The Young Victoria: A Royal Treat

The Young Victoria’s screenwriter, Julian Fellowes, stated “I had become aware, as quite a young man, of the extraordinary, but largely unknown, contrast between the popular image of the famous Queen, old and plump, always dressed in black, always frowning, and the reality of the young woman who succeeded her uncle on the Throne of England.” This superb movie, with its incredible acting, portrays the remarkable story of Victoria’s youth and her early days as Queen. We learn she was a passionate young woman who loved music, dancing, and opera and survived a nightmarish childhood. It is truly one of the best films I have seen all year.

The beginning of the film depicts the year before Victoria (Emily Blunt) was crowned Queen of England. According to Victoria, “even a palace can be a prison.” She was sheltered and controlled by her mother, the Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson), and her mother’s attendant, Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong). Secluded in her palace with Dash, her cute dog and only friend, Victoria abided by many ridiculous rules such as not walking down the stairs by herself and sleeping in the same bedroom as her mother. Sir John and her mother constantly tried to force Victoria to sign a regency order, which would have allowed them to rule in her place. Victoria bravely and continuously refused to sign a regency order.

Her uncle William, the King of England (Jim Broadbent), who was in poor health, adored his niece. He fought to live past her 18^th birthday so she could become Queen and be free of her mother. Victoria’s other uncle, King Leopold of Belgium (Thomas Kretschmann), chose Prince Albert of Germany (Rupert Friend) for Victoria to marry. During the year prior to her coronation, her relationship with Prince Albert began to flourish.  The two understood each other and what it is like to be used as “chess pieces” for others ambition. Also, you witness the instant attraction and connection between them.

King William passed away after her eighteenth birthday and Victoria was crowned Queen on June 28, 1838 (I felt like cheering for her; she survived!). To her council she stated, “I am young but I am willing to learn. I am willing to devote my life to my country and people.” Early in her rule, Victoria leaned on Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), the Prime Minister, for advice and support, although he appeared to take advantage of her loyalty to push his political agenda. Albert and Victoria grew closer through their letters and fell head over heels in love with each other. The rest of the movie follows the beginning of their marriage and an event that balance to their relationship and brings Albert and Victoria much closer.

The acting in The Young Victoria was excellent. Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend made the movie! They had great chemistry and were perfect for the roles. Blunt really brought Victoria to life and deserves the Golden Globe nomination she received for her performance. The extremely handsome Rupert Friend complimented Blunt very well in his role. The supporting cast was also very strong, especially Miranda Richardson, Mark Strong and Jim Broadbent! Richardson and Strong did a great job as the characters you strongly disliked for the horrible way they treated Victoria.

In the film, the attention to detail was also brilliant. The clothing, palaces, gardens and jewelry were exquisite!

This was a wonderful way to learn about European history and Queen Victoria, the longest reigning monarch in British history. If you enjoy historical movies or would just like to see “one of the greatest, and truest love stories in history” then The Young Victoria is a must see!

Scrubs: A New Generation

It’s hard for me to remember sometimes that Scrubs is still on the air. And watching the newest episodes on ABC doesn’t really help me. Having been a fan for most of its seven (eight?) year run I have grown to adore and become friends with the doctors of Sacred Heart. Carla, the bossy know it all; J.D., the oh-so desperate protagonist, Jordan, the incorrigible drunk who at the end had way too many face-lifts. And let’s not forget, J.D’s non-gay love Turk, the hyper sensitive Elliot, and the mentor who kept J.D. begging for love, Dr. Cox. These characters were the heart of Sacred Heart, and each week they were friends. It was an easy relationship; one built on laughs, on love, and desperation. For all of these characters, as accomplished as they were, each was built around some desperate need of… something. Whether it is acceptance, the need to be loved, the need to not be touched. It was a joy to watch these characters interact. But that was a long time ago; or at least a couple of seasons, a variety of casts, and a network ago.

With Scrubs’ move to ABC, there have been a host of new changes as is expected when a show moves to a new network hoping to re-stamp this show as its own. There are new characters, a new setting, but still there is somewhat of the same feel that the original show had going for it. But while watching these new episodes, I can’t help but compare it to the show’s earlier offerings.

Pros:
In these new episodes there are a lot of new characters. And as we all know, new characters mean new storylines, more chances of development. I must admit, I was most resistant to this particular change, because as you can tell I liked the old characters a lot. But even I must admit that these new characters bring a breath of fresh air to an increasingly stagnant show. Don’t get me wrong, I adored Scrubs but somewhere around season seven the show started to lose itself. The characters became dull, the storylines even more so. There was a lack of excitement, everything had gone stale and the show became like molded bread left too long in the pantry then trotted out in time for dinner. Really? No. So, these new characters are most definitely a plus.

Along with new characters there is also a new setting as ABC’s Scrubs takes place in a medical school. This offers new challenges for the cast, both new and old, as well as gives the show a new opportunity for longevity; med school, then their turns at being a doctor. Which is good. And also another plus, is that the shows stays true to form with characters. The feel of the show is much the same, with the camaraderie and the voiceovers; this is reminiscent of second season Scrubs. And that’s a good place to be.

Cons:

This show seems like a completely new show, or rather a spin-off of the original series. Half of the old characters are gone, of the main characters that is. The only survivors are J.D., Turk, and Dr. Cox. I’ll ignore the fact that all of the abandoned characters are women (because I truly don’t think that this was a factor, other than the fact that they weren’t really the strongest of the six and probably wouldn’t fit into this new show) and the fact that even the pathetic and useless Ted got an appearance in this season (totally unneeded, sorry. Him, not my comment, that’s true.).

