Season 8, Episode 24: “Flight” (original air date May 17, 2012).

Images courtesy of Danny Feld and ABC.

Last week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy continued the fallout from the Oral Boards.  The residents have big decisions to make regarding their futures, and there is a good chance that things will look much different around the halls of Seattle Grace in the near future.

Most of the residents are fielding offers from very respectable hospitals, with Cristina (Sandra Oh) entertaining the most prestigious opportunities, until Alex (Justin Chambers) surprises everyone with an offer from Johns Hopkins.  It doesn’t look like most of them will be returning to Seattle Grace.  Loyalty is nice, but at the end of the day they need to advance their careers and realize their full potential.  Alex was the lone confirmation for Seattle Grace, but when Hopkins comes calling he can’t pass up the opportunity.  Derek wants to head to Boston, but Meredith wants to stay at Seattle Grace.  She has an offer from The Brigham, and Derek has very promising career-defining opportunities in Boston too.  Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) doesn’t want to be far from Cristina, but it’s time to grow up and move on.  Sometimes they act more like fifth graders than adult women, and they are too involved in each other’s lives.  Surprisingly, it’s Cristina who comes to this realization before Meredith.  I guess being an adult doesn’t exclude you from having growing pains.

On a personal level, there are some interesting things going on besides the residents’ career choices.  Ben (Jason George) and Miranda (Chandra Wilson) have been dating for a little while, but she never seems to make adequate time for him.  Despite the romantic gestures he’s made, she always seems a little distracted and has blown him off many times.  This time he wants to just hang out and enjoy her day off, doing crossword puzzles and enjoying each other’s company.  He makes her a romantic breakfast in bed, but before he can give it to her she is fully dressed and ready to head in to the hospital.  She thinks it’s silly that he wants to do crosswords when there are more exciting things to do, like removing a tapeworm from a patient.  She doesn’t realize that he embedded a marriage proposal in the crossword puzzle until she makes a mockery of the activity in the O.R. and he has to ruin the surprise because she wasn’t game.  It’s a snapshot of their relationship: they are rarely on the same page.

Owen is completely out of the loop when it comes to Cristina and doesn’t know any more about her future plans than Teddy or Meredith.  Everyone is clamoring for her to make a decision, and they all hope that she sticks around.  She has relented somewhat in her anger towards Owen, and for a second it looks like they may reconcile.  Cristina cuddles with him briefly after coming home from a party, and it confuses Owen.  Later, she comes to him in the hospital and they make love.  He thinks it’s a good sign and is willing to be patient as they repair their relationship.  Unfortunately, it was farewell nookie, because as soon as he came she was gone, telling Owen that she’s leaving Seattle Grace for another hospital.

In the beginning of the episode it’s mentioned that the staff will be taking part in the surgical separation of conjoined twins at Boise Memorial Hospital.  When Alex changes his mind about staying at Seattle Grace, Arizona completely flips out on him and bars him from representing Seattle Grace in the high-profile surgery.  She had a rough day with her late brother’s best friend, the dying cancer patient.  She unfairly lashes out at Alex, but he takes it in stride.  As it turns out, the tongue-lashing might be a blessing in disguise.

Towards the end of the episode I began to grow suspicious of Meredith’s ubiquitous narration and the juxtaposition of the scenes of them flying to Idaho.  I thought to myself, “don’t tell me this plane is going down…” and sure enough that’s what’s going to happen.  Grey’s Anatomy NEVER disappoints in the season finale, and next week’s episode should be a doozie.  There’s no way that all the residents are leaving Seattle Grace, as it appeared.  I suspect that this crash will end up making them reevaluate things and that they will stick around.  Unfortunately, I think someone may perish first.  Who will it be?! Stay tuned!

Season 8, Episode 23: “Migration” (original air date May 10, 2012).

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

Images courtesy of Randy Holmes and ABC.

As the eighth season draws to a close, the writers of Grey’s Anatomy are raising the bar.  Last week was one of the better episodes of the season, as we see the culmination of months of panic by the residents.  In the previous episode they were a bundle of nerves, but now that their oral exams are over, they aren’t terribly relieved.  In fact, each resident suffered varying degrees of disaster during the exam.  The writers continued Grey’s reputation for originality with a non-linear storyline that began at the end.  We know immediately that one of the Seattle Grace docs has failed.  Jackson’s mom Catherine and Chief Webber are both volunteering as Board examiners, and she tells him the news, concerned that it may have been Jackson who didn’t pass.

As for Cristina, Meredith, April, Jackson, and Alex: they each have a horror story.  Cristina (Sandra Oh) is the natural favorite to ace the exam, and for the most part she makes it through with flying colors.  She’s certainly knowledgeable and confident.  Perhaps too confident.  When her cautious examiner differs with her bold approach for a hypothetical patient, Cristina becomes obnoxious and condescending.  She all but accuses the older examiner of being a fossil.  Insulted, he ends the interview early, sarcastically deferring to Cristina since she’s got it all figured out.

Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) was sick throughout the entire exam, going so far as to pause intermittently to vomit in a bucket.  After receiving some conveniently vague advice from Derek, she made the decision to push through the exam.  She may be sick; but she knows her stuff.

Jackson (Jessie Williams) witnessed his mom’s tawdry morning after with Chief Webber, but must block the image from his mind if he wants to succeed.  He can’t escape his mother, who has loomed over his entire career and seems to be everywhere.  She’s even conducting an exam in an adjoining room from Jackson’s, her distinct laugh punctuating the air.  Jackson becomes distracted, and if he can’t regroup quickly he’ll look like he’s easily frazzled and unsuited for the chaotic atmosphere of an emergency room.  Alex misses the first portion of his exam completely, meaning that he must pass all remaining sections if he wants to pass the overall exam.  Talk about pressure!

Which brings me to the last and most pitiful of our merry band of residents: April Kepner (Sarah Drew.)  Recall that she allowed Jackson the honor of deflowering her the night before the test.  The next day she feels guilty and begins stressing out immensely before the exam.  It spills over into the question and answer session, with April refusing to abide by the exam guidelines.  Once a question is answered the test must move forward.  She keeps trying to change her answer and elaborate, despite the examiners’ insistence that they continue.  She is sweating profusely and babbling incoherently.  It appears that all is lost, but when she runs into Jackson during a break he reassures her.  They even have a quickie, and it looks like April will calm down.  However, it’s too little too late.  She’s already bombed it.  They all get texts/emails with their results soon after the test, and April didn’t pass.

While the residents sweat it out during their Oral Boards, things hum along back at Seattle Grace.  Callie, Teddy, and Miranda operate on an old friend of Arizona’s, a close friend of her late brother.  The guy is like family, but unfortunately he waited too long to seek medical care and almost certainly will die of Cancer.  He didn’t want to have an experience like Arizona’s brother, and his refusal to get care earlier will cause his demise.  Meanwhile, things are moving at a rapid pace for Mark and his new girlfriend.  She wants to have a baby with him soon.  When Lexie gets word, she decides it’s “now or never” and confesses her feelings to him.  Will he reciprocate?  We’ll just have to wait and see.

Best of the episode: The non-linear storyline

Worst of the episode: April flunks

What to watch for next: Will Mark and Lexie get back together?

Season 8, Episode 22: “Let the Bad Times Roll” (original air date May 3, 2012).

Greys Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.

Images courtesy of Eric McCandless and ABC.

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the Oral Boards.  All of the residents’ preparation has lead up to this moment, and they each are dealing with a unique mental state.  Jackson, Cristina, and Meredith are cool.  April is predictably freaking out.  And Alex seems reluctant to physically leave Seattle Grace and go take the exam.

After giving Morgan the cold shoulder a couple of weeks ago, now all of a sudden Alex (Justin Chambers) wants to be involved in caring for her son Tommy.  In my opinion Alex is just avoiding the exam.  Morgan understandably tells him that she doesn’t need his help, and Arizona pushes him out the door.  He goes to the testing site, but eventually goes back to Seattle Grace after he gets a grave update from Arizona about the infant’s condition.  This is arguably the biggest day of Alex’s professional life, and he’s blowing it off.  I have sympathy for Morgan’s character, but give me a break.  Alex just stomped all over her feelings a minute ago; now he wants to be the hero doctor.  I couldn’t believe it.

Cristina and Owen (Kevin McKidd) have had a few awkward exchanges since the demise of their relationship.  He wants to support her and offer a word of encouragement before the exam, but their relationship is strained and he doesn’t have the opportunity.  He just seems really sad, all around.  Remember that Teddy still hates him.  Fortunately, he finds an unlikely ally in Dr. Bailey.  You might think girls would stick together, but not so.

Owen and Teddy’s relationship has been acrimonious ever since Henry died on Owen’s table.  To say that she’s given him the cold shoulder would be an understatement.  They used to be best friends, but now they only communicate when it’s work related.  They are unpleasant to be around, so much so that Callie warns Bailey.  They have a teenaged trauma patient and will need to work together.  Eventually Teddy and Owen have a spat across the operating table and he walks out.  Teddy later rants about how Owen is fighting her at every turn out of spite.  With Callie’s encouragement, Bailey finally tells Teddy like it is.  Owen isn’t fighting her; she’s fighting him.  She blames him for Henry, and they both know that’s not fair.  He allows her to punish him for it in the hopes that it will make Teddy feel better.  He’s lost Teddy and now Cristina too.  Bailey finally puts Teddy in check, and it was long overdue.  Owen doesn’t deserve to be her lifelong punching bag because her husband died.

The episode closes with some truly out-of-character behavior.  While away at the testing site, April (Sarah Drew) lets Jackson (Jessie Williams) de-virginize her after they get into a drunken barroom brawl.  Richard and Jackson’s mom Catherine bump into each other also.  Recall that Richard refrained from an earlier dalliance with her while she visited Seattle Grace.  With Adele estranged because of her Alzheimer’s, Richard probably doesn’t feel like he’s really cheating.  Adele is cheating, though she can’t help it.  Debbie Allen and James Pickens are some good-looking older actors, but I didn’t really wanna see them get it on.  They’re my parents’ age.

Jackson finds out about their hook-up but still has the presence of mind to be ready for the Boards.  April is freaking out because she’s not a virgin anymore, and Meredith is battling a stomach flu she caught from baby Zola.  Those might sound like stressful situations, but at least everyone showed up for the Boards.  Everyone but Alex, who inexplicably got delayed by his abrupt return to Seattle Grace.  Arizona practically had to beg him to go take the Boards.  What’s up with that?  This was a fantastic episode, but I don’t know why the writers would have Alex behave so stupidly.  Why would he risk his career for a woman he blew off just a short while ago?  It doesn’t make sense.  The only thing I can think of is that he cracked under pressure and is looking for an excuse to skip the Boards.  The teaser for next week reveals that someone from Seattle Grace did in fact fail.  Was it Alex, because he never showed up?  Was it April, because she couldn’t pull it together?  Or was it Jackson, because his good luck charm was destroyed right before the oral exam?  Stay tuned!

Season 8, Episode 21: “Moment of Truth” (original air date April 26, 2012).

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

Images courtesy of Richard Cartwright and ABC.

Last week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy took my breath away.  I was really drawn in by the storylines and what was happening to the characters.  Both the singular storyline, featuring one of the hospital patients, and a recurring plotline were heartbreaking.  

The staff is challenged this week by a high profile, tragic patient.  In recent years we’ve seen news stories about abducted children who were discovered alive after many years of torture and captivity.  A girl named Holly is being treated at Seattle Grace for life-threatening injuries sustained while being held against her will by a child predator.  At first the doctors aren’t sure that their patient and the missing girl are one and the same.  She was taken as a child and is a teenager now.  But the surgeons remember the details of the abduction, which received national attention.  Bailey, in particular has a tough time recounting the painful details.  She can’t help thinking how devastated she’d be if something happened to her son.  Meanwhile, the girls’ parents are at the hospital but have been kept away from Holly so they don’t overwhelm her psychologically.  She has gravitated to Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and shares some of the horrors of her captivity.  Meredith keeps those details from the girl’s parents, who are later shocked to learn that she bore children for her captor.  She has a long road of recovery ahead, but at least she survived and has the love and support of her family.

In the midst of all the excitement at Seattle Grace, the residents are frantically scheduling interviews with prospective hospitals.  I guess this is the next step in the process as they await their Board results.  Cristina ( Sandra Oh) is the cream of the crop and has several hospitals vying for her services.  Bailey pulled some strings to get Meredith an interview at Brigham, but she seems like she wants to stay at Seattle Grace.  She seems to be stalling and has rescheduled her interview three times.  Teddy would love if Cristina stayed at Seattle Grace, but it appears unlikely.  Desperate, she implores Owen to convince Cristina to stay.  She’s made it painfully clear that they aren’t friends, so this line of conversation is inappropriate. Owen, though, stands up for himself and says that if Teddy can’t convince her own attending to stick around, she shouldn’t expect him to do it.   At least Teddy hasn’t resorted to sabotage.  Arizona has been sandbagging Alex (Justin Chambers) by sending him to crappy hospitals.  He finally confronts her and she reluctantly agrees not to stand in the way of his opportunities.  He should stay because he wants to, not because he feels trapped.

