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September 28, 2007

"Housewives" is feisty fun again

The ABC dramedy "Desperate Housewives" has had a rocky history. When it launched a few years ago, its combination of glamorous soap opera and dark comedy instantly hit home with millions of viewers and it became a smash. It also became a cultural phenomenon, particularly since it featured multiple lead female roles (most of them played by women over 40) and made its characters recognizably flawed.
Then, in its second season, it struggled creatively, launching a backlash from critics and viewers alike. Finally, it bounced back a bit in its third season -- not returning to its former "must watch" status, but also avoiding the scathing criticism it endured in the second season.
I swear, the critical and audience responses to this show are violent enough to give me whiplash! Thus, I'm happy to report that, based on the first episode of the fourth season (which airs Sunday at 9 p.m.), "DH" seems to have settled into a groove.

When the fourth season opens, we immediately learn the fate of neighborhood hot tamale Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan), who appeared to have hung herself in the third season finale. What happens to Edie is too clever and fun to spoil, so let's move on to what's happened with the other housewives.
Gabby (Eva Longoria) has just married her cold-hearted politician boyfriend and is already planning to run off with her ex-husband, Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira). Bree (Marcia Cross) and her still-somewhat-new hubby Orson (Kyle MacLachlan) are still pretending that Bree is pregnant, to help hide the truth about Bree's daughter Danielle (who is actually pregnant). Lynette (Felicity Huffman) is deep into chemotherapy for her recently diagnosed cancer, but still hasn't told anyone besides her husband Tom (Doug Savant) and her mother (Polly Bergen).
And, of course, Susan (Teri Hatcher) is still married to Mike (James Denton) and, instead of being happy, is already convinced that their union is doomed. Sigh. Oh Susan, you never fail to annoy.
We're also introduced to new neighbor Katherine Mayfair, played by the always welcome Dana Delany. Katherine apparently lived on Wisteria Lane before, and was a buddy to Susan. She's returned with her daughter, who seems not to remember anything about her life in her old neighborhood, and a hunky doctor husband (Nathan Fillion -- just as welcome as Delany).
The stories bump along pleasantly enough -- though, as usual, Huffman and Cross get the best stuff. I particularly liked that Huffman, unlike most actresses who play cancer patients, allows herself to actually look sick. When we first see the post-chemo Lynette, it's appropriately shocking. But thankfully, Lynette hasn't lost her edge, and there's a cheer-worthy moment she finally reveals her cancer.
Cross also has a couple of great moments, including a wonderfully tense discussion with Delany's character over a cup of coffee. Like so many of the best Bree moments, it's polite on the surface with rage and resentment simmering underneath.
I enjoyed the first episode so much that I'm very hopeful about the new season. Let's hope they maintain the momentum. No one needs more "DH"-induced whiplash.

Posted by amanda on 2:15 PM | Comments (0)

September 25, 2007

Falling below my expectations

As someone who has never been able to sit through an entire episode of ABC's monster hit "Grey's Anatomy," I'm well aware that I have no business reviewing the "Grey's" spin-off, "Private Practice." But several people have asked me about, so I felt compelled to watch the screener copy issued to me and write something up. Besides, it's possible that I would like "Practice," which debuts tonight at 9 p.m. After, the spun-off character, Addison (Kate Walsh), is a fan favorite. Plus, my boyfriend's mom was dying to view the new show, and it's hard to say no to her.
So, I watched the show. And I learned something: If you don't like a show, you're probably not going to enjoy its spin-offs.