But I’m not truly upset by this rather it just makes me feel so very out of place. There is not enough of the familiar to tie this show to the original, as I have become to think of the earlier seasons. There is really not enough of a connection, the new characters, the new setting, the focus on character rather than the medical approach. Because while Scrubs was indeed very character driven, still we got to see these characters in the thick of things as it were. There was more attention on the patients and the challenges of actually being a doctor. There was the enormous challenge of having someone’s life in your hands, set with comic relief of course.

I don’t know, maybe I’m being a purist, but I don’t think so. This new show’s good… But the problem is it’s not Scrubs, it’s more like Scrubs 2.0. A new generation, it’s something else. And this is even more true with the imminent departure of J.D., the main protagonist, and the man in whose head we’ve spent most of the last eight (nine?) seasons. But the show’s worth checking out. But if you do, don’t look at it as a continuation of Scrubs. Look at it as something new, a new story all on its own. You’ll probably be more satisfied then, in fact it’s probably what the network wants considering what the old Scrubs turned into. (See seasons 7 and 8 )

Tuesdays at 9/8c on ABC.

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Photographs courtesy of ABC, Karen Neal, and Harper Smith.

The Curse of Jay Leno

Back in May of this year, Jay Leno made his much touted farewell from The Tonight Show where he reigned supreme for a solid seventeen years. There’s probably not that many people who would put Leno in the same class as his predecessor, Johnny Carson, but his departure from the show was a milestone nonetheless and in a perfect world he would have drifted into retirement knowing he went out on top leaving the future of the show in the younger hands of Conan O’Brien. But that’s not what happened. Instead a gamble was made and now, only four months in, it would seem that both NBC and primetime network television as a whole faces an unknown future.

On September 14, 2009, just 108 days after “retiring” from The Tonight Show, Jay Leno and NBC premiered their controversial new collaboration creatively titled, The Jay Leno Show at 10 P.M. where it would remain every night of the week. It was a bold move to say the least. The last time a network aired the same show in primetime every weekday our president was Dwight D. Eisenhower. Some local affiliates threatened not to air the show in favor of just about anything else for fear of losing viewers but NBC held strong and carried on with the series for an America curious to see what Leno would be doing differently in his new timeslot.

As it turns – he didn’t do much of anything differently. The show is virtually the same as when it aired at 11:30 P.M. despite attempts to hide that fact by shuffling some things around, having fewer guests and only featuring a couple of musical acts per week versus every night. In a nutshell, if you enjoyed watching Leno on The Tonight Show you’d probably enjoy his new gig too but it’s not quite that simple. Primetime series require much larger audiences to satisfy advertisers and even though The Jay Leno Show is cheaper to produce than most hour-long dramas, it now finds itself being regularly bested in the ratings game by shows on cable networks. Needless to say, industry observers are starting to get nervous.

Adding fuel to the fire is what’s being called the Leno Effect. Local NBC affiliates have long relied on the network to provide big audiences during the 10 o’clock hour so as to keep as many viewers as possible for their local 11 o’clock news. Well, Leno’s weak numbers are doing local news broadcasts no favors. According to The Chicago-Sun Times, many local newscasts have experienced audience drops of up to 25-30% and they aren’t happy about it. And by that nature The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien is also bleeding viewers thanks to the fewer number of people tuning into their local NBC news, which would air right before O’Brien’s show. This effect alone is bad news but when you add in the fact that both ABC and CBS have banned their primetime stars from appearing on Leno’s show in an effort to keep viewers on their 10 o’clock shows, things aren’t looking good for America’s favorite big-chinned comedian.

So what is NBC to do? Network reps claim that the series is still profitable with its current ratings level but now that its poor performance is affecting other shows, I think I smell blood in the water. But that’s where things really get awkward. Sure, NBC could cancel Leno and admit that it was a failed experiment BUT then they have to come up with at least five new shows to fill the hole that Leno will leave behind in addition to any other network series that may be ending their run. New shows don’t come cheaply and it’s not even a guarantee that any of them will be a success so rebuilding their primetime lineup is a major concern and could prove to be the most costly undertaking in the network’s history.

Filling the Leno void may prove so impossible that a more drastic and history-making move might be needed. Industry experts are now pointing to the possibility that NBC could turn over its entire 10 P.M. hour to its affiliates to do with as they will (most likely a newscast) and only have two hours of primetime programming per night from here on out from 8 – 10 P.M. FOX has been doing this since its inception and has found success but NBC is one of our founding television networks and its abandonment of the nationwide 10 o’clock hour would be a major event and telling sign of the decay of network television in an era of hundreds of cable stations.

It’s almost sad to think that a timeslot that once housed television classics like Hill Street Blues, ER, and The West Wing could instead just be used for syndicated reruns or yet another local newscast featuring shoddy journalism. I believe that we are slowly but surely witnessing the destruction of the big networks as we know them and when they write the history book about it one hundred years from now, the person credited most for that decay might very well be Jay Leno. Only time will tell.

Weeknights at 10/9c on NBC

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Photographs courtesy of NBC Universal and Justin Lubin.