Even though one of the patients was one who had been repeatedly abused, the saddest aspect of last week’s storyline was Richard and Adele.  Her Alzheimer’s worsens by the day, it seems.  He already had to place her in an assisted living facility, but now she barely recognizes him.  When Richard (James Pickens Jr.) visits her at the home, he discovers that she has “fallen in love” with another patient, a man who also suffers from the devastating disease.  At first Richard wants to blame the man and accuses him of taking advantage of his wife.  Eventually he comes to realize that the man makes Adele happy, and she welcomes his advances.  Richard never displays any anger; he still tries to comfort Adele – even when she is breaking his heart.  I’m sure this portrayal rang true for anyone who has a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s.  This was a powerful episode, and I hope the writers finish the season strong.

Season 8, Episode 10: “The Girl With No Name” (original air date April 19, 2012.)

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

Images courtesy of Randy Holmes and ABC.

Just when Derek and Meredith right their marital ship, it looks like Owen and Cristina are on the rocks.  They have been having problems ever since the abortion.  They tried counseling, and Owen (Kevin McKidd) seemed to finally come to terms with her decision, but a recent argument revealed that he still blames Cristina.  It that argument he confessed that he cheated on her.  In an effort to hash things out, they have called in sick with the flu while they hunker down at home and try to work it out.  Cristina (Sandra Oh) wants to hear every sordid detail, but Owen doesn’t want to hurt her or lay himself bare for her judgment.  In a painful “light bulb moment,” she realizes that he cheated as a way of punishing her for the abortion.  By the end of the episode, he was moving out.

In Owen’s absence, he named a temporary Chief of Surgery.  Mark (Eric Dane) crashes a staff meeting and informs everyone that he was selected for the job.  Of course they are shocked, but what can they do?  Meanwhile the residents are still running around in a panic as they study for their Boards.  The name of the episode was “Support System,” and we see examples of support throughout the show.  April, Alex, and Avery support each other before the exam.  Meredith tries to support Cristina through her crisis, but she has understandably isolated herself.  Teddy is making slow progress in her emotional healing, and she needs the support of her friends and colleagues to bounce back.  Callie, Arizona, and Bailey dutifully agree to girls’ night out instead of more romantic plans with their significant others.  Finally, Bailey and Webber support each other against Mark, after he vetoes a critical judgment call.

As a plastic surgeon, Mark has the reputation of a superficial pretty boy. Nevertheless, he’s good at his job and is taking his new appointment very seriously.  He explains to his protégé Avery that he views it as a chance to show that he has what it takes to be Chief.  In that vein, he opposes Webber in his decision to move forward with a multi-organ transplant surgery.  The patient needs a new intestine, pancreas, and a few other organs.  He has been disappointed at the eleventh hour several times, but Webber is optimistic that the surgery will finally happen.  When they examine the donor they find a tumor, leading Mark to classify him as unsuitable and pull the plug on the surgery.  Webber (James Pickens Jr.) wants to at least see if the growth is benign and if so, Bailey has a good idea about how they can proceed.  For the second time in recent memory, Bailey and Mark have a clash of egos.  This time Bailey is probably right.  Ultimately Webber explains to Mark that his Plastics experience has taught him to always find the perfect, pretty solution – but that sometimes in the trenches you have to just go with what will work.  Begrudgingly, Mark defers to the more experienced surgeon.

This was a pretty good episode, but I thought it could have had a little more oomph.  The clock is ticking on how long I want to watch Owen and Cristina be miserable.  I can appreciate her grief, and I thought Sandra Oh’s performance after hearing the details of Owen’s tryst was spot on.  But.  That’s not gonna make for good TV after another episode or two.  Stay tuned!

Season 8, Episode 19: “Support System” (original air date April 12, 2012).

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

Images courtesy of Randy Holmes and ABC.

When we last saw Grey’s Anatomy, Owen was dropping the hammer on Cristina. Since his admission of infidelity, it is Owen who is begging Cristina to talk.  He’s so desperate that he tries to confide in Meredith, who promptly shuts him down.  Just as she tells Owen that he can’t confide in her, Derek tells Lexie that she cannot ask him for advice about Mark.  That’s not the nature of their relationship.

After her last debacle, Lexie’s worried about her readiness in the operating room.  Derek doesn’t hold her previous mistake against her, but he lets her know that they need to focus on professional matters, not personal ones.  Despite his tough talk, he eventually gives her the advice she wants.  She had been wondering whether or not to approach Mark and make a move, even though it seems like he has moved on.  Derek tells her that if she really wants Mark that she can still have him, but that he’s happy and she shouldn’t ruin that unless she’s serious.

Teddy has joined a support group for widows, but her disdain spills over in the first meeting, and it seems like the therapy will do more harm than good.  She has the typical type A personality of most of the doctors at Seattle Grace, so she doesn’t want to discuss her feelings in a room full of strangers.  She’d rather work her way through the pain than talk about things.  That’s better than moping around, but if you don’t deal with your feelings, eventually they will erupt.

Teddy’s patient this week is an elderly man who suffered a heart attack after he and his wife came across an escaped lion.  Derek and Meredith witnessed the same lion while driving to work in the morning.  As expected, the lion gave the patient quite a scare, sending him to the emergency room.  The man and his wife are an adorable old couple, still in love after years and years of marriage.  You can tell that they share a genuine friendship.  Teddy and Alex promise to do their best, and reassure the woman that her husband is in good hands.  Things get a little dicey during the procedure, but Teddy saves the patient.  Their joy is short-lived, because when Teddy goes to tell the man’s wife the good news about a successful surgery, she finds that the woman has expired in the waiting room. This hits home for Teddy, and when she’s alone she says the words that she could not utter in group therapy, “I am a widow.”

Alex has been growing closer and closer to his intern Morgan, especially after taking an active role in the care of her newborn baby.  The other docs warned him that Morgan had feelings for him, and now he can see for himself that the line between them is getting blurred.  He wants to detach himself from her but can’t find the words to do so.  Instead, he abruptly cuts her off, right when she has to make a difficult choice about Tommy’s care.  Alex is right to distance himself, but he should still be compassionate about it.  In the end, tough love wins out.

Best of the episode: Callie’s reaction to hearing about Arizona’s ex lovers

Worst of the episode: The freeze between Owen and Cristina

What to watch for next: Owen spills the deets

Season 8, Episode 17: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (original air date April 5, 2012).

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

Images courtesy of Richard Foreman and ABC.

All good things must come to an end.  After a summer of debauchery at home and abroad, the Jersey Shore gang is calling it quits until next season.  Honestly though, I hope this season was the last one.  There are spinoff shows in the works, so maybe the days of Jersey Shore are over.

When we last saw the gang, Vinny and Pauly executed the perfect prank by moving all the inside furniture outside and vice versa.  When everyone returns from camping they think it’s funny.  Except Mike.  He goes on and on about how he doesn’t like anyone to touch his things.  I might have been annoyed if it were me, but eventually I would have laughed it off.  Surprisingly, Mike and Snooki are still friends.  They always try to act like they’re a family, so I guess all is forgiven.  They all go out partying for one last hurrah, and Mike runs into his brother and Deena’s sister, who are a couple.  In typical immature fashion, Mike has run around talking about Deena’s sister’s sexual habits.  He heard it through the grapevine that she’s capable of doing something in the bedroom that many women can’t.  Deena takes issue with him and he tries to cover it up by saying it’s a good thing that she can do that.  At the end of the day her sister seems happy with Mike’s brother, so Deena lets it go.

Meanwhile, Vinny tries to do the unthinkable: land two lesbians.  It’s an idiotic thought in the first place, as if the average lesbian would even consider it.  But the girls actually go for it.  Pauly proclaims this feat to the be the “holy grail of hooking up.”  The girls aren’t much to look at.  Ronnie says that one of them looks like Matthew McConaughey!  Vinny manages to pull it off and acts like he just cured Cancer.  It’s the highlight of his life.  The next day the girls make a happy exit, and all is right in Vinny’s world.

The rest of the episode was pretty uneventful.  The girls try to get revenge on the boys for all of their pranks.  They decided to bomb them with water balloons on the last night.  Woo hoo!  They are all a little sad that it’s over, but on the other hand they’re glad to get back home to the real world.  They enjoy a final meal together and make a well-deserved toast to Ron and Sam for remaining drama-free.  The next day they leave one by one, and Snooki ends up being the last one left.  She says that she can do this forever (Jersey Shore). At $30,000 per episode, who can blame her?  I’m willing to bet the new baby she’s expecting with Jionni will change all of that though.  Or will there be a new reality show with Jionni, Snooki, and Baby Guido?  Dear God, I hope not.  See ya next time folks, it’s been real.

For more on Jersey Shore, check out our other reviews.

Season 5, Episode 11, “We Are Family” (original air date March 15, 2012).

Images courtesy of MTV.

Last week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy was heart wrenching.  It also illustrated why most couples don’t work together and why professional and personal lives should be kept separate.  Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) has been trying to narrow her area of concentration while preparing for her Boards.  Derek (Patrick Dempsey) wants her to return to neurology, and she considers it.  He and Lexie have been working with a 27 year-old patient, a bubbly recent law school graduate with a promising future.  She has a cyst in her brain that has been causing dizziness and seizures, and Derek and Lexie can easily remove it.  It seems like a relatively minor procedure, as far as brain surgeries go.  The patient also has a brain tumor, but it’s benign and Derek wants to leave it alone.  If it causes a problem later, they’ll deal with it at that time.

Derek, Lexie, and Meredith perform the surgery, but Derek is called away to help with another patient.  He leaves Meredith in charge, and she does an excellent job until they see the tumor.  They have already successfully drained the cyst, but the tumor is right there.  Even though they said they’d leave it, neither Lexie nor Meredith sees the big deal in removing it now.  They try to page Derek, but he was pulled in to help Alex’s intern’s premature baby.  Using their best judgment, they remove the tumor.  When Derek finds out, he’s livid.  He tells Meredith that they won’t know if the surgery was successful until the patient wakes up.  When the patient regains consciousness, her parents are there.  She recognizes them and smiles, but when she goes to speak she cannot articulate any words.  A lawyer who cannot speak has no career.  I mean I’m sure there are some deaf attorneys out there, but you get my point.  It’s heart breaking!! Lexie and Meredith really screwed the pooch.  They should have left the tumor alone, because it was benign.  That was NOT the reason they were going in there.  Meredith and Derek learn the hard way that they should not work together.  It takes a toll on their professional interaction and their marriage.

While Meredith has a professional setback, Cristina (Sandra Oh) suffers a personal one.  She thinks Owen (Kevin McKidd) is cheating on her with Emily, one of the nurses.  She’s wrong, and she’s projecting her own insecurities on to him.  Granted, some of his behavior is suspicious, but he’s avoiding Cristina because he’s unhappy at home, not because he’s cheating.  Cristina and Emily clash at work over a patient who is reluctant to disconnect his husband from life support.  Emily has built a rapport with the patient’s husband and is more sensitive.  Cristina wants to just pull the plug.  Once again, the personal and professional worlds collide, with bad results.  Eventually Cristina confronts Emily and realizes that nothing is going on.  She tells Owen what happened and he says that while he did not cheat on her with Emily, he did cheat on her!!

Owen and Cristina aren’t the only ones facing infidelity.  Jackson’ mom returns to Seattle Grace, and she has a thing for Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.)  It’s understandable.  They are around the same age and are similarly accomplished.  Richard has been caring for Adele, so when the senior Avery invites him to a black tie event, he thinks it would be a nice change of pace.  But after Bailey warns him not to let things get muddied, he realizes he doesn’t trust himself around her and backs out.  This was a great episode that left many teasers.  I can’t wait for next week!

Season 8, Episode 16, “One Step Too Far” (original air date March 15, 2012).

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

Images courtesy of Vivian Zink and ABC.

Eddie Murphy is a curious case.  In his heyday he pioneered the buddy cop genre and was a fixture in some classic 80s movies like Harlem Nights and Coming to America.  A few years ago he even won an Academy Award for a supporting role in Dreamgirls.  In many respects, Murphy is an accomplished actor.  But in other respects he’s responsible for some of the worst movies of the past decade.  I present Exhibit A and B.  Murphy’s resume is so spotty that I don’t know what to expect from his movies.  I had low expectations for A Thousand Words, but it wasn’t as bad as some of his more recent duds.  A tepid endorsement for sure, so I wouldn’t rush out to see this one.

Murphy stars as Jack McCall, a fast-talking literary agent who isn’t above bending the truth to get what he wants. His latest target is a new age self-help guru named Dr. Sinja, a fictionalized Deepak Chopra who looks like he raided the Dalai Lama’s closet.  Sinja’s philosophy involves finding inner peace by shutting out the noise of the world and looking inward.  Jack lives a life polar opposite from Sinja’s, but he is impressed by his massive following and wants to translate Sinja’s popularity into riches.  He lies about his motivations, and gets Sinja to sign a book deal.  During his spiel to Sinja while visiting his compound, Jack encounters a mystical tree in his garden.  It is supposed to be a source of peaceful reflection, but Jack leans against it while lying to Sinja and cuts his hand on the bark, leaving behind some blood.  The next day Jack and his wife Caroline (Kerry Washington, For Colored Girls) are shocked to see the massive tree sprout up in their backyard.  As he talks, the tree loses leaves.  When all the leaves have fallen from the tree it will die, and so will Jack.  By the time Jack notices what’s going on, there are about a thousand leaves left on the tree.  Jack has a thousand remaining words to speak and is forced to find other ways to communicate.  He is also forced to listen to his inner voice since he can’t use his outer one.  Unable to BS his way through life anymore, he tries the introspection he should have attempted long ago, but will he learn his lesson before it’s too late?

