Grey’s Anatomy Review: If/Then

Once again I have to tip my hat to Shonda Rhimes.  She manages to come up with innovative ways to freshen up Grey’s Anatomy every time.  I don’t think all of her attempts are successful, but the willingness to deviate from the norm is greatly appreciated.  This week the show takes a look at what would happen if just a few things in the past had gone down a little differently.  Concepts of chance, fate, and destiny have always intrigued me.  Using Meredith’s dream as a set up, we see Seattle Grace as if we’re in an alternate universe.  Let me explain.

What if Derek and Addison stayed together?  This scenario is presented, along with some much more implausible ones.  Let’s be honest, even if you made a different choice in life, that wouldn’t change the essence of who you are, would it?  Maybe it would.  Before she started dreaming, Meredith thought: what if my mother had never been sick?  Ellis Grey was a world-class surgeon, before she was stricken with Alzheimer’s.  Last Thursday’s episode showed what it would be like if Ellis Grey remained in her prime.  In Dreamland, Ellis and Richard are married and Meredith is Richard’s stepdaughter.  As a matter of fact, her name is Meredith Webber, not Grey.  How bizarre!  Owen and Callie are married, and Alex and Meredith are a couple.  Kepner is one of the cool kids, and Charles Percy is alive! I loved it.  The episode also showed hints of how some things were always meant to be.  Even though Owen and Callie are married, she and Arizona make a connection over shared surgical success.  There is a faint glimmer in their eyes as they look at each other, but of course their lives don’t allow that connection to develop.  Owen is still shell-shocked from the horrors of war, but we see what it would be like for him with a different support system in place.

It was most interesting to see well-established characters acting completely differently.   Miranda Bailey and Derek Sheperd are two of the most ambitious, brilliant doctors at Seattle Grace.  Could you imagine them being meek, passive, and underachieving?  This parallel universe shows a timid Bailey who is too afraid to confront Ellis with an oversight she made in a patient’s evaluation.  Ellis is arrogant and pushy, and her influence remains unchallenged.  She and Richard display favoritism towards Meredith, even offering to bump her rival Cristina from a surgery in order to give Meredith the opportunity.  That’s right, Cristina and Meredith are rivals and enemies, not “besties.” 

Unbeknownst to Meredith, her fiancé  Alex is cheating on her with Kepner.  When Cristina spitefully spills the beans about the affair, Alex’s golden ticket of marrying Ellis’ daughter is ruined.   The episode ends with Meredith and Cristina sharing a drink and becoming unlikely friends.  Despite the fact they are operating in an alternate reality, we see that maybe Cristina and Meredith’s friendship would have happened anyway, even if other circumstances were different.

In “real” life at Seattle Grace, Derek is an ambitious doctor and a loving, supportive husband who maintains clear professional boundaries between himself and his wife.  In Dreamland, he is the opposite.  He’s a skilled surgeon, but a petty individual who is mean to his wife Addison, even though she is pregnant with their baby.  Instead of nurturing and supporting her, they bicker constantly.  His face is covered in stubble and he looks like a burnout.  As a matter of fact, the residents don’t call him McDreamy.  With his sour disposition he is known as McDreary, a gloomy Gus who sucks the joy out of any room.

I think it’s a difficult task to keep a venerable series like Grey’s Anatomy fresh and new.  I’m satisfied with the strong writing and character development I continue to see each week, and I don’t think the show needs to resort to gimmicks to keep loyal viewers like me interested.  Having said that, I appreciate the writers’ willingness to play around with different ideas and have fun.  We all have wondered “what if, “ at some point in our lives.   What if we had taken the other job, or gone to the other school, or chosen the other guy.   Can we change destiny, or are some things going to happen no matter what?  It was nice to see the writers shake things up a bit.  Keep up the good work ABC!

Season 8, Episode 13: “If/Then” (original air date February 2, 2012).

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.

Images courtesy of ABC and Vivian Zink.