Sanctuary: A Warm and Cozy Place to Be

Secret organizations, mutants, historical references and global locales are what attracted me to Syfy Channel’s Sanctuary. It began as a web series that was picked up by the network and is now on its second season. The Canadian television series features Amanda Tapping, most known for her role on Stargate SG-1 as Captain Samantha “Sam” Carter.

Sanctuary is about Dr. Helen Magnus, a hundred-something-year-old English scientist who has set up sanctuaries all over the world to help, learn about, and at times confine a group called abnormals. These abnormals are human and non-human entities with varying abilities ranging from lycanthropy to teleportation. Magnus is a part of a group of five scientists during the Victorian era, who were seeking to push the boundaries of science. This resulted in her acquisition of a vial of undiluted vampire blood, which she and the rest of her cohorts injected into their own bodies with differing effects. John Druitt (played by Christopher Heyerdahl) receives the ability of teleportation, though using his power results in driving him mad and he becomes Jack the Ripper. Nigel Griffin on the other hand gains ability to become invisible (aka the Invisible Man). James Watson’s (taken from Dr. James Watson of Sherlock Holmes) intellect becomes magnified and then Nikola Tesla (based on the real scientist who contributed to humanity’s understanding of electricity) becomes a Vampire hybrid. Lastly Magnus attains the ability of halted aging.

In present day, Magnus recruits Dr. Will Zimmerman, a forensic psychiatrist with emphatic abilities as her protégé. His analytical mind and thirst for knowledge is what makes him a valuable member of the sanctuary team. Other main characters include Ashley Magnus, daughter of Helen Magnus, a weapons and hunting expert; weapons designer and resident computer expert Henry Foss and finally Big Foot, a humanoid creature who fills in the role of butler, bodyguard, and handyman to Magnus.

The first season mainly deals with Magnus’s past, but we are also introduced to a secret organization known as the Cabal. They are the antithesis to the Sanctuary where their goal is to study and exploit abnormals, either to incite humans against them or to wipe them out completely while giving the organization world domination in the progress.

While Sanctuary seems formulaic in its elements, I’ve enjoyed the series because of its references to history, literature, and pop culture. The storyline is X-Men meets X-Files with a sprinkle of Doctor Who. While it’s not the most revolutionary series ever to come out of the science fiction genre, its background plots are what keep me coming back for more. The idea of Magnus and the other five scientists were particularly interesting and actors Amanda Tapping, Christopher Heyerdahl, Jonathon Young, and Peter Wingfield portrayed each character with depth and relatedness.

My favorite though by far has to be Druitt because you’re not quite sure whether he really has reformed from his homicidal ways. As mentioned earlier, he had gained the ability to teleport but the effect was that it caused him to go on a murderous rampage. We also learn that Magnus and Druitt used to be lovers and that Ashley is their child. In the present day, he seems cool, calm, and stoic but shows the good in him in placing his trust in Ashley in order to save Magnus from the clutches of the Cabal. Druitt’s character appears genuinely remorseful of his past actions and seems to still harbor feelings for his former fiancée. It’s been enjoyable to see Heyerdahl portray a character with a strong personality and yet is constantly conflicted because of his past. Incidentally, he also plays vampire Marcus in the popular Twilight series.

I have also appreciated that the show is set in many different locations, from fictional “Old City” to Cairo and Montreal. While they aren’t actually shot in those places and are actually filmed on virtual sets, it’s nice that we get to see characters of different ethnicities as much as we see abnormals of different kinds.

Sanctuary is also the first television series based in North America to be filmed entirely on the Red One camera. What makes this technology revolutionary is that it duplicates the quality of analog film digitally (four times the resolution of HD) and that makes it cheaper and easier to use. It also cuts down the workflow time allowing for Syfy executives to view rough cuts of scenes for approval as quickly as possible.

This series is ultimately an enjoyable ride through a fantasy world that parallels our own modern times. It’s not perfect by any means, but if you can get past the generic elements that you find in most mutant-focused television series/books/films/comic books then Sanctuary is a pretty warm and cozy place to nestle in for any science fiction enthusiast on any given Friday night.

Fridays at 10/9c on Syfy

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Photographs courtesy of SyFy, NBC Universal, Jeff Weddell, and Jamel Toppin.

Ten Christmas Movies You Shouldn’t Miss

If you out there grumbling that EVERYONE has all ready seen all these movies, I think you will be surprised to know you are wrong. I’m constantly astonished that these films, which I consider staples of the holiday season, are missing from people’s homes, memories, and experiences.

I’m going to give it one last go and attempt to talk some folks into branching out their holiday movie viewing. If my suggestions stink, at least you know TBS will be running A Christmas Story for twenty-four hours straight in a few days. I’m a warm fuzzy kind of gal when it comes to Christmas films, as you are about to find out.

10 – Home Alone (1990)  I have to say, I debated on this one. It almost didn’t make it. Then I remembered the old man and the lessons learned by both young Kevin and his parents during his ordeal, softening my heart toward Macaulay Culkin just a smidge. In addition, it’s a movie that can be watched with children for both entertainment value and a message. I recall my mother not caring for it because it was an unbelievable premise, but several holiday films fall into that category, and its not a reason to banish this one. Solid family viewing.

9 – Holiday Inn (1942) Some might call it old, I call it classic. Be prepared, because the classic Christmas movies do it best and there will be plenty more on my list. This one belongs here because, A. It has Fred Astaire. B. It has Bing Crosby. C. It was the first time the song White Christmas was ever performed. See it. Yes, it’s in black and white. I promise that doesn’t mean it stinks. Good for any age, might have trouble holding the attention of the wee ones.