A Thousand Words wasn’t the most original movie concept.  It reminded me of two Jim Carrey movies, Liar Liar and Yes Man.  In both movies, Carrey’s ability to communicate was severely hampered so that he could learn a bigger life lesson.  He couldn’t lie in Liar Liar and he couldn’t say no in Yes Man.  In A Thousand Words, Eddie Murphy can’t talk at all.  This lead to a lot of comedic, physical acting and Murphy gave a capable performance.  I felt his character’s frustration and his sincerity as he tried to communicate without speaking.  There are those who will take a glance at this movie and dismiss it as Murphy’s usual tripe, but I think that would be a bit unfair.  The movie may have taken itself too seriously at times, but at least it tried.  Despite being largely forgettable, it featured some talented actresses, including Ruby Dee (American Gangster) and Allison Janney (The Help), in addition to the aforementioned Kerry Washington.  Though it probably won’t fare well at the box office, I thought A Thousand Words wasn’t nearly as shameful as some of Murphy’s recent offerings.  It made for a passable day at the movies, but there are more exciting choices currently in theaters.  I give it an A for effort.

Images courtesy of Bruce McBroom and DW Studios.

When we last saw our Jersey Shore gang, Mike was doing what he does best: planning explosive drama.  He has been absolutely living for the opportunity to ruin Jionni and Snooki’s relationship as payback for Snooki lying about their hook-up before Italy.

When Plan A doesn’t work, a good villain always has a backup plan.  If The Unit can’t be there to support Mike’s version of events, he’ll proceed anyway.  Mike pulls Jionni aside at the house and tells him that he can’t go on drinking with him like a friend, knowing the truth.  He tells Jionni that Snooki’s best friend Ryder hooked up with Unit out in California, and when Snooki came in and saw, she hooked up with Mike.  Jionni sits quietly as Mike talks, sipping a beverage and looking unfazed.  He says nothing, so Mike asks “I mean, do you respect me as a man, for telling you? I know I would want to know if it was my girlfriend…”

To Jionni’s credit, he keeps his cool and doesn’t give Mike the reaction he was looking for.  On the other hand, what man would sit idly by while someone claims to have slept with his girlfriend?  We’ve seen some petty, immature fist fights on Jersey Shore before, and I’m not saying that’s what I want to see.  But some things shouldn’t go unchecked.  I’ll admit that I enjoyed seeing Mike’s plan thwarted, and he was obviously disappointed.  Jionni told Snooki about Mike’s revelation and they shared a dismissive laugh, but if you thought Snooki would let it slide, you haven’t been watching.  A few hours later she confronts Mike, against Jionni’s advice.  She calls Mike a liar, and he says that he just wanted the truth to come out.  Jionni is completely passive.  It’s great to be mature, but Jionni almost seems cowardly.  I think it’s unattractive, but Snooki doesn’t see it that way.

Everyone in the house is in a relationship, and Deena is feeling lonely.  Her BFF and fellow meatball Snooki has been MIA, preferring to spoon and smush with Jionni rather than hang out with Deena.  Deena is so desperate for attention that she reconsiders dating Joey and invites him out to Seaside for a date.  I couldn’t believe she would give him the time of day after the way he embarrassed her at Karma, but she is obviously craving companionship and attention.  Even Vinny and Pauly don’t think she should be with Joey.  They have a mini-intervention when Joey shows up in Seaside and calls Deena.  Pauly answers the phone and tells him that she’s sick and can’t make it.  Jenni wonders why Joey didn’t offer to bring Deena some chicken noodle soup or ask if she needed anything.  When Joey calls back she tells him as much.  Eventually he gets the message and seems to be out of the picture, though Deena remains lonely.

Snooki has the bright idea that they should go camping and do something a little different.  Everyone agrees except Pauly and Vinny, who opt to stay home.  Pauly doesn’t want to be without a mirror and the ability to style his blowout perfectly.  They decide to prank the housemates while they are away camping.  They move all of the interior furniture outside, and move the patio furniture in the house.  It’s an extensive prank that requires additional manpower and a lot of time.  When the housemates return, they’ll be in for a huge shock.  The guys put a lot of effort into this prank, so I hope the laughs are worth all the trouble.  Meanwhile, back on the camping trip Deena tries to reconnect with Snooki and explain her isolation to the girls, all of whom are in relationships.   Snooki sympathizes with Deena but is unapologetic about her feelings for Jionni.  Oh well, there is only one episode left, so Deena should be able to return home to her single friends soon.

Best of the episode: Mike’s anti-climactic revelation

Worst of the episode: Jionni’s cowardly response

What to watch for next: An end to the madness as another season draws to a close.

Season 5, Episode 10: “One Meatball Stands Alone” (original airdate March 8, 2012.)

For more on Jersey Shore, check out our other reviews.

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

Images courtesy of MTV.

Last week’s episode of Jersey Shore featured some disgruntled housemates. 

 Love is in the air, and the house is filled with couples – much to the chagrin of Pauly and Vinny.  It’s bad enough that they are the only two single guys in the house, but when Jenni converts the smush room into a romantic sanctuary, they draw the line.  She wants to celebrate her anniversary with Roger, and she decorates the room with rose petals and sex toys.  Pauly and Vinny are appalled, and they prank Jenni by taking the mattress out on the patio.

While Roger and Jenni are the picture of bliss, the same cannot be said for Deena and her friend Joey.  The girls have been telling her that he’s not interested in her for anything other than sex, but she refuses to believe them.  When Ronnie confirms their opinion, she decides to confront Joey about his true intentions.  When they meet up at the club, he pretty much disses her.  He says that if she wants to believe what other people say then she shouldn’t date him.  He never clarifies his intentions. When she presses him about whether he wants to spend the night with her, he embarrasses her even more.  I felt bad for Deena because it’s hard for her to be surrounded by other couples while being alone.  She put herself out there for Joey and it didn’t work out; that’s always disappointing.

Throughout the season Mike has been patiently waiting, biding his time for the right moment to expose Snooki to Jionni.  His plot requires the presence of his friend Unit, who is supposed to confirm that Mike and Snooki hooked up.  The summer is winding down, and it’s now or never for Mike.  He makes sure that Unit is coming to visit and plans to expose Snooki when they all get to Karma.  Mike has been thwarted every time he’s tried this confrontation, and at first it looks like he’ll come up empty again.  Jionni’s parents are inexplicably in attendance, and Mike at least has the good taste not to do it in front of them.  Can we pause for a second and ponder why someone’s parents are at the club?? Wow.

Before Mike can blow the whistle, Snooki manages to whisk Jionni out of the club and head home.  Plan B involves Unit coming back to the house and doing it there.  Unfortunately for Mike, the Unit gets arrested for public intoxication.  Foiled again!  Looks like we have to wait for the next episode to see what happens, but it looks like Mike tries to bend Jionni’s ear while Snooki is asleep and unable to defend herself.  Expletives and glass will fly!  I can’t wait.

Best of the Episode: Roger, Pauly and Ronnie making fun of Vinny’s outfit.

Worst of the Episode: Joey’s treatment of Deena.

What to Watch for Next: Mike drops The Bomb.

For more on Jersey Shore, check out our other reviews.

 Season 5, Episode 9: “The Truth Will Set You Free” (original airdate March 1, 2012)

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

Images courtesy of MTV.

Navy SEALS are among the most elite of our American military.  To say that their training regimen is rigorous would be an understatement.  These men have unmatched dedication to country and they reject accolades and recognition.  On the contrary, the selfless nature of their service and the demands placed upon them require absolute anonymity.  Recently the SEALS have garnered more attention due to their successful elimination of Osama Bin Laden last year.  Last night I viewed Act of Valor, a movie that has been marketed as action-packed and groundbreaking due to its inclusion of real life active duty Navy SEALS.  The concept of the movie is amazing, and I was mesmerized watching the SEALS in action, but I was unimpressed with Act of Valor as a whole.

The movie centers on the mission of a particular group of SEALS who are tasked with recovering a kidnapped CIA agent.  The agent is Lisa Morales (Roselyn Sanchez, Without a Trace), who had been posing as a doctor while gathering intelligence on an arms smuggler and drug dealer named Christo (Alex Vedov, We Own the Night).  Christo is suspected of conspiring with Abu Shabal, a Ukranian terrorist and former childhood friend who is plotting an attack on American soil.  Morales was monitoring their relationship and when she got too close she was abducted.  The movie focused primarily on her rescue mission and its fallout as well as the backstory of two SEALS, one of whom is an expectant first-time father.  The SEALS are portrayed as a band of brothers whose focus on family and country is paramount.  They are salt-of-the earth people who live by a basic, unwavering code of bravery and sacrifice.  I’m sure this aspect of the story will resonate with many people in America’s heartland, a place where these attributes are similarly revered.

Welp, it’s my job to critique the movie, and despite the overwhelming surge of patriotism Act of Valor may inspire, it was not without its flaws.  There are plenty of excellent documentaries on the Navy SEALS and other elite branches of the military, such as the Army Rangers.  I’d suggest watching one of those if you want insight into what a day in their life would be like.  The dramatization provided by Act of Valor was very intense and exciting, and there were some hear-stopping battle scenes, but those scenes were not enough to hold the movie together.  An entire movie is the sum of its parts.  There was little character development, and that may have been to underscore the idea that no one SEAL is above his team.  I thought maybe the filmmakers wanted to de-emphasize their individuality, much as a SEAL might do in real life.  But there is a moment in the film where clearly I as a member of the audience am expected to sympathize with a character and be moved by their sacrifice.  Perhaps if his character were developed beyond cursory expository dialogue, I would have been moved.

That wasn’t the only issue I had with the movie, and I’m going to choose my next words carefully.  As an American whose freedoms are protected every day by our servicemen and women, I can’t express my gratitude enough.  The two principal characters, who I assume are real SEALS – should be commended for their service.  Unfortunately, the acting in this move was not as praiseworthy.  I feel bad for even saying that, but I have to give an honest assessment of any acting performance.  I thought a lot of the dialogue between the SEALS was hokey and poorly delivered.  I don’t mean to be overly critical, and I’m sure the filmmakers have made even more Americans appreciative of our soldiers with the creation of this film.  But as a cinematic offering, I think it faltered in certain places.  The movie excelled when it focused on the SEAL’s duties and their field operations, not their personal lives, which highlighted the deficiencies in the main characters’ acting abilities.  This is just one person’s opinion.  Please don’t revoke my American citizenship!

 Images courtesy of IATM LLC and Relativity Media.

Last week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy featured a familiar sight: freaked out residents left and right.  Last season it was the race for Chief Resident that had everyone in a tizzy.  This time it’s the Oral Boards.

The residents must manage their rotations and workload while squeezing in study time.  Jackson and April are study buddies, and Cristina and Meredith are study buddies, but Cristina is preoccupied with Owen.  Alex’s study plan involves hazing an intern and getting her to quiz him with hypothetical scenarios all day long.  If you know Alex, you know that he is equal parts nice guy and a-hole.  In this particular situation, it is the latter part shining through.  He’s so focused on his own situation that he doesn’t even know his intern’s name, let alone the fact that she is several weeks pregnant.  Everyone else knows, but he’s oblivious.  When she collapses during surgery from a heart attack, he realizes that he has been running her into the ground.  Ultimately she and her baby are okay, but Alex realizes that he needs to dial it back a notch and show some compassion not only to his patients and friends, but everyone he encounters at the hospital.

Webber notices that Meredith hasn’t been studying and enlists a reluctant Callie to help her with a tried and true method she created.  He vouches for Meredith, but Callie is skeptical and makes Meredith earn her assistance.  If she can successfully handle a trauma patient who shows up with his arm in a meat grinder, Callie will help her.  Callie and Meredith have never exactly been friends, even when Callie was with George.  By episode’s end Meredith has earned Callie’s help, but more importantly, her respect.

As mentioned, Cristina hasn’t had time to study because she’s dealing with her crumbling marriage.  She and Owen have opted for couple’s therapy, and it isn’t going too well.  He blames her for the abortion and sees her as self-absorbed.  On the other hand, Cristina does not feel loved and supported.  I do think Cristina is selfish, but Owen is dead wrong for making her feel like a freak for not wanting children.  She’s not the warm and fuzzy type and has never displayed the faintest hint of a maternal instinct.  She’s brilliant, successful, and independent.  It can’t be totally shocking that she doesn’t want children.  He is wrong to assume that some latent desire will kick in and she’ll change her mind.

The best part of the episode to me was the witnessing of something I’d never seen before: Dr. Bailey being put in her place.  Actually, she ends up getting “dressed down” in front of the entire operating room.  She and Mark clashed over a patient’s treatment.  The woman is a cancer survivor and has been Bailey’s patient for 8 years.  She wants a lymph node transplant, but Bailey doesn’t approve of the risky procedure.  Sloan and Avery would like to proceed.  Bailey relents, but during the procedure she hovers over Avery and interjects to the point of distraction.  Avery tells her to leave because he can’t concentrate.  Bailey is a sputtering mess, she can’t believe his audacity, but Sloan backs him up and she’s ousted.  Priceless! She had it coming.  Great episode!

For more on Grey’s Anatomy check out our other reviews.

Season 8, Episode 15: “Have You Seen Me Lately?” (original air date February 16, 2012).

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

Images courtesy of ABC and Randy Holmes.

When we last saw Jenni on Jersey Shore she was fighting with Roger.  I can understand his perspective for once, as Jenni tends to deal with her emotions in immature fashion.  She called him to apologize, but he needed to give his perspective before they could move on.  They try to put their argument behind them and move forward, provided that Jenni starts to trust him more.