The concept of "Private Practice" was launched last spring, in a "Grey's" episode in which Addison travels to California to visit a friend who's a partner in a swanky medical co-op. The new show begins with Addison accepting a job at said co-op and arriving in California to find out that no one except her friend Naomi (Audra McDonald) knows about the job offer. The other docs in the practice are briefly annoyed that Naomi has overruled them, then break off into a series of ridiculous, soapy subplots: Naomi and her soon-to-be-ex-husband Sam (Taye Diggs) get involved with an unusual artificial insemination case; pediatrician Cooper (Paul Adelstein) and psychiatrist Violet (Connecticut native Amy Brenneman) try to help a woman who has a breakdown in a department store; and Addison tries to deliver a teenage girl's baby with the help of the practice's holistic doc, Pete (Tim Daly).
Even for someone who doesn't like "Grey's," "Practice" is disappointing and, even worse, a waste of talent. The charismatic and funny Daly is wasted, as is the usually terrific Adelstein. "Prison Break" fans will recognize Adelstein as the dearly departed Agent Kellerman, perhaps the grandiose Fox drama's best character.
Admittedly, my dislike of "Practice" might have been informed by my bitterness that Adelstein cast Kellerman aside to play someone much less interesting on an even sillier show.
And, lest you think my anti-"Practice" attitude is due solely to my dislike of "Grey's," chew on this: my boyfriend's mom, a rabid "Grey's" fan, didn't like "Practice" either.
So stay away.

Posted by amanda on 1:56 PM | Comments (0)

September 24, 2007

"Heroes" -- Think inside the box

So, the second season of "Heroes" started tonight and OH MY GOD.
Here's a quick rundown of some of the stuff that happened (look away if you haven't watched yet -- I won't be held responsible for your spoilage).

1. Parkman, Nathan and Peter are all still alive after the showdown in the season finale. And, judging from the previews of coming weeks, so is Sylar. Hey, don't want to kill off too many characters in the first season.
2. Parkman and Nathan have destroyed their marriages, but at least Parkman has managed to forge a new family. He and Mohinder have taken in little Molly -- sort of like "My Two Dads" with superpowers. You decide whether Mohinder or Parkman is Paul Reiser.
3. Molly is having nightmares -- bad ones, about mysterious presence who can see her.
4. Hiro is still in ancient Japan. He meets his hero Kensei -- only to find out that he's a drunken Englishman and a rather obnoxious one at that (yes, that was David Anders, aka Sark on "Alias," as Kensei. Good to see him again).
5. Meanwhile Papa Nakamura continues to wait for Hiro. And wait. And wait. And wait. Ando waits with him. And waits. And waits. And waits.
6. Nathan is an emotional mess after saving Peter in the finale. We can tell he is a mess because he's grown a beard, just like the one Jack Bauer grew in the second season of "24." Apparently, everyone is sure Peter's dad. Nathan seems unconvinced, but he's still drinking and covered in facial hair. So he definitely has issues.
7. The Bennett family is now the Butler family. Noah (aka HRG, aka Mr. Bennett, aka Mr. Butler) urges Claire not to draw attention to herself. She does her best, but still manages to attract the notice of a boy who turns out to have superpowers as well. Hmm. I guess it's hard to blend in when you're a gorgeous blonde with perfect skin. Poor Claire. Meanwhile, her dad (who now actually DOES work for a paper company) breaks his own rule -- and probably the fingers of his new boss.
8. Mohinder and Noah are setting up a trap for the Company, and someone has finally taken the bait.
9. Speaking of the Company, someone is gunning for Mama Petrelli and Papa Nakamura and, near the episode's end, Papa N. seems to die.
10. Somewhere along the line, we met two new characters, Maya and Alejandro. Maya apparently has some sort of power that kills people by making them bleed out their eyeballs. She can control it only when her brother Alejandro is around. Looking for answers, the two read Mohinder's book about superheroes and think that he can help them.
11. In a warehouse in Ireland, a bunch of guys looking for stolen merchandise open a shipping crate. Inside, they find no merchandise. Instead it's....Peter! (come on, you saw that one coming a mile away). Peter, in a shocking twist, is chained up and has no idea who he is. On the upside, he appears to have a much better haircut than he did last season.
Overall, it was a strong first ep, setting up some pretty interesting story lines. And there were some great scenes, particularly Papa Bennett snapping the paper jockey's fingers, and Hiro doggedly trying to convince his hero Kensei to fulfill his destiny.
Lots of promise and lots of fun.

Posted by amanda on 10:26 PM | Comments (0)

September 21, 2007

"Moonlight" -- neither particularly good nor very bad. Discuss.