 

Jersey Shore Review: Nothing But Nice

All is right in Seaside now that Vinny has returned to the Jersey Shore house.  Pauly has his best friend back and harmony has been restored.  Despite Vinny’s brief departure things have been relatively tame by usual standards this season, but all of that came to a screeching halt on last week’s episode.  Mike has recently been “nothing but nice” to everyone, and if you’re wondering about his motives, you should.  Anyone who needs to constantly remind you of how nice they are probably isn’t really that nice.   Mike relishes the dual roles of both troublemaker and victim, and to achieve that he has been overtly nice to everyone while stirring the pot behind the scenes.

Mike enjoys playing the victim, but genuinely inspires hatred from his roommates by meddling in their personal affairs and stretching the truth when it suits him.  He decides that there is a disconnect between him and the fellas, even though they’ve been receptive to his kind gestures.  Ronnie jokingly says that Mike’s behavior is suspicious, and Mike takes that and runs with it.  He tells the girls that he suspects that people are talking trash about him behind his back.  Snooki tells him that if he has an issue with someone he should just confront the person and clear the air.  She gave him general advice; she did not confirm that anyone was actually talking about him.  Mike is manipulative and petty, and he spins the whole situation around to be the victim once again.  He looks for any excuse to get on the warpath, and he vows for the millionth time to expose Snooki to Jionni, with The Unit’s help.  In case I haven’t said it before…I HATE MIKE!

The bad behavior continued as we encountered more Meatball Problems.  In what can only be described as “Too Much Information,” Snooki reveals that she is having some bladder problems resulting from a urinary tract infection.  And we all know how you get those, don’t we?  Let’s just say that Snooki and Jionni have been very busy.  She has an accident at Karma and ends up wetting herself on the dance floor.  Usually such a catastrophe would spell the end of the night, but not for this broad.  Nope.  She goes to the bathroom, takes a “bath” popularized by ladies of the night, and keeps the party going.  Snooki. Is. Disgusting. 

Maybe I’m from a different era.  Maybe my 32 years on this Earth make me an old lady.  Maybe I’m not “with it” anymore, but I found her behavior appalling.  An accident is one thing, but to continue on after urinating in an open, public space is another thing entirely.  When she gets home she doesn’t even shower!!! *gag*  Later, when all of the bathrooms in the house are occupied, she decides that it’s acceptable to urinate outside on the deck.  Wait a minute.  You’re sober.  You’re at home.  And you pee outside anyway?  I’m almost done with this show, I don’t even care anymore. I’m a grown adult and this show is garbage.  Time to take out the trash MTV, Jersey Shore has jumped the shark.

Best of the Episode:  Vinny’s return

Worst of the Episode: Meatball Hygiene

What to Watch for Next: Will Mike make good on his threats?

Season 5, Episode 5: “Nothing But Nice” (original air date February 2, 2012).

For another take on this week’s episode check out “Pee Like A River” by Lauren Tyree.

Jersey Shore airs Thursdays at 10/9c on MTV.

Images courtesy of MTV.

Jersey Shore Review: Free Vinny

When we last saw The Situation on MTV’s Jersey Shore he was hurt that the housemates ignored his birthday while celebrating Pauly’s.  He left the house in a funk, seeming to toy with idea of not coming back.  In an odd turn of events, their boss from the t-shirt shop pays the gang a visit at home and informs them that they will be getting a new roommate to replace Vinny.  They are undermanned at the shop and there must be 7 people living in the house.  He also asks about Mike and lets them know he hasn’t been impressed with their performance at work.

Mike returns after his brief disappearance, and he explains to the The Meatballs that he is sensitive and his feelings were hurt about his birthday.  Unbeknownst to him, the girls have been planning a surprise birthday party for him and Pauly.  Mike and Pauly’s birthdays are a welcomed distraction for the house, as everyone has been moping around since Vinny’s departure.  They are truly miserable without him, especially Pauly.  Deena calls Vin and asks if he’ll make it to the party, but he tells her that he can’t be there.  His absence is also felt at the t-shirt shop, where the manager has begun looking to hire a replacement.  He posts a Help Wanted sign and applicants start to trickle in, much to the chagrin of Jenni and the rest of the gang.  They don’t want a new roommate and vow to be hostile to any new people.  Jenni even goes so far as to take down the sign the manager posted.  I think everyone needs to chill out and grow up.  I know they miss their friend, but life goes on.