8 – The Polar Express (2004) In my opinion, this is one of the more moving experiences in holiday movies in recent memory. It gets back to what we love about the more traditional movies, a heartfelt message about what can be accomplished when we let ourselves believe in something outside our realm of understanding. A young boy who has trouble believing in fanciful things like Christmas and Santa, boards the Polar Express for a trip to the North Pole. Your kids (and you) will be impressed by the animation and wooed by the story.

7 – A Christmas Carol (various versions) Countless versions of this old tale have been woven for us over the decades. Most recently, of course, Jim Carrey took on the role of Mr. Scrooge. The Muppets have given it a go. Scrooged, with Bill Murray, is worth a mention in this category. It’s a different take and funnier than most, not for kids though. The basic plot is a timeless one, with a crotchety old Christmas hater being given the chance to look at his life through the eyes of others. It never fails to touch me at the end when he realizes the true meaning and spirit of Christmas. Most versions, especially the Muppet one, are kid friendly.

6 – Elf (2003) You have no idea how hard it is for me to include this film on my list. Typically, there are about a million things I’d rather do than watch a Will Ferrell movie. I forgive the casting director for this film because its sweet message is not completely obscured by Ferrell’s ridiculous over acting. His character is endearing as he searches for his father and his place in the world. His enthusiasm for Christmas spreads to those around him, infecting previously grumpy folks with appropriate amounts of cheer. Another one for you and the kiddos and plenty of laughs plus good feelings.

5 – A Christmas Story (1983) Yes, it made my top five. I know most of you probably would have ranked it higher. I’ve seen several lists that rank it as the number one Christmas movie of all time. I’m not sure if I’ve been negatively affected by the twenty-four hour running of it on TBS the past few years or if the humor wears off after the first fifty viewings, but I can’t imagine wanting to sit and watch the whole thing anytime soon. It is funny, it depicts the era in which my parents grew up in an amazingly realistic light, and every family can identify with some aspect of the story. It’s missing a message, though, and it doesn’t give me that warm fuzzy. Still, solid Christmas fun.

4 – White Christmas (1954) This film, starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, grew out of Holiday Inn. It features fabulous singing and a warming story about two army buddies who go out of their way to save the failing business of their old commanding officer. There is also love, intrigue, and plenty of laughs. If you enjoy music, singing, knock-your-socks off performances, and a sweet and sturdy story, this one can’t be missed. In fact, if you haven’t seen this film, I’m glaring at you right now. Get to it.

3 – Miracle on 34^th Street (1937, remade 1994) The first thing I want to say is see the original. The second one creeps me out a little bit. With a theme reminiscent of Polar Express, the young and street savvy girl in this movie doesn’t believe in Santa Clause. Her mother works at Macy’s and she begins to interact with a man who believes he actually is Saint Nick. Through a series of events the little girl opens her heart to the man, giving in and believing in him, in Santa, for the first time in her life. There is also a parallel story arc with her mother, a grown version of the cynical girl, who manages to finally loosen up long enough to fall in love. Touching and adorable, this one can’t be missed if you’re looking for a movie to leave you feeling better about people.

2 – Christmas Vacation (1989) I love this movie. If you can watch this and not laugh at least a half a dozen times, you should have your funny bone checked. This is my family’s Christmas Day tradition, and listening to my dad and sister laughing out loud is part of what makes Christmas for me. Remembering my grandfather shaking his head and grinning from his chair brings happy memories of when my house was full of family who are now gone. Despite all the laughs, it is a genuinely touching story as Clark realizes that the tree, presents, dinners, and lights don’t make Christmas – his family does. Its something we can all use a reminder of every once in a while, and this film can give it to you while you are cracking up. A rare gem of a combination. Fine for older children. Innuendo and cursing may be too extreme for the little ones.

1 – It’s a Wonderful Life (1947) Not just my favorite Christmas movie, but my favorite movie of all time, it’s a must see any time of year. Watch it. Make your kids watch it. Talk about what it means, about why it’s important, and why we all need to learn the same lessons as George Bailey sometimes. I’m dumbfounded at how many people have told me they’ve never seen this movie. I didn’t even know that was possible, or legal. It should be illegal. George begins the movie as a man who believes that because he’s never left the town he was born in, never made a lot of money, or never accomplished anything he dreamed of as a child his life is worth nothing. When he stands to lose what little he does have, he considers killing himself. An angel visits him (with some great bits of comedy) and gives him the chance to see what the town, his family, and friends would be like if he’d never been born. He realizes that even though he hasn’t made money or done any great act, all of the acts of kindness, of friendship, and being a decent human being have had great impact on both those he knows and those he doesn’t. That being rich or having influence doesn’t make you successful. I cannot count the number of times I’ve seen the film but I cry at the end every time. The message is one that everyone could use, at least once a year.

I would love to hear opinions on what your favorite holiday films are, and whether or not you think I left out something glaringly obvious. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year.

Never Judge A Show By Its Theme Song

What do Gilligan’s Island, The Brady Bunch, Three’s Company, and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air all have in common? I’ll give you a hint: it has a melody, lyrics and will be stuck in your head for the next 4 hours!