It's never a good sign when a network almost completely recasts a show, and delays sending out review screeners to the press until a week before the show premieres.
Such has been the case with "Moonlight," CBS's freshman drama about a private investigator who also happens to be a vampire. Shortly after CBS announced the show was on its fall schedule, there were reports of rampant recasting. Turns out, nearly every actor except for the lead, Alex O'Loughlin, was replaced. The pilot was reshot, and the show wasn't included in the package of pilot review screeners CBS sent out in summer.
Thus buzz began -- just how bad was this thing?

Well, I've finally seen the first episode and I can tell you this: it's not a complete disaster. I mean, it's stiff and clunky in spots, but overall, there's some potential here.

O'Loughlin plays Mick St. John, a vampire who refuses to feed on humans and works as a private investigator. For reasons learned at the episode's end, he helps plucky internet reporter Beth Turner (Sophia Myles) who's looking into the murder of a young co-ed, which appears vampire related.Meanwhile, he tries to protect his secret identity, and that of other vampires living in modern-day Los Angeles.
The pilot episode had plenty of flaws. Myles has almost no charisma and the mystery plot is perfunctory and lame. In fact, the whole episode is a little flat, including some really cheesy "vampire" special effects.
But the show has done a few things right. The first was keeping O'Loughlin in the lead. The Australian actor (last seen as Vic's prospective replacement on "The Shield) is funny, charming and a solid leading man. An opening sequence in which he imagines being interviewed about his life as a blood sucker is fun and lively, mainly because it's all about him.
The second good thing about the show is the presence of the terrific Jason Dohring as Mick's vampire buddy, Josef. Fans of the late, lamented "Veronica Mars" will remember Dohring as poor little rich boy Logan Echolls. Here, he plays another likable rich jerk, but he does it so well that you don't even mind that he's essentially giving the same performance.
So no, "Moonlight" isn't a raging success. But it may be worth watching a couple of episodes to see where it goes.
If it gains its footing in the next couple of episodes, it could be a fun guilty pleasure.
"Moonlight" premieres 9 p.m. Sept. 28 on CBS.

Posted by amanda on 9:51 AM | Comments (0)

September 20, 2007

I'm with Jimmy

Mid-way through the premiere of CBS's controversial new reality show "Kid Nation," Jimmy, an adorable, floppy-haired 8-year-old, is discovered sobbing inconsolably. When one of his kid compatriots asks what's wrong, Jimmy tearfully replies that he's made a mistake. He's too young to be out in the middle of nowhere, with no parents and no real adult supervision. It isn't right, he says.
This represents the most sensible, realistic moment on "Kid Nation," which debuted Wednesday night on CBS. The show follows 40 kids as they work together to rebuild a New Mexico ghost town.

Prior to its broadcast, "Kid Nation" faced allegations that it had violated child protection laws and endangered the safety of its young cast members. But the biggest crime I saw committed on the show's premiere was felony creepiness.
Here's the premise: The kids have to rebuild the ghosttown and subsist for 40 days on a cache of supplies given to them at the show's start. They are told that four other children have been picked as their town council, and are eventually split into groups, each overseen by a different council member.
In the premiere, the groups competed for status in the town using the kind of physical challenge one might see on the old kids' game show "Double Dare." The winners are the town's upper class; second place runs stores; third place are the cooks and fourth place are the laborers. Every week, the council picks the hardest working kid and gives him or her a gold star worth $20,000.
Here's the thing about "Kid Nation" -- despite all the hoopla, it's pretty much your typical reality show. There are feuds, backstabbing and snooty young women who say things like "Beauty queens don't do dishes!" Still, there's something creepy about all these reality show conventions being acted out by little children and adolescents (the oldest is 15).
They seem like little parrots, mimicking all the terrible things they see adults do on shows like "Survivor." For that reason alone, "Kid Nation" is tough to watch. Sure, the show's first episode was ratings hit, but I find it hard to believe this is something people will come back to week after week.
More likely, they'll be like little Jimmy who, at the premiere's concluding town council meeting, announced that he was leaving "Kid Nation." Good for him.

Posted by amanda on 1:44 PM | Comments (0)