Mike and Pauly’s surprise party is a success and they are genuinely thrilled with their custom made naughty cakes and strippers.  They both try to hook up at the end of the night, but only Pauly is successful.  When he takes a woman home, Mike usually gives the lucky lady a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt to put on, but this particular girl (the stripper who performed for him) was fixated on finding the perfect pair of socks.  When he gave her a pair that didn’t match, she made a fuss.  Who cares about socks when you’re about to get in your birthday suit anyway??  For once Mike makes a good point.  But no, she wants matching socks, so he gives her another pair – only for her to point out that one of the socks has a hole.  At this point Mike isn’t even interested in smushing anymore.  He falls asleep and promptly calls a cab for the girl the next morning.  Looks like Pauly wins again for his birthday, while Sitch comes up short.

As I said before, the house is miserable without Vinny.  Pauly really misses his bestie and decides that enough is enough.  He suggests that they go to Staten Island and kidnap Vinny.  I wasn’t sure if Vin would be willing to return or not.  It’s only been a week since he left, and he seemed to need real psychological help when he left.  I’m not sure what could have changed in a week, but surprisingly he is ready to return and doesn’t need much persuasion.  He got a new tattoo and seems rejuvenated and more positive, though he admits that he hasn’t completely healed and that recovery must continue in Seaside.  It wouldn’t be Jersey Shore without Vinny, so I’m glad he’s back.  It will also put an end to the incessant whining from everyone, so that’s a good thing.  Party On.

For another take on this week’s episode check out “Whips and Tails” by Lauren Tyree.

Season 5, Episode 4: “Free Vinny” (original air date January 26, 2012).

Jersey Shore airs Thursdays at 10/9c on MTV.

Images courtesy of MTV.

Grey’s Anatomy Review: Hope for the Hopeless

This week was a little different on Grey’s Anatomy.  Usually I need to break out the Kleenex, but instead of feeling weepy I was angry.  There was a lot of frustrating behavior this week, and by episode’s end the proverbial powder keg exploded.  Talk about major role reversal: the “stable” couple is on shaky ground and the formerly heartbroken couple is overjoyed.

Teddy (Kim Raver) has stopped torturing Cristina (Sandra Oh) and now the two are on a surgical tear.  They have been relentless, and it’s obvious that Teddy is escaping her pain by throwing herself into her job.  Cristina still feels guilty and indebted to Teddy, plus she really does enjoy all the surgeries.  It’s a match made in heaven for them, but hell for Owen.  When they try to horn in on someone else’s cardio patient, he has to intervene.  He orders the pair of them to take a break and get some rest because they are a liability issue if they are running on fumes.  Teddy and Cristina defy his wishes, and this leads to a huge fight between Cristina and Owen.  More on that later.

Meredith is the only fifth year resident who hasn’t decided on an area of practice.  Everyone is encouraging her to follow in the footsteps of her legendary mother, renowned surgeon Ellis Grey.  Bailey makes her pitch for general surgery, because that way Meredith wouldn’t be limited to just one organ or area of the body.   Webber (James Pickens Jr.) is performing a liver transplant, and Meredith will assist him in the procedure involving two bickering sisters.  He’s celebrating a great milestone: his 10,000^th surgery.  The transplant surgery is very special, but things take an unexpected turn when his wife Adele (Loretta Devine) shows up unannounced at the hospital.  Her Alzheimer’s has worsened, and she was found wandering by a neighbor.  April tries to soothe Adele, but she is agitated and demanding to see her husband.

April ends up taking her to the surgical gallery so she can see Webber, but she turns on the speaker and interrupts the procedure.  I though Kepner should have handled the situation more effectively instead of potentially distracting Richard with a personal and very distressful domestic situation.  Kepner is still very underwhelming as Chief Resident, because she’s not tough enough.  Fortunately, Meredith (having lots of experience dealing with her mother) was able to advise Webber of how to calm Adele, who is hysterical at this point.  He recalls a positive memory they share and begins singing “My Funny Valentine,” as he did on their wedding day.  In a touching scene, she sings along with him and is comforted.