The Meatballs have managed to hang on to their jobs, despite their atrocious work ethic.  They make a cake for Danny with an apology message written in frosting.  The next day they see that someone has taken a bite out of the cake, and everyone immediately blames Mike.  It’s understandable, because he’s usually the source of trouble in the house, but this time he’s not responsible.  After Mike takes the heat, Pauly confesses to Deena that it was he who ate the cake!  For once, Mike has been falsely accused, so he decides to milk the injustice for all it’s worth.  Once again he threatens to return to his not-so-old evil ways.

Meanwhile, the Meatballs follow up their apology to Danny by arriving late for work.  Jenni took Snooki to the doctor’s office for her lingering infection.  The doctor advises her to cut down on drinking and prescribes an antibiotic.  When they show up to work with a doctor’s note, Danny forgives them.

Mike is still desperately trying to expose Snooki’s lies, but The Unit is still in Miami.  The have a good time at Karma in spite of everything, mainly because it’s Paula’s birthday and The Meatballs are getting hammered.  Remember that Paula is Mike’s pseudo-girlfriend and he really likes her.  The housemates like her too.  She’s cute and laid back, and she inexplicably finds Mike attractive.   Good for him, but he’s still a pig.

The next night Snooki stays home instead of going out, and Mike tries to hit on her.  He’s such a creep, suggesting that they re-enact the infamous whipped cream scene from Friday Night Lights.  Meanwhile, everyone else is out at the club.   Deena reconnects with her friend Joey, the guy she hooked up with in a previous episode.  He seems reserved and quiet, but it looks like he likes Deena too.  At the club Ronnie is in rare form.  His little legs are going a hundred miles an hour until he hits the floor.  It’s pretty funny, and I’m reminded again of how much more tolerable he is now that he and Sam are on good terms.  Their constant battles were tiresome.  When they all get back home, Deena seals the deal with her Boo and all is well.

It wouldn’t be Jersey Shore without the drama, and this time Jenni and Roger are the culprits.  They kissed and made up, but Jenni wants to show Roger what he’d be missing if they went separate ways.  When he comes for a visit she’s dressed provocatively for their night on the town.  Her boobs are squeezed together and elevated for maximum effect, and the sides of her dress are cut out.  She’s practically naked.  It’s her right to wear whatever she wants, but she isn’t showing much regard for her man by dressing like that.  She’s welcoming attention and it’s Roger that’s gonna have to bail her out if she gets in trouble, and Jenni knows it.  Sure enough, some guy hassles her at the club and Roger knuckles up.  Will they get kicked out, or worse – arrested? Stay tuned!

For another take on this week’s episode, check out “Caked On” by Lauren Tyree.

Season 5, Episode 7: “Love At The Jersey Shore” (original airdate Thursday, February 16, 2012.)

For more Jersey Shore, check out our other reviews.

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

Images courtey of MTV.

Boy have the tables turned.  Sam and Ronnie used to be the go-to source of drama in the Jersey Shore house.  This season they have been 100% drama-free; I never thought I’d see the day.  The same cannot be said about Jenni and her boyfriend Roger.  He claims that she doesn’t trust him, and she feels neglected.  I get suspicious when people get defensive, and I think Roger is over-reacting a bit.  He has been blowing her off a lot lately, and the average woman would have a problem with his behavior.  I’ll admit that Jenni should handle it more maturely, but it is what it is.  It seems like Roger is waiting for Jenni to give him a reason to back out of the relationship.

Mike continues to threaten Snooki (behind her back) with exposure from The Unit, going so far as to call him up and see if he can come down to Seaside and spill the beans.  Fortunately for Snooki, Unit is in Miami.  Mike will have to postpone his troublemaking plans for later.  It’s strange that he is hell-bent on doing this, because he actually is becoming friendly with The Meatballs again.  He was being nice to everyone in the house, but his perceived but imaginary back-stabbing from the fellas has caused him to bring back “Bad Situation.” 

To that end, he gossips about Deena’s sister and his brother, who have started hooking up.  He wants to find a way to use that info to his advantage, and confirms with Unit that Deena’s sister has certain unique abilities in the bedroom, per the rumor mill.  I won’t say what it is, because it’s too crass.  He gets a surprise call from Deena’s sister, and for a second I think she’s going to cuss him out for gossiping about her.  Instead, she is pretty cool about it and it seems like she and Mike’s brother share a genuine mutual affection.   Mike probably wanted some fireworks, but his juvenile plans were thwarted again.

Vinny is back, and it’s time for him to resume his wild ways.  He finds a girl at the club who is DTF, but only ranks her a 5 or 6 out 10.  On the weekend he says you want to land a 7 or 8, if possible.  I think the girl looks just fine, and actually Vinny is the one who deserves a 5 out of 10.  The audacity of this guy.  He sees a girl who is better looking and tries to land her instead, while Deena keeps his second choice on ice.  It was nice of her to be a good wing-woman, but I’m sure if another girl was keeping her at bay because she was “uglier” than his first choice, she’d be hurt.  Anything to get in good with MVP, I guess.  I’ll bet if it were Pauly trying to hook up with someone, she wouldn’t have been so quick to help out. 

Turns out that the more attractive girl doesn’t even like men, so Vinny strikes out with her.  No Vinny, you aren’t cute enough to turn a lesbian straight.  He hilariously told the girl that he is feminine, and that he’d make a good transition from women to men.  His sales pitch fails, so he ends up hooking up with the other girl Deanna – the one that Deena distracted for him.  Meanwhile Pauly has yet another stalker.  He is the cutest guy on the show and I think he’s absolutely adorable, so this doesn’t surprise me.  I didn’t think women were so shameless though.  This girl literally shows up everywhere Pauly goes, and it’s disturbing.  In an awkward moment, Vinny pranks Pauly by calling her over for an introduction.  She and Pauly share a painful silence before he makes an obvious escape.  Damn Shorty, have some pride!

There were definite Meatball Problems this week.  This show provides the only example you’ll see of two people who don’t give a damn about their job, yet remain gainfully employed.  They leave the t-shirt shop to get drunk, and they return at their leisure.  When they are at work, they don’t do much working.  Their boss it at his wit’s end, and if they are fired they won’t be allowed to live in the Jersey Shore house.  Deena apologizes, but Snooki doesn’t.  Class is at a premium on this show, so why would it be any different at work?  SMH.  All in all, a decent episode – which ain’t saying much!

Best of the episode: Deena the Wing-Woman

Worst of the episode:  Sitch’s failed attempt to stir up drama

What to watch for next: Will Jenni and Roger kiss and make up?

For another take on this week’s episode check out “Love Is A Battlefield” by Lauren Tyree.

Season 5, Episode 6: “The Follow Game” (original air date February 9, 2012).

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

Images courtesy of MTV.

Last week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy was great, but it’s time to snap back to reality.  When we last saw Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Cristina in real time, they were having a monumental screaming match.  They haven’t really spoken in a couple of weeks, since he banned Cristina (Sandra Oh) from being on Teddy’s rotation.  Cristina puts up a cocky front and tells Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) that she thinks Owen might break up with her and she doesn’t care.  When Meredith suggests that she plead her case for forgiveness, Cristina dismissively says that if Owen doesn’t want to stick around, so be it.  She’ll be singing a different tune by episode’s end.

It’s Valentine’s Day and love is blooming in some places, while dying in others.  Cristina and Owen (understandably) will not be having a joyous occasion.  Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Ben, however, have scheduled a romantic dinner if she can get off work at a reasonable time.  Things look doubtful when she and Meredith experience an unexpected obstacle with a tumor patient.  Ultimately the patient survives, but it wasn’t a happy Valentine’s Day for another couple. 

In a heart-breaking storyline, a man and his girlfriend show up in the ER after being struck by a vehicle.  They had been having dinner when the woman became upset and he ran after her, getting hit by a car and suffering massive internal injuries.  The woman was upset because they have been together for eight years and he hasn’t proposed to her yet.  Each year he gives her a benign piece of jewelry, and lately it has been necklaces instead of the engagement ring that she so desperately desires.  He had given her a heart-shaped locket this year, and she just can’t take the false hopes anymore.  But as her boyfriend’s condition worsens, she realizes belatedly that she doesn’t care about a stupid ring, she just wants him to be ok.  He dies from his injuries and while collecting his belongings; Lexie comes across the locket, and opens it.  It says, “Will You Marry Me” inside.  If the patient’s girlfriend had just opened it, her wish would have come true.  He did propose.  This was a heartbreaking storyline, but a cautionary tale to be compassionate and thankful for what you have.

One cute Valentine’s storyline involved ten-year-old soul mates, Clementine and Nico. Unbeknownst to Nico and his mom, the Valentine candy he dropped off for Clem contained peanuts, and she has a severe allergy.  She has a reaction and they take her to the emergency room.  When Clem’s mother arrives, she is understandably furious, but Nico is really a sweet boy who only had good intentions.  When Clem’s emergency becomes a referendum on helicopter parenting (Clem’s mom) versus too much freedom (Nico’s mom), Karev intervenes.  Clem eventually needs to be admitted, but Nico refuses to leave her side.  Ahhh, love was pretty simple in the fifth grade, and Nico’s “love” and devotion is sweet.  Alex agrees to deliver Nico’s message to Clem, verbatim.  All is well that ends well on Valentine’s Day, at least for one little couple.

While riding the elevator together, Owen informs Cristina that he will be moving out.  Now her false bravado disintegrates.  Cristina is a brilliant surgeon, but she seems to have stunted development when it comes to relationships.  She didn’t grasp the severity of the situation with Owen, and seems to have thought it would blow over, judging by the dismissive way she described her feelings to Meredith.  The episode ends with her reaching out to Owen on the rooftop.  Will he stay or will he go? 

This was a rough day for Owen at Seattle Grace, as he has yet to mend fences with Teddy (Kim Raver.)  He tries to extend an olive branch, offering to buy drinks for his old friend and talk.  In blistering fashion, Teddy tells Owen that she’ll never forgive him for putting the needs of his hospital before her husband.   She said she lies in bed at night and wonders why a good man like Henry is dead and Owen isn’t.  She hates him and tells him so.  “Please don’t speak to me unless it is work related,” she says. 

I can’t begin to fathom what it’s like to lose a spouse (or even have one LOL), but Teddy is out of line.  Eventually she has to forgive Owen.  Let me remind you that Owen was NOT responsible for Henry’s death.  Henry had a terminal illness.  Henry would have died on anyone’s table – whether he was at Seattle Grace or not.  We’ve already established that Cristina was handpicked for the surgery and that she and Webber operated without error.  Owen was not involved in the procedure.  He made the decision not to inform Teddy in a timely manner, and that was arguably wrong.  But he is not the reason Henry is dead.  Will Owen and Teddy salvage their friendship?  Stay tuned.

Season 8, Episode 14, “All You Need is Love” (original air date February 9, 2012).

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

Images courtesy of ABC and Richard Cartwright.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Images courtesy of MTV.

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.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: HBO has the best shows on television.  The Sopranos, The Wire, Sex and the City, Entourage, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire – the list goes on and on.  Last year the network introduced viewers to a poor man’s Entourage, a cool little show called How to Make it in America.  Much to my dismay (and a lot of other people’s), they decided to cancel the show earlier this week.

How to Make It was a show that struck a chord with me.  As fledgling entrepreneurs, main characters Ben (Bryan Greenberg, The Good Guy) and Cam (Victor Rasuk, Raising Victor Vargas) embodied the American spirit of perseverance and good old-fashioned hustle.  To go from rags to riches through sheer determination is the American dream.  We all strive for something more; we all want to make it.  More than anything else, Cam and Ben’s hunger and drive permeated every aspect of the show.  What could be more cool and interesting than two aspiring fashion designers trying to come up in NYC, the ‘make or break’ mecca?

Cam, Ben, their buddies Kappo (Eddie Kaye Thomas, American Reunion) and Domingo (Kid Cudi), and Cam’s cousin Rene’ (Luis Guzman) are guys that you couldn’t help rooting for, even when their actions weren’t always above board.  Cam and Ben demonstrated that true friendship trumps everything else, even business.  I would have liked to see the characters continue to evolve.  The show wasn’t perfect.  It never had the heft or legitimacy of Entourage, and I guess if you stack it up against the shows I mentioned previously, maybe How to Make it in America just couldn’t cut the mustard.  I talked to someone on Twitter who never got into the show because it couldn’t draw him in the way other HBO shows typically do.  You’d think HBO would be a great home for any show, but maybe it was doomed from the start.  It’s possible that viewers found the show too derivative of Entourage, and weren’t invested enough after the first episode to discover that nothing could be further from the truth.   I thought it provided an authentic contrast to Entourage in that its principal characters were not rich and spoiled.  They simply had a dollar and a dream, a sentiment perfectly captured by the show’s theme song, “I Need a Dollar,” by Aloe Blacc.

Music was another great aspect of the show, which was a total bonus.  There was more than one occasion when I broke out my iPhone and used Shazam to discover gems like this and this and this.  And the songs fit perfectly with their respective scenes.  For lack of a better description, How to Make it in America was just a cool ass show, and it’s a shame that the good ones never seem to last.  I look forward to seeing Greenberg and Rasuk in upcoming projects, and at least we can enjoy the 2 seasons HBO gave us.

Images courtesy of HBO.