It’s no secret there’s a new trend in television land.  Shows seem to be straying from the classic theme songs we all know and love. Who can resist the fun and catchy “Now this is a story all about how / My life got flip-turned upside down”? These songs literally provide the back story to the next 30 minutes of viewing. Today, with melodramas like 90210 and Gossip Girl, or action-packed shows like Heroes, isn’t it even more crucial that we clue in the audience to what will follow?

Instead, writers have abandoned the traditional theme song use for a shorter and perhaps sweeter approach. However, are these songs doing justice to the shows about to follow? Do the songs with the catchiest, corniest, and most telling theme songs have the most staying power?

I’m a huge fan of the new show, Glee, seeing as I review it every week right here. However, its one syllable, high-pitched, curt theme “word” (you can’t even call it a song!) is disappointing. It doesn’t do the fiasco and angst-filled drama justice…at all.

Other theme songs, overflowing out of the usual mold, have utilized this new trend to their advantage. A show like How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) is a great example of this. The intro is merely an upbeat musical interlude of “Ba ba ba’s” (catchy, nonetheless) that plays as old school photos of the characters flash quickly on the screen. These photos epitomize the HIMYM gang, exuding their carefree, troublemaking, bar-going selves. I often times find myself casually humming along.

Or take Two and a Half Men—a show whose song contains but a single word, yet repeated over and over and over again. However, the well-harmonized tune seems to surprisingly work in the show’s favor. Like HIMYM’s musical intro, the song is incredibly fitting to what follows.

Which brings me to my next question: does the theme song make the show or does the show make the theme song?

I’m not going to argue that the shows with the most famous songs are actually the greatest pieces of value-added entertainment. All I’m wondering is if it’s possible that one or the other is the standard. Or else, can we readily assume that both variations occur?

If the latter is true, then it seems obvious that we should not judge any show based on its theme song—they often don’t do the show justice!

Nonetheless, those that do work against all odds—especially in a decade when the death of the tv theme song seems upon us—seem to stand out and prove themselves even more than in the olden days.

One recent hit, Mad Men, is introduced with an instrumental—a quite sad sounding one in a minor key. Though the song doesn’t have lyrics, the actual introduction’s visual—a 1950’s ad cut out of a businessman falling from atop a skyscraper—greatly reduces the need for lyrics.

In situations such as these, we can appreciate the intro’s aesthetics in place of a more verbose greeting. The trend may be dwindling, dying or getting phased out for something shorter, less descriptive, and arguably worse, but in the rare occasion where writers and producers are able to make the most of these new circumstances, it becomes possible to judge a show by its theme song: it is these occasions where the show’s true character shines through in the most endearing way.

But with the many assorted strategies in this day and age, don’t judge by a couple simple notes. Take it from me: watch the damn show.

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Photographs courtesy of IMDbPro.

Castle: Looking Good at the Half

Law & Order used to be my go to “cop show” to watch but Castle premiered last year and has quickly taken its place! The writing and acting is superb! Enjoy the quotes I’ve mixed in from the season so far!

Castle: “We make a pretty good team, you know. Like Starsky and Hutch, Turner and Hooch.”

Beckett: “You do remind me a little of Hooch.”

For Castle newbies, here is the basis of the show. Successful mystery novelist Richard Castle was in need of some inspiration after killing off his main character. He is single (two ex-wives), a ladies man, somewhat cocky and sees life as his playground. Castle is called in to help the police, specifically NYPD Detective Kate Beckett, with copycat murders from his books. She is a tough, by the book and attractive individual. Beckett quickly becomes Castle’s model for his protagonist, Nikki Heat, in his new novel and due to his friendship with the NYC Mayor, he is able to continue to work with her. Therefore, their writer/detective partnership is born.

Castle to Beckett: “Oh, see…right there. Disapproving…judgmental. You’re totally my work wife.”

What makes the show enjoyable? The characters! Nathan Fillion is perfect as Castle and it doesn’t hurt that “he really is ruggedly handsome.” Kate Beckett is the yin to Castle’s yang and puts him in his place very quickly. It is also amusing how she secretly is such a huge fan of Castle’s books. Detectives Esposito and Ryan always provide a laugh. Castle’s mother, a diva and actress, Martha, and his wise beyond her years daughter, Alexis, both live with him and add a unique element to the show. The cast has great chemistry and play well off of each other. The dialogue is sharp and witty, and sometimes downright silly.

Castle: “What is it about full moons that bring out all the crazies?”

Beckett: “I don’t know, you tell me.”

ABC’s website describes Beckett as someone who has “gained a reputation as a detective who’s intrigued by the “freaky ones,” the sort of cases that don’t fit neatly into a box.” In the first half of season two, we definitely saw some cases that were “out of the box.” There were a variety of cases involving drug mules, the Russian mafia, con artists, babies switched at birth, vampires, an A.D.A. who was secretly a pimp, and a corporate spy. Also, during season two, Heatwave, Castle’s newest novel, was published. It was dedicated to Beckett and was an instant hit! Castle is signed up for three more Nikki Heat books therefore extending the Beckett/Castle partnership. Yay!

Another interesting development this season is seeing Castle’s softer side. The majority of the time, Castle is a goofball, playing Guitar Hero or flying his remote controlled helicopter around the apartment or as Beckett put it, “he is like a nine-year-old on a sugar rush, totally incapable of taking anything seriously.” Although we know he is a great father, we have seen him truly care about and try to help others; like helping the singer, Sky, sober up and looking out for Rina, a model and Alexis’ old babysitter. Castle’s drama queen mother, Martha, has reconnected with her high school sweetheart through her “My Face” page that Alexis helped her create. Alexis is starting to think about colleges, including Oxford, much to Castle’s dismay and even had a successful internship at the police station.