The aforementioned scene normally would have made me cry, but mercifully my tear ducts remained dry.  I mentioned earlier that Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Cristina had a major difference of professional opinion regarding Cristina and Teddy’s surgical binge.  They defied his orders and laughed behind his back, and Owen tries to put his foot down by banning Cristina from Teddy’s surgical rotation.  She is vehemently against the idea, and an argument ensus.  The problem is that they decide to have this discussion at Zola’s first birthday party.

Cristina blasts Owen, telling him that his mishandling of Henry’s death is the reason they are in this position in the first place, and that Teddy gets whatever she wants.  Owen charges that Cristina is selfish and always gets her way, and their tempers really start to flare.  As Owen details her past selfish behavior he does the unthinkable: he brings up the abortion.  He yells at Cristina that she killed their baby, and her jaw nearly hits the floor.  This makes perfect sense though.  Owen was extremely hurt by their decision, mainly because his input seemed insignificant.  He tried to stand behind his wife through a decision that he opposed with every fiber of his being.  It looks like he has repressed his feelings all this time and that he and Cristina may be in real trouble.  I can’t WAIT to see what happens next week!

Season 8, Episode 12: “Hope for the Hopeless” (original air date January 19, 2012).

Grey’s Anatomy airs on Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.

Images courtesy of ABC and Randy Holmes.

Jersey Shore Review: Dropping Like Flies

Last week on Jersey Shore Vinny left the house for some much-needed mental recuperation.  This week we watch as the housemates mope around as if Vinny is dead or on another planet, instead of a short drive away.  Sure, sure I get it: he’s not in the house so it’s not the same and everyone misses him.  But at some point all the fellas need to “man up,” and the ladies need to dry their eyes.  Life goes on.  There was a lot of activity in Vin’s “honor” this week, and I thought some of it was a bit much.

No one is more affected by Vinny’s absence than Pauly.  When they go out clubbing and he sees a girl that is totally Vinny’s type, he decides that he must smash, because it’s what Vinny would want.  Excuse me, WHAT?  Pauly’s behavior was very homoerotic and I wondered for a second if he was thinking about Vinny a little too much.  Like, are you with this girl or are you pretending Vinny is here watching, or what?  Creepy.  Pauly has been down in the dumps, but it’s his birthday and his family decided to surprise him with a visit.  About 12 relatives and friends show up with gifts.  His favorite gift is his barber, who arrives to give him a fresh cut for his b-day.  Now Pauly is all smiles and I’m reminded of just how adorable he is.  I had no idea he was 31 though, that’s a lot older than some of the other cast members.  He’s only one year younger than I am, so I’m surprised that he hangs out with such younger people.  I’m 32 and there’s no way I could hang out with twenty-somethings all the time; they’d drive me crazy.  I digress.  It’s also Mike’s birthday, except no one gives a damn.  He has no visitors and barely gets acknowledged.  Meanwhile, Pauly’s family pulls out all the stops and the girls even bake him a birthday cake.  Mike’s feelings are extremely hurt, and I almost feel sorry for him.  Almost.

Mike has no one to blame for his thoughtless treatment but himself.  If he weren’t such a petty, immature and vindictive person maybe people would care about celebrating his birthday.  Just in this past episode alone he once again toyed with the idea of exposing Snooki to Jionni.  The Unit made another appearance, and whenever the two of them get together Mike wants to tell Jionni about how he and Snooki hooked up and The Unit saw it all.  The Situation is disgusting, and I’ve seen very few redeeming qualities over the past few seasons.  Yet somehow he has managed to nearly snag himself a girlfriend, a brunette who is always ready and willing.  He doesn’t want to commit just yet, but admits that he could possibly let her “wife him up.”  What a douche.  By episode’s end, he too had left the Jersey Shore house.