Sometimes you just want a movie to do what it’s supposed to do.  It doesn’t have to be the greatest movie ever made; it just needs to do its job.  If it’s a horror flick –  just make me jump a few times and be at least mildly frightening.  If it’s a love story – just make me shed a tear or two, and we’re good.  That being said, The Sitter was a movie that did its job.

I’m an 80’s baby so when I saw commercials for The Sitter I immediately thought of Adventures in Babysitting, the 80′s movie about a babysitter’s wild night out with the kiddies.  In The Sitter our reluctant hero and sitter is Noah Griffith, played by Jonah Hill (Get Him to the Greek).  Hill looks rather slim nowadays, but very recently looked like this.  Not that it matters one way or another, it’s just weird to see such a drastic difference in his appearance.  Noah is a lovable loser type of guy who is living with his mother after flunking out of school.  He has a “girlfriend,” Marisa, exceptt instead of a life partner she’s more like a selfish boss who allows Noah the privilege of answering her every beck and call.  Their relationship is one-sided in every respect, and Noah is essentially a doormat.  His parents are divorced, and his dad hasn’t paid alimony or child support in years, despite owning a thriving jewelry store.  Noah loves his mother and wants to see her happy, so he volunteers to babysit for his neighbors so they can take her out for a blind date with a friend.  Little does he know this routine act of kindness will end up being a life-changing experience.

When Noah meets the kids for the first time we can tell that this will be an interesting experience.  The eldest boy Slater (Max Records) is about 13, followed by the adopted Rodrigo (Kevin Hernandez) who is roughly 11, followed by Blithe (Landry Bender), an adorable girl of about 8.  Slater is melancholy and anxious, dependent upon pills to get through the day.  Rodrigo has pyromaniac tendencies and is equipped with a GPS device to prevent him from running away too far.  Blithe is obsessed with the ‘celebutante’ world of reality TV and acts like she’s 8 going on 21.

Noah has a DUI on his record, so he is prohibited from using the family car while babysitting.  That goes out the window almost immediately when he gets a call from Marisa asking him to bring her some coke to a party in the City.  It’s an absurd request, and she asks as if coke the cocaine was as easy to get as coke the cola.  She promises that she’ll give him some nookie if he brings it to the party, so he foolishly agrees.  He has to get the yayo from a dealer named Karl (Sam Rockwell, Iron Man 2), so he takes the three kids and rolls out in the minivan.  Predictably, Slater is anxious about their outing, Blithe is excited, and Rodrigo is just menacing.  It should be no surprise that a night of babysitting would go downhill shortly after taking the kids to a drug den – and that’s exactly what happens.

This precocious bunch doesn’t exactly follow directions, so when Noah instructs them to wait in the car, their obedience is short-lived.  Rodrigo ends up swiping some drugs from Karl, and before Noah can return the package it gets destroyed.  When Karl notices that the drugs are gone, he tells Noah that he has a couple of hours to return it or give him $10,000.  Meanwhile, Marisa still expects him at the party, and the kids need to be tucked in their beds by the time their parents get home.  Making matters worse is the fact that Rodrigo likes to run off from time to time.

The movie largely follows Noah and the kids as they try to get the money to pay Karl while seeming to get in one scrape after another.  Noah runs into a former classmate who finally opens his eyes to the fact that he’s a good guy who deserves better than Marisa, who only seems to care about getting the coke that Noah promised he’d bring.  Through all of the mishaps, Noah manages to bond with the kids and realizes that they are more than just little pains in the rear.  Slater suffers from anxiety because he’s pretending to be someone that he’s not.  Rodrigo misbehaves because he’s never had structure and stability and is afraid to trust his new family.  Blithe idolizes celebrities because she hasn’t learned to be herself and love who she is on the inside.  So, at the end of the day what began as the night from hell ended up being a learning experience that changed several lives for the better.

The Sitter worked because it had the right mix of humor and heart.  It wasn’t corny or overly sentimental, and the laughs were timed perfectly.  Jonah Hill has shown time and again they he’s a great comedic actor.  The R rating lets you know that just because there are kids in this movie doesn’t make it a ‘kid’ movie; it’s not.  The kids use and hear foul language, and obviously cocaine is an essential plot element.  That being said, leave the kids at home with the sitter and go check out The Sitter, a comedy that did what just what it was supposed to do: make you laugh.

Images courtesy of  Jessica Miglio and Twentieth Century Fox.

Last week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy was pretty intense.  There were multiple storylines that had my heart in my throat.  As a matter of fact, it was one of the more heart-breaking episodes we’ve had in a while.

For the past few weeks Meredith and Derek have tried to regain custody of Zola in the aftermath of Meredith’s monumental lapse in judgment when she interfered with Derek’s Alzheimer’s trial.  I wonder if she would make the same decision if she had it to do all over again.  I thought things were looking up for them after Alex managed to wrangle a hearing for them in front of a judge; but the social worker notified Meredith that their journey is over.  It’s a crushing blow to the couple, and it looks like Meredith is giving up on the idea of motherhood, at least for now.  Derek feels like he pushed her into the decision and is now afraid of losing Meredith.

Meanwhile, Henry (Scott Foley) has been admitted with very serious complications.  He’s always been ill, but his recent respite probably made Teddy forget just how grave his condition can be.  They have been blissful, but his health troubles threaten to ruin their happiness. He needs to have the tumors surrounding his lungs removed, and Webber doesn’t know how to perform the surgery with a laser, which would be most efficient.  Understandably, he doesn’t want his first time to be on his colleague’s husband.  Teddy has performed the procedure before, but of course she can’t operate on her spouse. That leaves Cristina, who Teddy is confident can perform the procedure just as she would.  They recently performed an identical surgery, and Cristina is the only one who can do it.  Webber is on board, but Owen is hesitant.  As Chief Resident and Cristina’s husband, he thinks the stakes are too high. They all agree that if they can conceal Henry’s identity from Cristina, she should be able to perform the surgery dispassionately and successfully.

While this very intense storyline is at the forefront, there are two other nail-biters playing out.  Callie and Jackson (Jesse Williams) must come to terms with a costly patient error.  A patient who had spinal surgery is near death because one of the screws they inserted in her spine is poking through her heart.  Jackson is still a resident, and he’s going to make mistakes.  Callie makes him feel like he screwed up royally, and he did – but it’s her job to oversee him.  Maybe if she wasn’t reading a magazine while he was operating, she would have noticed something.

Meredith also deals with a patient in dire straits.  She hasn’t had long to think about Zola when Arizona calls her into action. She and Alex must travel to a nearby urgent care center to transport a newborn baby needing surgery.  The weather is terrible, and the ambulance breaks down before they return with the baby.  She needs her tubes and incubator, but it is dangerous for them to remain in the broken down vehicle on a poorly lit road in a thunderstorm.  The paramedic leaves on foot while Meredith and Alex quibble about what to do.  Their ambulance is struck by an oncoming vehicle, and we see the accident from their perspective, in the inside of the ambulance.  They are thrown against the ambulance wall as the vehicle appears to flip over.  Great. Just we need.  The umpteenth tragedy.  My anxiety was eventually alleviated, as Meredith and Alex emerge from the accident largely unscathed.  It looked bad initially, but when they step outside they see just how lucky they actually were.  Three lifeless bodies lay in the road – the occupants of the ill-fated vehicle that struck their ambulance.

Back at Seattle Grace, things take a turn for the worse.  Cristina (Sandra Oh) has no idea that Henry is the patient, so at first she’s all “been there done that” about it, but she ultimately does the best that she can during the surgery.  Things continue to go south and Webber has to intervene the old fashioned way and crack open Henry’s chest.  Their efforts prove futile, and Henry eventually dies on the table.  Webber gave it all he had, and Cristina did a fine job with the laser.  It wasn’t anyone’s fault, but they will have to tell Teddy that her husband is dead. In an awkward moment, Owen must pretend that Henry is still alive, because Teddy hasn’t finished her own surgery yet on the patient that Callie and Jackson botched.  The episode ends with Teddy still thinking that Henry pulled through.  How sad!!

This was another great episode.  Things haven’t been that intense in a while, and it was a reminder that Grey’s can be equally suspenseful as emotional.  I look forward to seeing if Derek and Meredith re-commit to starting a family or if they accept what has happened to them.  See you next week!

Season 8, Episode 9: Dark Was the Night (original air date November 10, 2011)

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

Images courtesy of ABC and Jordan Althaus.

Let me begin with the disclaimer that we over here at Poptimal do not advocate drug use.  That being said, it’s very clear that A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas was meant to be viewed under the influence.  If you’re sober when watching (as I was), chances are you’ll be more exasperated than amused.  That’s not to say that there weren’t a few laughs, but it was about as stupid as I expected it to be.  This movie is for stoners and 13 year old boys.  Everyone else – watch at your own risk.

This was one of those movies that didn’t really need to be in 3D – but hey, whatever.  When we pick up with the cannabis-loving compadres, it’s obvious that Harold (John Cho, Flash Forward) and Kumar’s (Kal Penn) bromance has tapered off.  Harold is married and Kumar is…well, getting high every waking moment.  His girlfriend has recently dumped him, and he’s been wallowing for months.  When she tells him that she’s pregnant, he’s too high to respond like an adult.  Harold is the exact opposite.  He’s very stable and settled, and his life is quiet and simple, at least until his father-in-law shows up for Christmas.  Humorously portrayed by that menacing dude from the Tarantino movies, this guy is incredibly hard to please.  Upon his arrival he trashes Harold’s Christmas tree because it’s fake.  He brought his own fir tree that he’d grown for 8 years to decorate instead.  While Harold’s wife and father-in-law attend Midnight Mass he promises to decorate the tree.  The fact that his father-in-law grew the tree for 8 years should let you know how crazy he is about Christmas; so decorating the tree is a really big deal.  Harold hopes that if he does this successfully he can finally win the guy over.

Harold and Kumar have been estranged, because Harold thinks that whenever Kumar and weed are around things go tragically wrong.  This is borne out when Kumar shows up on Harold’s doorstep with a Christmas package for Harold that was delivered to his apartment.  They open it and see it contains a jumbo-sized joint.  Harold wants no parts of it, but Kumar sparks the spliff before he can stop him.  In the first of a series of truly ridiculous mishaps, the joint ends up setting the Christmas tree on fire.  Now Harold is tasked with replacing the tree before his wife and father-in-law return at 2:00 AM.  As soon as Kumar reappears, things start to go wrong – which confirms Harold’s recent exclusion of his old friend.

While they’ve lost touch they have each made new friends, though these new buddies aren’t the same.  Harold’s pal is Todd, played by the always hilarious Tom Lemmon (I Love You Man, Reno 911).  Kumar’s buddy is Adrian, who has convinced Kumar to tag along at a party in the city where he hopes to smang a girl he met online who claims to be a virgin.  Exactly. How much more juvenile can we get?  Harold realizes he could get another Christmas tree from the house party, while Adrian tries to score.  What transpires for the movie’s duration is a hodgepodge of misadventure as Harold and Kumar end up fighting off mobsters and dancing onstage with the strangely omnipresent Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), among other things.  All in a mad quest to get a perfect tree on Christmas Eve.

I can’t be mad, and I can’t say that I wasted an hour and forty minutes of my life.  The movie was exactly what I thought it would be.  It never took itself seriously, and shame on me for expecting it to.  Gratuitous, pointless 3D effects were peppered throughout, as well as obvious 3D references in the dialogue.  There were lots of boobs and drugs.  Neil Patrick Harris was funny as always, poking fun at his sexual orientation and generally looking like he was having a good time.  I didn’t have high expectations (no pun intended) to begin with, but I still found the movie a little disappointing.  Just because it’s a stoner movie doesn’t mean that you can just throw anything against the wall and hope it sticks.  Smarter, funnier stoner movies have been done, such as Pineapple Express and the Friday movies.  Just wait for this one to come out on DVD.  That way it’s cheaper, and when you get the munchies – it’s a short walk to the kitchen.

Images courtesy of IMDbPro.

I didn’t know what to think of The Rum Diary when I first saw the trailer, but I was intrigued.  It’s based on the semi-autobiographical (but fictional) novel of the same name by famed author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Thompson is a pop culture icon, known for his ardent rejection of conformity and for pioneering “gonzo” journalism.

Johnny Depp (Alice in Wonderland) is always a potential draw for me, though I don’t usually find his quirkiness appealing. In The Rum Diary he portrays journalist Paul Kemp with a relatable quality not found in most of his roles.  Kemp is in 1960’s Puerto Rico to write for a fledgling newspaper.  He wants to comment on the political turmoil in San Juan, but his editor wants fluff pieces to appease their readership. Kemp decides to take what he can get, and is initially hired for the mundane task of writing horoscopes.

The Rum Diary was patterned after Hunter S. Thompson’s brief time in Puerto Rico when he applied (and was rejected) for a job at a newspaper, but still made friends and acclimated himself to the local area. Everyone needs a trusty sidekick, and Kemp’s is a fellow journalist named Sala (Michael Rispoli).  Together they drink and stumble their way through the streets of San Juan, and it doesn’t seem like these reporters ever do much writing.  San Juan plays like a town where following the rules is optional and the rum runs freely.

When Kemp meets a former newspaper employee turned hotshot named Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart, The Dark Knight), he gets a chance to line his pockets and keep his editor at bay.  Sanderson and some other influential but corrupt locals want to develop untouched Puerto Rican soil and need Kemp to insert certain viewpoints in his articles to soften up the public when they hear about the increased taxes they will have to pay to fund the project.  In addition to trying to bridge the gap between his personal and professional spheres, Kemp’s life is complicated by his attraction to Sanderson’s girlfriend Chenault (Amber Heard, Drive Angry), a fetching blonde he meets by chance only to find out later that she belongs to another.

