumni), while I have forsaken it this season, I know I will have to watch it on DVD, since they've just added Amy Acker to the cast for at least 7 eps.

And finally, let me second that "thank goodness for VM." If only it wasn't in such a horrible time slot.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it really sucks that VM is up against Lost.

Those are the only two shows that I really get excited about every week. I Tivo Alias and The O.C. out of habit, and I enjoy Everwood and Grey's Anatomy and DH and a couple of other things, but so long as I have Lost and VM, I'm fine.

So of course they are up against each other. Thank goodness for Tivos and VCRs. But it still sucks for VM because most people who would like VM are watching Lost and have no idea what they are missing.

And do you want me to answer your question about AH and CC? The truth is out there if you seek it.

And no, there will be no Numfar dance of joy, although that would be cool. And hilarious. TVguide.com has a sneak peek at Joss in his VM cameo as a rental car clerk.

Cap'n Neurotic said...

Yeah, I just saw the Joss picture linked in Ask Ausielo, makes me wish the Joss ep was this week.