Vinny had personal issues to work through and had the support of his friends when he left.  Mike feels unwanted, like the house villain.  He leaves the house, but unlike when Vinny left: no one cares.  I think it’s a shameless ploy for attention and I have no doubt that he will return shortly.  Stay tuned.

Best of the episode: Pauly’s surprise party.

Worst of the episode: Mike, as always.

What to watch for next: Mike’s return?

For another take on this week’s episode check out “In Memoriam” by Lauren Tyree.

Season 5, Episode 3: “Dropping Like Flies” (original airdate January 19, 2011)

Jersey Shore airs Thursdays at 10/9c on MTV.

Images courtesy of MTV.

Contraband Review: Wahlberg Brings It In His Latest

Mark Wahlberg (The Fighter) has got to be one of the coolest actors around.  His career has only gotten better over the years, and I’ve always been a fan.  I think the first movie I remember seeing him in was Fear, and he showed flashes of greatness even back then.  He’s been nominated for an Academy Award, and I hope one day he’ll take one home.  He’s demonstrated that he can do more than play the tough guy, but that’s one of the roles in which he excels.

In Contraband he portrays a tough guy but a family man, a reluctant hero thrust into a situation beyond his control.  He stars as Chris Farraday, a reformed smuggler of illegal contraband.  Chris has gone straight, and is now the owner of a small home security company.  With his wife Kate (Kate Beckinsale, Underworld: Awakening) and two sons, he has carved out a nice normal existence.  That safe haven is threatened when his wife’s little brother Andy (Caleb Jones, X-Men: First Class) gets himself in trouble with local drug dealer and scumbag Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi, The Rum Diary).  He was transporting cocaine on a cargo ship when it was busted by border patrol and he had to dump the product in the water.  Instead of chalking up the loss to the cost of doing business, Briggs will extract his debt in blood.  In an effort to save Andy’s life, Chris assumes the debt.  The only way he can repay what Andy owes is by agreeing to do a smuggling job for Briggs.  His best friend Sebastien (Ben Foster, The Mechanic) helps arrange the job and also keeps an eye on Kate and the boys while Chris is gone.

Contraband was successful because of its straightforward plot and relatable performances.  Even though the average person will never find themselves thrust into such a dangerous situation, there are few forces more powerful than self-preservation and the need to protect one’s family.  Initially Chris is focused on saving the life of his brother-in-law, but eventually his wife and children become the object of Briggs’ vengeful rage.  As a viewer, I never doubted Wahlberg’s resolve.  Maybe it was his blue-collar Boston roots shining through that made the performance so believable.  Additionally, he and Kate Beckinsale had great chemistry and their performances were delivered with remarkable realism, particularly Kate’s frustration with her brother.  Sometimes your family puts you in the worst position, but you never turn your back on them.  Beckinsale, Jones, and Wahlberg captured the unconditional love that characterizes the bond between family.

It looks like the movie will end up being #1 at the box office, and I think it’s a worthy entrant at that position, though it will probably be a short-lived stay at the top.  It wasn’t a terribly original movie, but that’s ok.  I mean, we’ve seen the overall plot of man saving his family about a million times, but Contraband was exciting and intense and kept me on the edge of my seat. You really can’t ask for much more from a thriller.  I particularly enjoyed the clever way Chris managed to evade authorities while loading the contraband on the boat.  Many movies falter at the halfway point, but writer Aaron Guzikowski crafted a storyline that started strong and maintained its intensity throughout.  Contraband had a throwback B-movie vibe that ultimately proved successful, and it’s a nice addition to an already noteworthy resume for Mr. Wahlberg.

See it.

Images courtesy of Patti Perret and Universal Pictures.

 

Grey’s Anatomy Review: This Magic Moment

One good thing about Grey’s Anatomy is that the writers always manage to include a degree of realism.  There are all sorts of interesting medical anomalies that can befall the average person, at any time. It might seem far-fetched, but it makes for good television and it’s technically possible.  Thursday’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy featured conjoined twins and an opportunity for the doctors of Seattle Grace to distinguish themselves from their counterparts.