Castle: “I could get a bloodhound. I could name him Sherlock and then I could bring him to crime scenes.”

Castle fans, if you have a Twitter account, follow WriteRCastle! It is written as Richard Castle and is terrific! Two of my favorite recent tweets are “Happy to be wearing my favorite holiday sweater, even though it requires three batteries and fifteen light bulbs” and “I keep adjusting the heat, but the Precinct is either a sauna or a freezer. Esposito says he’ll cuff me if I change the thermostat again.”

Esposito: “Who would steal a dead body?”

Castle: “Oh plenty of people. Organ harvesters, cadaverless med students, satanists, mad scientists looking to create their own monster.”

Overall, I’ve been thoroughly entertained by the first half of Castle season two but wonder if anything will happen with Beckett’s mother’s case (which was discussed in season 1)? Will Beckett or Castle act on the attraction for each other? This show is lighthearted and the cases aren’t too mindboggling. I look forward to watching each week…the characters keep me coming back for more! I am excited to see upcoming guest stars, Alyssa Milano (Charmed) and Sarah Brown (General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful). Castle (according to imdb.com) returns January 4^th!

Mondays at 10/9c on ABC

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Photographs courtesy of ABC, Ron Tom, Adam Larkey, and Karen Neal.

Did You Hear About the Morgan’s?: Been There, Done That.

Okay, I admit it, romantic comedies rank up there as one of my favorite movie genres. While You Were Sleeping, One Fine Day, You’ve Got Mail, Sweet Home Alabama are a few of my favorites. So when I saw the preview and the cast list, I thought this new movie had potential. Unfortunately, Did You Hear About the Morgan’s has a very predictable plot and falls short when compared to other classic movies of the same genre.

Successful NYC couple, Paul Morgan (Hugh Grant) and Meryl Morgan (Sarah Jessica Parker), have recently separated due to Paul’s one nightstand. Paul is a lawyer while Meryl is the president of a real-estate firm. Realizing his mistake, Paul desperately tries to win her back and showers Meryl with various odd presents like an ice sculpture and a constellation of stars named after her. Paul convinces Meryl to go to dinner with him to talk about their situation. Afterwards, while walking to meet one of Meryl’s clients, they witness her client being murdered. The Morgans learn that Meryl’s client was an arms dealer who made a deal to help the FBI. After a hit-man tracks Meryl down and tries to kill her, the Morgans are convinced to enter witness protection until he is caught.

The Morgans are shipped off to the tiny town of Ray, Wyoming under the protection of U.S. Marshall Clay Wheeler (Sam Elliott) and his gun-toting wife Emma Wheeler (Mary Steenburgen). They must try to adjust to country living and kiss their blackberries and assistants goodbye. As a vegetarian and a member of PETA, Meryl must deal with the Wheeler’s proud display of mounted hunting trophies and a fridge full of meat. The Morgans struggle with bears, horseback riding and the lack of both cable and the internet. We also get a further glimpse into their rocky relationship and why Paul strayed.

The acting was decent. Sam Elliott and Mary Steenburgen did a convincing job as the country Wheelers. The assistants, Jesse Liebman and Elisabeth Moss were comedic relief. I am not sure I was sold on Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant as a couple. For me, the chemistry just wasn’t there. Hugh Grant does a great job as this type of bumbling leading man with constant humorous lines. Although he pulls it off, it seems like he’s been typecast into this type of character. Finally, I really like SJP as an actress but sometimes her lines were too long and ran on to such a degree I’d lose interest in what she was saying.

Was it at times corny and very predictable? Definitely! It really used the classic cliché of city vs. country and what happens when people are forced to adjust to a new and foreign way of living. Yes, it did have some funny parts and a few feel good moments. But overall, it was not a great movie; it was just okay. I am sure that dedicated SJP and Hugh Grant fans will turn out for the film but my recommendation is if you really want to see it, wait & rent it.

2009 TV Yearbook

2009 was quite a year. Our TVs went from analog to digital. We lost some memorable entertainers and also birthed a lot of incredibly famous nobodies. (Can we say balloon hoax and OctoMom?)  Oprah announced the end of her talk show, and Paula’s American Idol contract didn’t get renewed. New Jersey somehow managed to capture our attentions in housewife and shore form. And Lauren Conrad left the Hills to do…something…else?

It seemed like television might not make a comeback after the dreaded 2007-2008 Writers’ Strike, yet here we are at the end of a fantastic year of television. It’s inevitable that some great shows, actors and moments will be left off this list which is part of the reason I wanted to focus on superlatives instead of a top ten. (Much easier to choose.) And of course, not everyone will agree with my opinion, but if we were all attending the Nisi School of TV, this is what the superlatives page in the yearbook would look like.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2009
BEST BOWOUT: Battlestar Galactica
Very rarely does a show come around that can meld intergalactic battle and robots with the quest to understand the true meaning of humanity. BSG could be so nail-bitingly action-packed one moment and then tender and somber the next. Ronald D. Moore was unafraid to confront the oft-tense discussion of religion and science or personal freedom vs. national security. He turned a campy ‘70s show into modern and relevant gold. The final season satisfied by wrapping up unresolved mysteries, mourning the loss of many characters we became fully invested in, revealing all of the cylons and just plain concluding an epic journey.