Again, Paul Kemp is loosely patterned after Hunter S. Thompson.  To that end, he’s a raging alcoholic, but quite an endearing chap. Depp is very good as the hapless but earnest journalist trying to do relevant work without selling out.  His time in Puerto Rico is one misadventure after another, as his friendship and arrangement with Sanderson begins to unravel when his affinity for Chenault leads to trouble.

I don’t really know what to make of The Rum Diary. I enjoyed it because it was entertaining, and Puerto Rico was an inviting setting tailor made for debauchery. It was a fun and interesting movie, as I wondered what would become of Chenault and Kemp and whether the newspaper would eventually fold. However, there was an unmistakable lull in the film, where the viewer wondered just what the hell was going on. One scene in particular was very trippy, as Kemp and Sala endure a drug-induced stupor.  It’s hard to encapsulate just what this film was all about. It played like a very interesting “day in the life” type of movie, but I’m not sure if there was a larger point to be made.  I haven’t read the book, but I’ll bet it was a page-turner, if the movie was any indication. I’m just not sure everyone will like it or “get” it.  From a visual standpoint I thought it was cool and funny at times, but it wasn’t too deep or meaningful.  Fans of the late Thompson may appreciate the manic, boozy feel of Kemp’s tale – but everyone else may be a little ho hum about it. If you’re a fan of Depp or Thompson or you just want to leer at Amber Heard, check it out. Otherwise, this will make a nice little flick to catch on HBO in a few months.

In this week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy the residents find enlightenment in the oddest of places.  Derek and Meredith have moved beyond their differences and are a united front in their efforts to regain custody of Zola.  Unfortunately, Meredith has not returned to Bailey’s good graces just yet.  O’Malley’s mom has been admitted, and Bailey is determined that she will leave the hospital as good as new.  It’s sad and a little awkward for everyone to be reminded of George, as things are drastically different now as compared to their first two years of residency.  Callie particularly feels odd about telling her former mother-in-law about her new life, which includes a wife and baby girl.  Eventually she opens up about her life and finds the older woman genuinely happy and supportive.

The good vibes continued to flow freely as Mark (Eric Dane) further displayed his apparent man crush on Avery.  Gone are the days when Avery was a lowly resident scrounging for surgeries.  Mark has taken quite a liking to his brilliant student and makes an effort to mold his protégé.  You’ll recall that Avery’s mother warned him about Lexie and Mark, and Avery’s seen enough to know that she harbors residual feelings for her ex.  He’s so uncomfortable about the situation that he withdraws from a complicated nerve procedure for which he’d been preparing for weeks.  It would be the perfect feather in his cap on his record of wins and losses if he could successfully perform the surgery.  Instead, he pawns it off on Karev to avoid Mark.  More on that in a bit.

The episode opened with a failed heart transplant.  The heart’s recipient died before the organ could be transported, so Seattle Grace was basically left with a perfectly good heart that was “all dressed up with no place to go.”  They put the heart in a box connected to valves that kept it pumping.  It was a creepy but fascinating sight, especially as the heart became a sort of oracle throughout the episode.

Last week Teddy (Kim Raver) told Cristina to submit a list of dream surgeries, and promised her that she’d do her best to make sure she got to perform them.  Webber takes a look at Cristina’s list and scoffs at her choices, telling her that she needs to talk to the heart in a box.  She’s confused at first, but eventually she makes a breakthrough by looking at every procedure on her list and comparing it to dealing with the heart in a box.  If it’s less cool than the heart in a box, it’s eliminated.

Webber (James Pickens Jr.) is a big believer in the heart’s power and tells Avery to consult it too.  He sits before the heart and eventually gains clarity about Lexie.  The episode ends with him choosing the “Plastics Posse” (Mark) over Lexie.  He explains that he’s aware of the feelings she has for Mark and that he can’t continue to avoid Mark because of the awkwardness those feelings cause.  He can’t afford to hurt his career, and he chooses Mark.  In a great moment, he asks Lexie if she can tell him to choose differently…and she can’t. Great scene!

Lexie got dumped, but at least she fared better with her patient.  She’s still adjusting to working with her brother-in-law, but things are getting better as they continue to perform impressively difficult surgeries.  This week their patient is a stubborn author with more than one active aneurysm.  Alfre Woodard made a guest appearance in the role, and she did a great job, as always.  She refuses to get the surgery until she finishes her novel, and so Lexie ends up taking dictation to speed up the process.  The woman’s story parallels Lexie’s own love life with Mark and Avery, and it’s obvious that Avery’s suspicions are right.

The episode ended on a high note for everyone, except Teddy.  Looks like Henry is sick again.  Bailey and Meredith finally made up, but more importantly – we’re left to wonder if Lexie and Mark will reconnect now that she’s free and clear.  I liked Lexie with Avery, but that may be just because he’s so darned cute.  I can’t deny that she and Mark once had something good.  Next week’s episode promises to be another great one – stay tuned.

Season 8, Episode 8: Heart-Shaped Box (original air date November 3, 2011).

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

Images courtesy of Randy Holmes and ABC.

Our residents thrive off competition, that’s one thing we know for sure of the doctors of Grey’s Anatomy.  Last season it was the race for Chief Resident that dominated their daily lives.  This season they are in their fifth and final year of residency, and it is the most difficult.  Each surgery will count on their record, and they will be defined by this final year.

It’s a bit disheartening to think of doctors trying to preserve their win-loss record like a college football coach.  Their patients are real people with families, not just numbers on a stat sheet.  Even the best surgeons lose patients; they’re not God.  That being said, the residents still want to keep the losses to a minimum.  To that end, they are trying to end up on rotations that will challenge and impress without being too risky.  Adversity doesn’t just build character, it reveals it.  Some of the residents did themselves no favors by playing it safe.

Cristina (Sandra Oh)  ends up with Callie in an orthopedic surgery involving a patient with permanently poor posture.  Say that three times fast.  The young man’s neck is permanently in a downward position, as if he’s looking at his feet.  Cristina thought she’d have a routine fracture procedure or hip replacement, but Callie assumed that Renegade Cristina would welcome a challenge and thus presented her with a very complicated case.  The neck surgery will actually entail three separate procedures and is far from routine.  Cristina clams up when she sees that it won’t be the cakewalk she imagined, and when things get dicey during the procedure – she chickens out by asking that her name be taken off the procedure.  When the patient is out of the woods it’s too late for her to attach herself again.  No guts, no glory.  If you’re too afraid to get the losses then you don’t deserve the victories either.  Callie cautions her that she may be losing that part of her that made her a good surgeon in the first place by playing it safe.

Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) has recently been working in Obstetrics, which is considered a monumental downgrade.  Her peers chide her for sporting scrubs from the “vagina squad,” but she ignores their good-natured ribbing.  Meanwhile, Little Grey has taken her place with Derek in Neuro.  She’s not finding him too friendly of a boss, but that changes when she brings him a patient with a challenging brain tumor – a woman for whom Meredith just delivered a baby girl.  The woman and her husband must decide if they should proceed with the risky procedure or be content with what little time they have left.

While some are taking risks, some are playing it safe.  Alex (Justin Chambers) has always been pretty ballsy, but the fifth year jitters are getting to him too.  A patient presents for open heart surgery, and is concerned about the scar that will be left after the procedure.  He asks about another procedure that will be just as effective, but will not leave a scar.  It’s called a “tavi,” and it’s a lot riskier than the standard procedure.  Alex wants to minimize his losses and doesn’t want to perform the tavi.  Teddy is supervising him, and ultimately it is she that performs the procedure because Alex seems unwilling.  Just like Cristina, Alex punks out.  It was good to see more depth of character in this episode.  Alex and Cristina are known as two of the more gutsy residents, but they chickened out when the chips were down.  Will they over-compensate next week by taking unnecessary risks?

This was another great episode.  One thing to watch out for in the coming weeks is Kepner settling into her role as Chief Resident, and whether or not Meredith is able to mend fences with Bailey, who has not forgiven her for costing Richard his job.  Stay tuned!

Season 8, Episode 6: “Poker Face” (original air date October 20, 2011).

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

Images courtesy of ABC and Ron Tom.

It is with great sadness that I bid adieu to another season of Jersey Shore.  There was no shortage of fireworks, but not from the usual sources.  When the season started, Sam and Ron were the primary culprits responsible for most of the drama in the house.  But they had help from a familiar troublemaker, The Situation.

As the season drew to a close, Mike was exposed as immature and attention-seeking.  Not above stirring the pot, he had physical altercations with Ron, Snooki, and Deena.  He picked fights at local nightspots and generally made an ass of himself whenever possible.  His friendship with Snooki suffered the most, as he was a divisive force in her relationship with Jionni.  We never found out for sure if he and Snooki hooked up as he alleged, but I think the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.  If she thought she could hook up with someone like Mike and that he’d keep it a secret – Snooki is even less intelligent than I thought.

Not every moment in the house was a contentious one.  Pauly and Vinny’s bromance continued to blossom, and the guys are closer than ever.  They are just drama-free.  They don’t compete with each other for girls and they don’t try to “one up” each other.  They also don’t steal each other’s slang.  It’s the perfect friendship!  The Meatballs bond remains strong, and I don’t doubt the strength of Snooki and Deena’s relationship, but most of their bonding activities consist of getting wasted and making out.  I don’t think you can make a Hallmark card out of that.  Jenni, on the other hand – at least challenged Snooki this season and called her out when she was wrong.  That’s what real friends do.

In the season finale, the housemates finally decided to edify themselves by doing more than just partying.  They took a historical tour of Florence and also bid farewell to their bosses at the pizza parlor, where they did more goofing off than working.  They enjoyed Italy, but they missed the familiarity and routine of life at the shore.  The clubs are familiar back home, and they can GTL with regularity.  So, it was a nice change of pace to travel abroad – but they’re ready to go home.  Only question is, will Sitch be with them?  Or will he be like Angelina and think better of it?

After some advice from Ronnie, Mike apologized to the girls for having upset them but they were skeptical of his mea culpa, and rightfully so.  It takes a big man to admit when he’s wrong, but it takes an even bigger scumbag to use an apology as a tool of manipulation.  Fortunately, no one’s fooled.  Different script, same ending.  Farewell Guidos and Guidettes, until next time.

For another take on this episode check out “I Just Want My Hour Back” by Stephanie Jaar.

Season 4, Episode 12: “Ciao Italia” (original air date October 20, 2011).

Jersey Shore airs Thursday nights at 8/7c on MTV.

Images courtesy of MTV.

Last week’s episode was more proof that Grey’s Anatomy is one of the best shows around.  There are times when it’s a little too sappy and corny for my liking, but for the most part it’s consistently well-written and acted.  This high standard was reinforced with a great guest appearance from the wonderful Debbie Allen as Dr. Catherine Avery, renowned surgeon and mother of Jackson Avery.

The elder Dr. Avery presents a unique opportunity for Seattle Grace with a cutting edge surgery.  She reveals her patient, a young man named Ryan.  Ryan was fortunate to beat penile Cancer, but it left him without a penis.  Seattle Grace has the chance to make history as the first hospital to successfully perform a penis transplant.  The residents are chomping at the bit to be selected to assist with the procedure, and the winner will be chosen by skills lab performance.  Mark takes the lead because he views the procedure as one best suited for Plastics, though he thinks the patient should get a prosthetic penis instead.

The elder Avery is like most mothers: prying and doting.  Jackson (Jessie Williams)  sent Lexie out of town for a couple of days, in preparation for his mother’s visit. He didn’t want her to have to answer a thousand nosy questions. Catherine is a brilliant doctor but meddlesome mother.  Jackson tells the others that she has a problem respecting boundaries.  She also berates her son for his choice to work in Plastics with Mark instead of with Derek in Neurosurgery.

If Jackson wants his mother to respect his professional choices, he’s going to have to prove that he’s becoming a better surgeon.  He gets his chance during the transplant surgery.  He and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) win the skills lab battle and are chosen fair and square, so there are no concerns of nepotism when Jackson assists his mother.  When  Meredith is called away from the surgery,  April fills in.  She later makes a critical error that threatens the transplant, and Jackson saves the day with a complicated procedure that he learned from Mark.  This pretty much shuts Catherine up and validates his choice to work in plastic surgery.

The most intense storyline involved Derek and Meredith.  They haven’t heard anything about Zola from the social worker, and Derek is getting anxious.  Meredith tells him to be patient, but things take a turn for the worse when Alex (Justin Chambers)  receives a page during the skills lab.  The page is for Zola, who has been admitted with seizures.  She has a high fever and a distended abdomen.  Alex wants to page Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Meredith, but Arizona and the social worker tell him there’s no way he can do that.  It would be a breach of confidentiality and it could jeopardize the adoption, which is already on shaky ground.  Alex wrestles with the decision because he feels like he’s already ruined Meredith’s life once when he tattled on her, and he doesn’t want to mess up with her again.

Alex tells Cristina that Zola has been admitted and the two of them agree to tell Derek and Meredith.  Derek goes crazy and wants to intervene, but Meredith is the cooler head.  It takes Owen, Arizona and Meredith all to convince Derek to let Arizona handle it.  He fears that the shunt he implanted is causing a problem and so he’s the one that should fix it.  He will have to trust Arizona to heal Zola while he and Meredith wait.  This ordeal brings them closer together, although I’m sure they would have preferred different circumstances.  At the close of the episode they find out that Zola will be fine.  They run into their social worker while she waits for the elevator, and she can see from their faces that they’ve shed some tears.  She realizes that they knew about Zola but didn’t intervene.  Maybe that will be considered in their favor when a final custody determination is made.