It was all hands on deck as the doctors worked to separate the twins in a career-defining procedure.  It’s a “peeds” case, so Arizona (Jessica Capshaw)is front and center, but all of the alpha personalities are present, including Webber and Sheperd.  They practice the surgery numerous times on dolls before the actual procedure.  Arizona finds it difficult to defer to her colleagues, and eventually Callie has to firmly put her in her place.  The surgery is ultimately a success, but there were some interpersonal bumps along the way.

Karev (Justin Chambers) has loads of pediatric experience and has worked with Arizona extensively.  He should’ve had the inside track on the surgery, but he allowed Webber to psych him out.  His mistake during the practice sessions cost him a role in the surgery.  After the twin girls were successfully separated, one of the babies went into kidney failure.  Karev came up with the idea of taking a kidney from the baby’s sibling, and Arizona was going to let him scrub in.  While scrubbing in, Webber (James Pickens Jr.) manages to get in Alex’s head AGAIN, and guilts him into giving up the surgery.  Webber feigned disappointment and regret at feeling like his career was on the downswing, so Karev gave up his spot out of sympathy.

Meanwhile, Webber knew exactly what he was doing by playing upon his sympathy.  He basically yelled “gotcha!”  I felt bad that Alex was duped.  He rarely shows kindness to his counterparts, and I think the fact that Webber is former Chief Resident played a large role in his decision.  Later, Webber acts as if his betrayal was intended to be a teachable moment – but I thought it was a dirty trick and that Webber was above that sort of behavior.

Derek and Meredith are settling into their roles as parents, and couldn’t be happier.  Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Cristina, Teddy, or Lexie.  Teddy is understandably grappling with Henry’s death.  She hasn’t taken any time off and is still performing surgeries.  She is subjecting Cristina (Sandra Oh) to the torture of reliving Henry’s death over and over by repeatedly asking her to describe what happened in the O.R. in painstaking detail.  Whenever she is summoned, Cristina finds Teddy and dutifully recites what happened, always ending with the time of death.  It’s almost as if Teddy is looking for someone to blame, but eventually she obtains a modicum of closure and accepts Cristina’s medical explanation.  It will be difficult, but now maybe she can begin to heal.  The same can’t be said for Lexie, who can’t seem to get over Mark even though he has a new girlfriend.  I think she was crazy for dumping Avery, but I guess it was for the best if her feelings weren’t true.

Best of the episode: A successful surgery for the conjoined twins.

Worst of the episode: Webber’s double-crossing.

What to look for next: Trouble on the home front as Owen and Cristina bump heads.

Season 8, Episode 11: “This Magic Moment” (original air date January 12, 2012.)

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.

Images courtesy of ABC and Kelsey McNeal.

Jersey Shore Review: One Man Down

Last week I had harsh words for Vinny of MTV’s Jersey Shore, because it seemed like he was in a funk for no good reason.  This week I owe him an apology, because it looks like he suffers from a legit psychological problem.  He’s plagued by anxiety, which goes hand in hand with depression.  His roommates have been compassionate and have tried to cheer him up, butthey lack the tools.  Vinny needs professional help, or at the very least he needs some time off to “recharge his battery.”  When your mental state is off, there’s not much you can do.  Vinny is a mere shadow of his former self.  He doesn’t want to drink or party, which isolates him from the rest of the house.  He toys with the idea of going home, and ultimately he calls his sister to pick him up.

Vinny and Pauly’s relationship is the ultimate bromance.  It was sad to watch Vinny go, and no one was more upset than Pauly.  To Vinny’s credit, he recognized that he was having a problem and took the appropriate steps to remedy the situation.  I credit him with not simply trying to drink his way out of it, which is what a lot of young people would do in that situation.   He may even need to be put on medication, but at least he’s doing something about it.