BIGGEST LETDOWN: FlashForward
Already, the show’s been shelved away until March of 2010. It’s mired with set shutdowns and a show runner shift. For me, working against it is my high opinion of Robert J. Sawyer’s book which is slowly being destroyed with each minute I watch the show. It’s quite possible that their winter hiatus will give the writers a chance to really sort out the story and figure out how to find and covey its voice. Maybe in 2010, FlashForward will begin to live up to its potential. But with an already difficult premise to sustain, a stiff lead in Joseph Fiennes and way too many music montages, I won’t hold my breath.

BEST TRANSPORT: Torchwood: Children of Earth
This miniseries rejuvenated the Torchwood series, ramping up the wit, the action and the death. All this was accomplished while not focusing too much on the show’s heavy backstory and alienating newbies. They also made some tough decisions that were sure to pain many faithful viewers, but I believe the story benefited from this sacrifice. I was scared of the creepy children in Village of the Damned and The Grudge, but CoE brings that fear much closer to reality.

BEST KEPT SECRET: Party Down
Who would have thought that Starz could hide a comedy goldmine? I may not want to continue to designate this show as a secret because before I know it without viewers, Party Down could be gone. (So start watching!) Though 30 Rock continues to be a critical success, very few shows centered around the entertainment industry flourish. At its heart, Party Down is about a group of hapless misfits just waiting for their big break. By working as cater waiters, the writers have ample event fodder to work with, and hopefully I’ll be party hopping with this crew for a long time.

DRAMA KING & QUEEN: Rachel Berry & Cameron Tucker
Glee is arguably the debut show of the year, and its success is in large part due to its lead and her voice. As an unknown to relatively anyone outside of the Broadway world, Lea Michele was given the opportunity to fully mold and embody Rachel, the girl with the undeniable talent who is almost impossible to ignore. And never did TV make dysfunctional families look so good than on Modern Family. Eric Stonestreet steals scenes as Cam with his hilarious flair for the dramatic and his lovable individuality. Whether focusing on his devotion to his partner Mitchell, his love for newly adopted Lily or his enthusiasm as Fizbo the Clown, Cam is always the center of attention.

BEST COMEBACKS: Alicia Florrick & Dexter Morgan
As an Emmy award-winning actress for her work on ER as Nurse Carol Hathaway, there’s no doubt that Julianna Margulies has the chops . But after 2008′s Canterbuy’s Law, I wasn’t so sure that The Good Wife wouldn’t be just another legal drama. Ripped right out of the new headlines of stories like Eliot Spitzer and John Edwards, Alicia returns to work after her politician husband gets caught with his pants down. She’s intelligent and strong yet emotional, and Margulies plays her beautifully. Okay, Michael C. Hall never really went anywhere, but Dexter sort of did. Last season’s Prado (Jimmy Smits) storyline started out well but spiraled into absurdity. Then, there was the question of whether the baby would kill the show? Season four was so prime to bomb that it was relegated from my DVR list to OnDemand viewing. But a season hasn’t been so good since numero uno. With the addition of John Lithgow as Trinity, Dexter was able to confront his life as a husband and father in an interesting, compelling and often comical manner.

VILLAINS YOU LOVE TO HATE: Russell Hantz & Sue Sylvester
There have been a few gripping moments on Survivor this season (ex: Russell Swan‘s collapse), but overall, the one character that made this semi-bland season worthwhile has been evil Russell. He’s found three immunity idols, two without clues, and almost single-handedly runs the game. Glee’s Sue can somehow say the most despicable things and make you love her more with each word. There’s no doubt that certain things should never be uttered, and some things are politically INCORRECT for a reason, but her conviction and ability to speak her mind always results in pure hilarity. Plus, Jane Lynch is an animal. (Also see: Party Down)

WEDDING WE’D MOST LIKE TO CRASH: Niagara Falls Nuptials
With a ton of buildup and heightened expectations, Pam and Jim’s wedding had a lot to live up to. This Office episode managed to be funny, sweet and beautiful all at the same time. Recreating the YouTube sensation “JK Wedding Entrance Dance,” with their Dunder-Mifflin co-workers shimming down the aisle, was priceless. What the show does best is achieve the unexpected. You can’t say you predicted the show to kick off the season with office Parkour, right?

BIGGEST CRAZE RUN AMOK: Fang Frenzy
The Western world has always had a slight obsession with all thing undead, but 2009 was the year things exploded. Vamps moved from the underground and out into the sun, from fantasy to mainstream. True Blood is breaking HBO records and getting nominated for prominent awards. The Vampire Diaries is helping to revitalize the struggling CW and the Twilight series is almost tandem to a living, breathing organism. You’d think we’d almost sucked the life out of the vampire fad, but I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon.

BEST ‘OH NO THEY DIDN’T’ MOMENT: The John Deere incident
If someone would have asked me to foretell one of the most surprising TV scenes of the year, I would have leaned more towards reality TV, maybe the soapy Desperate Housewives or Grey’s Anatomy. The molasses-paced Mad Men wouldn’t have even crossed my mind. Now all I think is what can top a show that fit a champagne-laced ad office, an obnoxious Brit, a secretary riding a John Deere tractor and a missing limb into one episode. No one can say, any longer, that nothing happens on Mad Men.