This was another entertaining episode, and although last week was a nice change of pace, I’m glad to return to the regular format.  Although Mama Avery was nosy, she picked up on Mark’s residual feelings for Lexie when he attempted to tell her how lucky Jackson was to have her.  Is Mark still holding a torch for Lexie?  I’m sure that’s something that will resurface this season.  Stay tuned!

Season 8, Episode 4: Loss, Love, and Legacy (original air date October 13, 2011)

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

Images courtesy of ABC and Richard Cartwright.

When we last saw Snooki on Jersey Shore, she was having major relationship problems, and right now her relationship is about as sturdy as one-ply toilet paper.  She told Jionni the truth about her hook-up with Vinny.  He wants to be with Snooki but doesn’t know how he’ll get over what she did.  Snooki’s window of opportunity is cracked just a bit, and she should consider herself lucky.

Their time is winding down in Italy, and the gang looks forward to going home.  They’ve had a great time but they miss home.  If you watched the show last season, it’s no secret that Deena has always had a crush on Pauly.  Unfortunately it’s not mutual.  Pauly allegedly doesn’t want to hook up with Deena because it would ruin their friendship.  That sounds admirable, and I agree that it’s probably a bad idea because she would catch feelings, but that’s not the real reason.  Pauly just isn’t attracted to meatballs.  I think it’s nice that he doesn’t want to hurt her feelings, but I almost feel sorry for Deena.  I’m not saying that he should screw her out of pity, but it’s sad that she keeps getting shot down.

After causing trouble last week, Mike is on a roll.  He really thrives on being the center of conflict.  When they go out to a club as one of their last group outings, everyone is having a good time.  Everyone except Mike, who feels compelled to start imaginary beef with some people in the crowd.  The locals see the cameras for the show and antagonize the guys, but Mike really causes a scene.  When they go out for a second time, he does it again.  Ronnie makes it clear that if Mike gets into an altercation with someone, he’s not going to help him.  I think Mike really has issues.  Most people try to avoid conflict when then go out and would rather just have a good time.  I don’t know why he tries to be a tough guy.  His biggest opponent has been a wall, and the wall won the fight – so Mike needs to chill.

We saw how the house turned against Angelina and she realized it would be better if she quit the show.  It looks like the same thing could happen with Mike.  Last week he got a wine bottle thrown at his head.  This week it’s a spatula.  When Deena doesn’t contribute to Sunday dinner, Mike tells her to “be a woman,” cook, clean – do something.  He says that she never does anything.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen her cook or clean, so Mike might be right about this one.  Of course Deena is offended and starts yelling, and that’s when she hurls the spatula.

As the housemates contemplate their future time at the Jersey Shore house, Sammi realizes that she can’t be roommates with Mike anymore.  He’s a disruptive force in the house and has been identified as the root cause of a lot of the drama that takes place.  This season alone he’s had issues with Ronnie, Snooki, and Deena.  Sam and Ron started off tumultuously, but they have really mellowed out recently and seem to be content.  She and J Woww are even getting along very well, united in their exasperation with drunken Meatballs.  Sammi wants to keep the good vibes going when they move into the Jersey Shore house next season.  She wants to move downstairs but Vinny would prefer to keep the living arrangements the same.  He can’t break up the bromance he has going with Pauly.  I think Pauly and Vin really are like a couple!  It’s cute.

This was a decent episode, but I’m glad the season is drawing to a close.  I need to regenerate brain cells!

Season 4, Episode 11: “Situation Problems” (original air date October 13, 2011)

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

Images courtesy of MTV.

I always appreciate the way Grey’s Anatomy remains fresh and unique after so many seasons.  Creator Shonda Rhimes takes a creative approach to storytelling, for sure.  Remember last season’s musical episode?  I hated it, but it was different.  This week’s episode was told from the male perspective.  It was a good effort, and they are certainly nice to look at.  But the men just aren’t as interesting as Meredith & Co.  In fact, they were rather dull by comparison.

The episode opens with each character doing an omnipotent voice-over where we hear their musings about the differences between the sexes.  Women are more emotional and have better memories, so they never forget a hurtful misstep.  Men are good at fending off an attack and confront challenges differently than women do.  These obvious Venus/Mars comparisons set the tone for the episode, which gives a previously unseen look at a day in the life of the male doctors at Seattle Grace.

Karev and Avery are each trying to prove that they can handle solo surgeries.  Derek remains a long way from forgiving Meredith.  She’s no longer on his surgical service, and he’s taking his frustration out on her replacement, Karev.  Owen is still adjusting to his role as Chief.  He misses being down in the trenches and has to get used to pushing paper around.  His predecessor also needs to adjust to life as one of the guys.  The residents still think of him as Chief, and he’s wiser than his newfound peers.  Mark has the baby by himself while Arizona and Callie attend a conference out of town.  Ben discovers that Bailey has moved on to Eli the nurse and he can’t believe it.

Each one of the fellas has a stressful personal issue to deal with, and they all cope in different ways.  As was mentioned at the opening, men don’t discuss feelings much.  It’s because they don’t want to, not because they don’t have those feelings.  Instead of discussing their feelings, the men took their frustration out in other ways.

Derek is still building their new home and has took it upon himself to complete the deck.  I don’t think he really knows what he’s doing, but pounding on things probably makes him feel manly and in control.  Every day the guys come over to “help” Derek with this deck, and soon they are hammering and sawing the pain away.  They seem to take solace in uniting in something simple yet cathartic.  Eventually they open up and share their feelings, but it took a while.

This is an emo show anyway, so I already knew that the guys’ had a sensitive side.  It was good to switch things up a bit, but there is more emotion and drama from the womens’ perspective.  Still waters run deep, but they don’t make for exciting television.  Good episode, but I missed the drama.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 8, Episode 4: “What Is It About Men” (original air date October 6, 2011).

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

Images courtesy of ABC.

I’ve nearly had it; I might have to tap out.  I don’t know how much longer I can watch the f*ckery that is Jersey Shore.  I’m not saying I necessarily need to be watching PBS or The Learning Channel, but I’ve been sufficiently dumbed down.  I may have to demote the show from my guilty pleasure category – it’s too much of a compliment.

Surprisingly, Ronnie and Sam have not been the main source of drama this season.  That dubious distinction goes to Snooki, whose roller coaster romance with Jionni is enough to make your head spin.  Snooki is spoiled and immature beyond belief.  She expects Jionni to have no problem with her actions, and when he takes her to task she wants to take a break from the relationship.  She sleeps with Vinny and catches amnesia the next day.  She was the initiator, but she can’t remember what she did.  She thinks her and Vinny kept it PG-13, but it was rated R.

Meanwhile, Mike is stirring up trouble, once again.  I don’t know what’s wrong with this guy.  It’s like he thrives on negative attention.  In the last episode he told people that he and Snooki hooked up, in explicit detail.  I’m beginning to think that something really did go down between Mike and Snooki, – Jenni hinted as much during this episode.  Jenni tells Snooki that Mike is going around saying that she basically gave him the Lewinsky treatment.  Snooki goes off on Mike, who tries to deny it by acting like she’s listening to gossip instead of consulting the source.

In some hair-brained attempt to flush out a “rat,” Mike lets people think that he called his friend Unit and persuaded him to phone Jionni and blow Snooki up to him.  It’s not true, but Mike wants to cause trouble.  Sure enough, Sam tells Snooki and she flips out.  Again, I’m not sure what point Mike thought he was making with this stunt, but he’s got issues.  Snooki ends up in tears and Mike is standing around looking stupid, as usual.  And how douchey is it that The Situation’s buddy is nicknamed The Unit??

There were some normal moments in the last episode.  Vinny got in touch with his roots by traveling to Sicily to meet his relatives for the first time.  He brought the guys with him and they all had a grand time.  His family welcomed him with open arms for dinner.  Much like at home, they ate and ate and then had a little more.  I wondered how Vinny’s uncles stayed so thin if they ate that much regularly.

While the guys explore Sicily, the girls travel to Tuscany for a wine-tasting.  The train goes off track when Snooki brings up Jionni and seems oblivious to the depths of her hook up with Vinny, which took place very shortly after she decided to take a break from her relationship.  She says she loves him, but Jenni points out that if that were true she wouldn’t have done what she did.  Snooki can’t handle the truth, saying Jenni isn’t her best friend anymore. *sigh*

Eventually the girls mend fences, but Mike’s name is still mud with Snooki.  They should just stay as far away from each other as possible.  Mike needs to get a life and Snooki needs to get a grip.  She has drama coming from every direction.  Jionni is not going to react kindly to hearing that Snooki and Vinny had sex.  He was ready to kill when he thought they’d done less, so imagine his reaction now.  Snooki needs to hang it up; the damage is done.  Despite the cries of my few remaining brain cells, I will tune in next week to watch the fallout.

Best of the episode: Vinny’s trip to Sicily.

Worst of the episode: All things Mike.

What to watch for next: Is Mike on his way out?

For another take on this week’s episode check out “The Snooki Sob Show” by Stephanie Jaar.

Jersey Shore Season 4, Episode 10: “Damage Is Done” (original air date October 6, 2011.)

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

Images courtesy of MTV.

When we last saw Meredith of? Grey’s Anatomy , things weren’t looking too good.  She and Derek lost custody of Zola, and she was fired.  The Chief told the Board that it was his idea to switch the treatments, and that Meredith was just trying to protect him.  He takes it a step further this week by officially resigning as Chief of Surgery.  His peers are shocked, but this is a decision that he seems to be making without reservation.  He’s not quitting solely to help Meredith, and he will spend his newly acquired free time with Adele.  Webber has always been grateful to Meredith for her actions and continues to have a soft spot for her.  Derek, on the other hand, is none too pleased with her.  He’s been blacklisted and will probably never be able to work in a clinical trial again.  His career was nearly ruined, and now a close friend seems to be throwing his career away – all because of Meredith.

The fifth year residents are strutting around the hospital like proud peacocks.  There’s a new crop of interns to punish, plus they will get a chance to perform their own solo surgeries.  That’s too much ego to contain, so when April tries to assert herself as Chief Resident, she meets with a lot of resistance.  This whole set up is like when a parent leaves one child in charge of their sibling, who is only a year or two younger.  It doesn’t really work because there’s no respect.  The person giving you orders seems more like a peer than a boss.  April tries to direct them, but they pretty much do whatever they want to do.  Callie confides to April that she was once Chief Resident and couldn’t hack it.  She encourages April but admits that she might not be cut out for the job, and there’s no shame in that. 

Avery pleads with Teddy to perform a solo cleft lip surgery without assistance.  She assigns the cosmetic procedure to Sloan instead, even though it’s Avery who had been working with the patient first.  Eventually she agrees to let Avery perform the surgery after he makes a compelling argument.  Cristina is eyeing a valve resection, under Teddy’s supervision.  Alex has some sort of gastro intestinal procedure, and Meredith will be performing brain surgery on a man with an aneurysm.  Teddy has been trying to impress upon Cristina the importance of the simple, easy steps.  Because she’s trying to teach her a lesson, she doesn’t allow Cristina to perform the valve surgery and decides to give her an easy appendectomy instead. 

All of the residents end up with less than successful surgical outcomes except for Meredith.  Arizona psyched Avery out of his cleft lip surgery, and Mark had to intervene.  Cristina inexplicably forgot one of the steps during the appendectomy, and Teddy didn’t remember either! One of the nurses had to pitch in.  Alex didn’t make any mistakes, but his patient did not survive.  It is Meredith who exceeded expectations, despite bumping heads with Derek in the O.R.  She made a judgment call and the procedure resulted in success.

Derek was not too impressed with Meredith’s successful solo, because he thinks that she acts recklessly and without proper regard for consequences.  Sometimes this is a good thing and sometimes it’s not.  This compassionate, but reckless abandon is what lead Meredith to stand in front of a deranged gunman for Derek, almost taking a bullet for him.  It’s also what leads to her interference with his trial.  I think Derek finds her behavior frustrating and dangerous.  Through it all, he takes his marital vows seriously and is trying to hang in there with Meredith.

Owen and Cristina are doing slightly better than they were last week.  Cristina had the abortion, and their interactions have been awkward and stilted ever since.  She confides in Meredith that she thinks Owen is still upset about the whole thing and may have some residual resentment towards her.  Nevertheless, she agrees to have a celebratory dinner for him, since he was given Chief Webber’s vacant position.  When they settle in for dinner at home, she realizes that Owen has no anger about what has happened.  They actually appear to be doing just fine, which is great for Cristina.

I thought it was a good episode that continued to flesh out the interpersonal dynamics around the halls of Seattle Grace.  I think a big theme this season will be people’s adjustment and acceptance of change and their ability to rise to the occasion.  April will have to find her way as Chief Resident, and the other residents will have added responsibilities as well.  Webber will not be the fixture he once was, and Meredith and Derek will continue to fight for their marriage and their child.  High drama! I think the season is off to a pretty good start.

Season 8, Episode 3 Grey’s Anatomy: Take the Lead (original air date September 29, 2011)

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

Images courtesy of Jordin Althaus and ABC.