Although Vinny has not been his usual self, we can count on Mike to be a model of douchebag consistency.  In a bizarre turn of events, he has forged a faux friendship with Jionni. Last week Jionni bought drinks, and this week he’s cooking Mike breakfast and Mike is loaning him t-shirts when Snooki and Jionni get caught in the rain, and he needs dry clothing after getting soaked.  Although Snooki could have asked Ron or Pauly for a t-shirt, she asks Mike for one.  Does anyone else think it’s shady that she would have her boyfriend wear the shirt of a guy she allegedly cheated with?  I do, and it’s only a matter of time before Mike causes problems.  He’s biding his time, I just know it.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised thus far that we’ve had no fireworks between Sam and Ron.  They are both being pretty low-key, and I’m glad that there are other sources of drama in the house.  The Sam and Ron battles were getting old.

The house won’t be the same without Vinny, and I hope he returns later in the season.  I’m glad that his situation can bring awareness to other people suffering from anxiety.  His proactive approach serves as an example to others that there is no shame in getting help when you need it.  The other roommates are big on maintaining a family atmosphere within the house, from referring to each other as family, to having a weekly Sunday dinner ritual.  Vinny’s departure may bring them closer together, but in the short term it’s having a negative effect as they try to fill the void.  It won’t make for very enjoyable TV if everyone is in a funk, so I’m sure they’ll snap out of it eventually.  The Meatballs will, if no one else does. Somebody’s got to keep the party going.  We don’t watch Jersey Shore for the scintillating conversation, we watch for the drunken antics – sad but true. Stay tuned for the aftermath of Vinny’s departure.

Best of the episode: Vinny’s recognition and mature handling of a serious situation.

Worst of the episode: Pauly’s reaction to Vinny’s departure.

What to look for next: Mike in the role of Troublemaker.

Season 5, Episode 2: “One Man Down” (original air date January 12,2012)

For another take on this week’s episode check out “Poor Thing” by Lauren Tyree.

Jersey Shore airs Thursdays at 10/9c on MTV.

Images courtesy of MTV.

Jersey Shore Review: Hurricane Situation

It’s time to rejoin our favorite guidos as they return to familiar ground.  Last season, Jersey Shore saw the gang in their homeland of Italy.  They learned a little bit and got to experience a different culture, but all good things must come to an end.  After a few weeks of being unable to GTL effectively, they were ready to resume their summer in Seaside.

You’ll recall from last season that Sammi said she didn’t want to keep the same living arrangements once they got back to Jersey.  Mike is such a toxic presence in the house that she wanted to be proactive about distancing herself from him.  But, no dice.  No one wants to room with Mike.  The meatballs are going to stick together and no one can break up Pauly and Vinny’s bromance.  So, it looks like Ron and Sam are stuck with The Situation once again.  When they arrive at the house they agree that Mike will mind his own business and they forge a tentative truce.  Speaking of arrivals, the gang was super excited to be back in Jersey.  I understand missing the comforts of home, but the Jersey Shore house is rather spartan by comparison to the Real World house.  Or my house, or your house LOL.  Are they actually sleeping on cots?  Step it up MTV!  All jokes aside, their boss at the t-shirt shop throws a surprise welcome home party for everyone, and the stage is set for sparks to fly.

Everyone’s significant other and family are at the party.  Jionni and Snooki are still together, despite her wild ways on another continent.  He’s there, along with Mike’s friend The Unit.  The Unit is a witness to Mike’s hook-up with Snooki out on the West Coast while she was still with Jionni, an allegation that Snooki vehemently denies.  Mike claims that Ryder hooked up with The Unit while he and Snooki did their thing, and that The Unit saw at all.  Unit and Snooki end up clashing at the party, putting Mike in the faux role of peacemaker.  Unit threatens to spill the beans to Jionni if Snooki doesn’t start being nicer.  And would you believe that this heated exchange took place all while Jionni was conveniently in the restroom?  You can’t tell me this stuff isn’t scripted!

Making matters worse for Snooki (and better for us) is the fact that The Unit is actually crashing at the house.  If he’s anywhere near as much of a d-bag as Mike, Snooki will have a problem on her hands.  Meanwhile, Vinny is having some mental problems.  He’s the ultimate Mama’s Boy and seeing his family at the party only to have them leave again so abruptly has thrown him into a funk.  As a woman, I fully understand having a random case of the blues.  And I don’t ascribe to gender stereotypes.  That being said…MAN UP VINNY!  This guy is a candidate for those Miller Light commercials with the unmanly guys who are one strike from getting their ‘man card’ revoked.