BEST NEVER AIRED EPISODE: “Epitaph One”
I championed Fox’s decision to bring back Dollhouse for another season, especially after seeing this unaired episode. Set in the Dollhouse future, viewers got to see a post-apocalyptic world where the invention of Doll technology had brought the world to its knees. Joss Whedon‘s fans love him so intensely because the worlds he creates seem so whole and believable. Yet, they are unlike anything we’ve ever imagined. It would have served well as a series finale. And though I haven’t been a strong fan of the second season, I think now that an end has been ordered, this episode will help craft and lead the show to an intriguing conclusion.

OTHER WINNERS INCLUDE:
HOTTEST MILF & DILF: Jules (Cougar Town) & Don Draper (Mad Men)
BIGGEST BREAKOUT: Matthew Bomer (White Collar) & Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries)
TIGHTEST CLIQUE: The MacLaren’s Crew (How I Met Your Mother)
CUTEST COUPLE: Coach and Mrs. Taylor (Friday Night Lights)
SWEETEST SUPER SPY: Chuck Bartowski (Chuck)
MOST ANTICIPATED 2010 RETURN: Lost

WRAP IT UP
Only two more weeks until 2009 is history and 2010 starts making a name for itself. Will we still remember V and FlashForward in the spring? Can Glee sustain its forward momentum when it returns next April? Who’s going to be the next American Idol? And the biggest question of all, how does Lost end? TV is one year older, folks, and I couldn’t be more excited!

For more television reviews, click here.

Photographs courtesy of HBO, BBC America, Starz, NBC, ABC, and IMDbPro.

Real Housewives of Orange County: Florid-blah

Didn’t you hate that feeling as a kid when the weatherman would predict two feet of snow and all you got was rain? Same levels of disappointment with this week’s Real Housewives in Ft. Lauderfail.

The most drama during the trip came from Vicki, which at times was totally justified but continued to read as the irrational tantrums of a tween. Gretchen, Tamra, Simon, and Lynne (or at least Lynne’s version of a drugged up dummy) arrive in Ft. Lauderdale and everything is fine for the three minutes between the waiter taking a drink order and delivering it. Vicki seems to have come to terms with the fact that her girl’s weekend has turned into a husband tag along for Tamra and Alexis, until Slade turns up out of nowhere. Snap!

Vicki was okay that Simon and Jim invited themselves along on this trip without asking her, but Slade turning up was too much, as evidenced by the fake vomiting at his arrival. Slade is pretty stupid. Either this was his horrible idea, to show up on a trip that his archenemy planned, or he was easily swayed by the producers with a fresh can of moose. Slade showing up sufficiently pissed Vicki off to insure that she is going to be throwing a pity party for herself for the rest of the weekend. And I probably would too, but somehow because it is Vicki, I end up blaming her anyway for her own unhappiness.

The girls do get some alone time on a trip to the Everglades with their tour guide Bubba. Really? OK. The girls all react to every environmental or animal stimulus like they have never been outside before, but then again gyms are indoors so that statement might be true. Lynne clearly has no idea where she is for most of the trip and goes inside to rest her swollen face while Tamra, Vicki and Gretchen go on the airboat. Something about the setting or the proximity to Bubba or the excessive amount of rhinestones on Tamra’s and Vicki’s hats makes all of the girls seem trashier than normal on this outing. Miraculously, Gretchen and Tamra actually bond on this trip rather than throw one another overboard and this is exactly what Vicki had in mind of the weekend, awww.

Alexis, who has clearly wiggled her way out of her cage, greets the girls at the hotel bar. Vicki is already starting to hate Alexis a) because she took part in ruining her trip, and b) because she is a little princess. Judgments aside (buahaha who am I kidding), the girls all go to dinner for a little more estrogen time before the boys meet up with them. Alexis thinks that this is the best day since the invention of botox before their drinks arrive and everyone is confused, although no one is more confused than Lynne who probably can’t find her mouth at this point and definitely shouldn’t be drinking.

Vicki sulks off to her room after dinner when the rest of the girls meet up with their husbands and Slade at the club, and Tamra is drunk enough or dumb enough to start bad mouthing Vicki. If you close your eyes, you will be transported to your middle school cafeteria, ripping on whoever has left the table to get a jello pudding pack. These people seriously suck and I start feeling bad for Vicki again. Bravo, stop playing with my emotions like this!

Tamra feels guilty the next day for bad mouthing her BFF, so she takes Vicki to go get a manicure and we hear the line that posed as a preview for the drama to come in Florida as Vicki tears up that, “your husband looks at me with hate in his eyes!” All I can think is how awkward the staff feels. Vicki really is bummed and Tamra is too much of a pansy to deal with the problem so she just denies it. So when it comes time for the sunset cruise that Vicki planned, guess who doesn’t show? Tamra makes an ass of herself by getting on her knees begging Vicki to come, but if my company on a romantic cruise were couples and a stoned Lynne, I wouldn’t budge either.

So even though this episode didn’t give us any super drama than what wasn’t totally expected, I was surprised that I understood Vicki way too much this episode. She seemed almost rational and I felt bad for her. Can’t wait for that feeling to go away next episode.

For another take on this episode, check out No Boys Allowed by Renata Sellitti.

Season 5, Episode 6: All Girls Weekend (originally aired December 17, 2009)

For more on The Real Housewives of Orange County, click here.

Thursdays at 10/9c on Bravo

Photographs courtesy of NBC Universal, Tony Avelar

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