All in all this was a good opening to what promises to be another trashy season.  Will Mike succeed in breaking up Jionni and Snooki?  Will Vinny snap out of it?  Is this the season that things are finally all clear on the home front for Sam and Ron?  Stay tuned.

For another take on this week’s episode check out “Jersey Shore Review: A Blackmail Situation” by Lauren Tyree.

Season 5, Episode 1: “Hurricane Situation” (originally aired July 5, 2012).

Jersey Shore airs Thursdays at 10/9c on MTV.

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Grey’s Anatomy Review: Finally Some New Episodes!

After a lengthy holiday hiatus, Grey’s Anatomy is back in action. 

When we last saw the crew at Seattle Grace, things were looking dicey.   Meredith and Alex had been dispatched to transport an infant from a smaller hospital with less equipment to Seattle Grace.  Their ambulance stalled on a remote road in the rain, and when the driver went for help, the stationary ambulance was stuck by another vehicle.  Alex, Meredith and the baby girl emerge relatively unscathed, but when they exit the ambulance they see that five people have been thrown from the other vehicle.  Things have now gone from bad to impossibly worse. 

Each victim from the other car has varying injuries, except for a teenaged girl who seems largely unhurt.  While Alex and Meredith administer to her family, she is tasked with caring for the ailing infant.  It’s an intense scene as we survey the carnage.  We learn that one victim is unaccounted for, and I fear that he may have been ejected from the vehicle.  He’s actually pinned under the car, and Meredith tries desperately to free him as yet another vehicle approaches the blind turn.  Just when we think that they’ll be struck again, we see that it’s another ambulance arriving to the rescue.

Back at Seattle Grace, Teddy (Kim Raver) is still performing heart surgery on the patient that Torres and Avery nearly killed in their negligent orthopedic surgery.  No one has told her that Henry is dead, because she’s still in the middle of a delicate procedure and a patient is depending on her.  It seems cruel that she is carrying on cheerfully with her duties on what will end up being one of the worst days of her life.  She wants Cristina to assist in the procedure and won’t take no for an answer.  Owen asks Cristina to do the impossible.  He needs her to operate alongside Teddy knowing that her husband is dead.  In an amazing display of fortitude, Cristina does what is required. 

It’s almost sadistic to watch Teddy bop around happily in an effort to perk Cristina up for this “dream” surgery that’s on her bucket list.  She even asks Cristina about Henry periodically, which was painfully awkward.  When the surgery concludes, Cristina immediately pulls Teddy aside and breaks the news to her.  She did it compassionately but deliberately, and Teddy seemed to appreciate it.  If she had waited for Owen to tell Teddy (which is what he wanted), it would have been unnecessarily prolonging something that had gone on long enough.

This was an intense episode all around.  The people injured on the side of the road with Meredith and Alex were a family returning from a camping trip.  A grandmother and mother end up dying, leaving a 17 year old to tend to an injured younger brother and sister.  Her father is on life support, and she ultimately must grow up overnight and make some very adult decisions.  It was heart wrenching to watch someone so young endure so much tragedy in rapid succession, but I suppose it happens every day. 

One of the accident survivors ended up being treated by Mark’s new girlfriend, a gifted surgeon at a neighboring hospital.  She works with Derek to salvage the girl’s eye in a complicated procedure.  Begrudgingly, Lexie (Chyler Leigh) realizes that Mark’s new girlfriend is a good catch and actually very likable.  I wonder if Mark’s unavailability will make her regret her choices with Avery.

They saved the best for last, and at the end of the episode, after a long day – Derek and Meredith get the most wonderful surprise: Zola is back!  We’ll have to wait for an explanation, but it looks like the Sheperd family just got bigger.  What a great episode! I was beginning to have withdrawal.

Season 8, Episode 10: “Suddenly” (originally aired January 5, 2012).

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.

Images courtesy of Richard Foreman and ABC.

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