When we last saw Snooki on MTV’s Jersey Shore, she was hysterical.  Jionni stormed off after witnessing her raunchy behavior at the club, leaving her trailing behind for blocks.  He never went home, but Jenni tracked him down the next day and pleaded with him to come speak to Snooki.  Eventually he agreed to let Snooki meet him at the train station, where he had a departing train for Rome. 

They return home and seem to make up, but barely.  I’m surprised their relationship is intact after the way he carried on, but it looks like Snooki has a second chance.  He can’t stay long because he really does have a ticket to Rome.  He was so enraged that he called his family and told them what happened.  His mother bought him a ticket so he could get out of there and he intends to use it.  After he leaves Snooki is frustrated, and her relief and happiness at being forgiven is short-lived.  Later when they talk on the phone they get into an argument and Snooki tells him that she needs a break.

When you take a “break” within your relationship, it’s supposed to be relatively brief.  You’re not breaking up, after all.  Nor should you be hooking up with other people.  This is just common sense.  Taking a break shouldn’t be some sort of loophole for you to do things you wouldn’t be able to get away with in the confines of your relationship.  So, when Snooki sleeps with Vinny, I think her relationship with Jionni will be over for good.  She crawled into his bed one night, and of course he couldn’t refuse her.  This is at least the second or third time they’ve hooked up on the show.  Last season Vinny made sure to spurn her advances so as not to end up hurting her feelings when she realizes he cannot be her boyfriend.  Now, perhaps her recent troubles with Jionni have made him feel like she needs extra affection and attention. 

The Situation is also ratcheting up his efforts with Snooki, to no avail.  He continues to insist that they slept together, but asserts that he loves her like a friend.  When he makes a crass remark about her in front of everyone, Sam puts him in check.  Mike really is disgusting, and whether or not he and Snooki hooked up in the recent past, she has zero interest in him currently.  I don’t think she should hook up with Vinny either, but what do I know.  I’ve believed that most of the Sam/Ron break-ups were legit, so I could always be wrong. 

This was a decent episode, almost as trashy as the last one.  For once, it is not Sam and Ron that are causing most of the relationship drama in the house.  I hope that Snooki and Jionni can resolve their issues, but not if Snooki continues to deny responsibility for her wrongdoings.

Best of the episode: The impromptu house party

Worst of the episode: The Situation

What to watch for next: Snooki confesses to Jionni

Jersey Shore, Season 4, Episode 9: “Three Men and a Snooki” (original air date September 29, 2011)

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

Images courtesy of MTV.

When we last left our band of merry doctors of Grey’s Anatomy, there was much trouble afoot.  Cristina and Owen were dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.  She wants to have an abortion; he doesn’t.  Meredith and Derek’s child-rearing hopes are in jeopardy after their adoption of baby Zola is compromised by Meredith’s professional misconduct.  They have been living separate lives, while maintaining a façade with the social worker handling the adoption.

When we pick up the action it’s clear that Derek and Meredith are in trouble.  She’s still in the doghouse with Derek, and Alex is still in the doghouse with Meredith.  He’s been ostracized because his peers think that he betrayed one of their own.  Things go from bad to worse when Meredith is fired and Alex realizes once and for all that he can’t undo what’s been done.  He’s depressed and has turned into a mope.  He will have to find a way to regain everyone’s trust, and it won’t be easy.

A familiar plot device with Grey’s is the disaster or big emergency that will unite everyone in a singular task.  For the season premiere, a huge sinkhole has swallowed up some citizens, injuring them severely.  A couple in crisis is among the injured, and the wife will have her leg amputated at the scene.  At first Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Callie (Sara Ramirez) attempt to walk her husband through the procedure, as it is too dangerous for any of them to travel down in the sinkhole.  It was gut-wrenching to watch the husband attempt the impossible task of amputating his wife’s leg.  He tried but could not complete the procedure.  Owen risked his life, repelling down into the sinkhole to save the couple.  After seeing the man suffering greatly, he knew that he could not perform the amputation, and it was unfair of them to ask him.  I think subconsciously Owen didn’t mind risking his life, because he feels that his own family structure is in jeopardy and he doesn’t have the same incentive not to risk his life that others may have.  He tells Callie that she can’t go in the sinkhole with him, because she has a wife and baby to live for. 

Owen may not have the same family structure as Callie, but he has a wife that needs him.  Cristina is unwavering in her choice to terminate her pregnancy, and if she keeps the baby to appease Owen she will end up miserable for the rest of her life.  Meredith explains to Owen that she knows what it’s like to have a surgeon-mother who seems to value her career over her child.  It’s not a fun feeling and Cristina doesn’t want to subject a child to that.  It’s a difficult decision, and she could use the support of the man that pledged to love her for life.  Owen softens and it looks like he finally accepts Cristina’s decision. 

Alex gets his chance to atone for his mistake with Meredith when she makes a rash decision.  Fearing that Zola would be removed from her custody by the social worker, Meredith takes the child and flees.  She ignores all phone calls and pages. Finally she comes to her senses after the temporary split with reality.  Alex makes up a story about needing to run some tests on Zola and how that’s the reason Meredith was distracted.  She says that she didn’t get the pages because she’d been fired so she turned the pager in.  It’s a flimsy story and unfortunately the social worker recognizes Meredith’s dishonesty and removes Zola from their home because their circumstances have changed. 

Last but not least, April is the new Chief Resident! She has the logistical part figured out but doesn’t have command or authority over the other doctors.  She isn’t assertive, and the sinkhole disaster is exposing flaws in her leadership.  Bailey decides to conduct a “Gunther,” a team-building exercise used to eliminate interpersonal differences among doctors.  They all work together on a real patient, and one of them will emerge as a natural leader while others are more suited to taking direction.  Of course it initially appears that Cristina is the natural leader, but when her competitive nature nearly kills Alex in the OR, a new leader emerges and  Avery is the Gunther.  Just when Sloan had underestimated him.  This doesn’t bode well for April as Chief Resident, but she managed to survive her first day.

This was a good two hour episode; jam packed with more than enough drama to start the new season.  There were some really sappy, cheesy moments but I’m willing to overlook them, for now. Good start.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 8 Episode 1 and 2: “Free Falling/She’s Gone” (original air date September 22, 2011).

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

Images courtesy of Ron Tom and ABC.

When we last saw the Meatballs, they were being carted off to jail after hitting a police car.  Fortunately they were sober when it happened and no one was injured.  Things looked bad for a minute, but eventually the boys were able to bring Snooki’s license, sign some papework, and free the Meatballs.

The other major “storyline” centers on Snooki’s impending visit from Jionni. Jenni was similarly expecting a visit from Roger, but she is disappointed to learn that he can’t take time off from work and won’t be able to make it. She starts crying dramatically when she finds out, as if it’s the end of the world. *cue the violin*

After her recent dramatic events with the police, Snooki decides to stay in for the night, for a change. While everyone else is out at the club, Snooki seizes the opportunity to play a good prank on Mike. She wants to get him back for talking about her and Jionni and for spreading lies. While he’s out at the club, Brittany swings by the house looking for him. Snooki lets her in and puts her in Mike’s bed so that when he comes home with another girl at the end of the night, his DTF plans will be ruined. I think this is the ultimate prank, but it quickly backfires.

Mike does in fact bring home a girl, and he is shocked to see Brittany in his bed. It’s truly an awkward moment, but Mike is such a jerk that he simply boots the new girl and crawls in bed with Brittany – a sure thing.

 Before Jionni arrives, Snooki nervously tries on different outfits, wanting to look perfect for him. When they reunite they can barely keep their hands off one another. They seem very happy and Snooki’s entire demeanor has changed.

You’ll recall that the biggest issue in their relationship involves their polar opposite personality traits. Snooki is blunt and wild and Jionni is more reserved and conservative. This is very apparent when they go out to the club and start dancing. Snooki makes the inexplicable mistake of pulling her dress up and exposing herself. I don’t know what she was thinking, but you just don’t do that.

When Jionni confronts her she basically tells him to get lost. He told Snooki that she was acting like a whore and embarrassing him. She wails after him, but he is finished. Furious and inconsolable, Jionni goes directly home while Jenni and Ron trail after him, yelling for him to stop walking. Snooki is several paces behind, and doesn’t seem to understand why he’s leaving. I’m sure they will patch things up, but maybe Snooki will learn to take more responsibility for her actions when she’s drinking.  She completely forgot that her boyfriend was standing right there.

 Best of the episode: Mike acting like Jionni was threatened by him. He wasn’t.

Worst of the episode: Snooki flashing her hoo-ha.

What to watch for next: Snooki hooking up with housemates in the aftermath of her and Jionni’s relationship.

Season 4, Episode 8: “Girl Gone Wild” (original airdate September 22, 2011)

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

Images courtesy of MTV.

*shudder* I must say this was one of the grossest episodes of Jersey Shore I’ve ever seen, and that’s no small feat. Remember, this is a group that has had numerous one night stands with some of the worst skanks on the east coast. This is a group that lived with a clogged toilet overrun with feces – for weeks. A nasty group. That being said, I was really turned off by the last episode.

The gang is going to the beach for a weekend of fun and relaxation. When they arrive, the girls shop while the boys hang out on the beach. Snooki and Deena agree that it’s never too early to start drinking, and they begin tossing ‘em back. We know the correlation between alcohol and annoyance is pretty high, and Jenni and Sam quickly grow weary of the Meatballs’ boisterous antics. They are all supposed to have dinner and then go out later, so Jenni and Sam thinks it’s a good time to return to their rooms. Deena and Snooki want to keep the party going and continue drinking. They run into the fellas at an eatery, where they put on quite the show. There’s music playing, so they begin dancing furiously. Deena dances so hard that she manages to wiggle right out of her bikini bottoms. They are absolutely wasted, and there is a long night ahead of them.

They finally stumble back to the room to change for dinner, but by this time everyone else has almost finished eating. They arrive at the restaurant totally wasted. Eventually they head out to the club in a cab and Jenni remarks that this is usually what she expect on the ride home. Sam suggested that maybe Deena should skip the club and just go home, since she was in such poor shape. That idea was quickly rejected. When they get to the club it becomes obvious that Deena isn’t wearing any underwear. In her drunken preparation she forgot to put them on. She’s giving everyone a free show and doesn’t seem to care one way or another.

Next, Deena and Snooki begin making out. They smooch. And smooch. And smooch some more. You can hear and see them swap spit all night and it’s pretty disgusting. And inappropriate. They are friends and shouldn’t be crossing that line. If one of them was a guy it wouldn’t be okay, so I don’t think it’s ok just because they are two girls. Friends don’t do that. Equally as important: Snooki is in a relationship. Her behavior is so inappropriate that the roommates begin to see what Jionni was talking about. It’s not hot and it’s not cool.

The next day the Meatballs remember nothing. They look like death warmed over. The guys make subtle jokes, and Jenni and Sam tell them they made out the ENTIRE night. Jenni hints that Jionni might not be cool with it. When Snooki confesses her wild night, Jionni is ok with it. She breathes a sigh of relief and probably learns nothing from the entire incident. I’m all for having a good time, but the Meatballs need to tighten up a bit. Making out with your best friend all night and flashing your who-ha to the whole club is not a good look.

When they get back to town they have to go to work at the pizzeria. The Meatballs are the worst employees ever. If cameras weren’t rolling and if this was a real job they would have been fired a long time ago. A rough day at work quickly becomes the least of their worries when Snooki later has an accident while driving through the city. To make matters worse, she crashes into a police car, of all possible vehicles. At least she wasn’t drunk when it happened – a legit concern with this group. The guys try to come to her rescue, but it looks like she ends up in jail. Will the Meatballs end up in the pokey? Stay tuned.

Best of the episode: Ron jacking Pauly’s swag, leading Pauly to coin the phrase “swacking.”

Worst of the episode: The Marathon Meatball Make-out Session

What to watch for next: Snooks in jail

Jersey Shore Season 4, Episode 7: Meatball Mashup (original air date September 15, 2011)

Jersey Shore airs Thursdays at 9/8c on MTV

Images courtesy of MTV.

Well, we had a good little run, didn’t we?  It’s the end of an era, and I must admit I was a little sad to see the boys from Queens say goodbye.  In the series finale of Entourage, the writers tried to neatly tie up loose ends – with mixed results. 

Vince concludes his whirlwind romance of Sophia in stunning fashion by announcing that he plans to marry her that day in Paris.  Longtime fans of the show know that despite Vince’s playboy ways, when he falls for a girl he falls hard.  He’s had a parade of women over the years, but I can’t say that I’ve even known Vince to be unfaithful once committed.  It’s not totally beyond my imagination that he would be smitten so quickly, but this rushed storyline feels a bit forced.  Sophia came out of nowhere, and up until 5 minutes ago she wouldn’t give Vince the time of day and now not only will she commit to a relationship, but she wants to marry him? After one day of hardcore hanging out?  I guess it’s possible in Hollyweird.  She’s a far cry from his last girlfriend, so I’m happy with that.

Eric and Ari are dealing with more pressing, serious issues on their respective homefronts.  Ari and Melissa (we finally learned her name in the last episode!) seem like they’ll never reconcile, but while role-playing the divorce announcement to their kids, they seem to make a breakthrough.  They both reveal that their recent relationships with Bobby Flay and Dana Gordon have not panned out and that they still love each other.  Their therapist asks if there is any way they can work it out.  In a daring, bold, and heartfelt move, Ari gives it all up for the woman he loves.  He turns Miller Gold over to Babs and makes good on a 20 year old promise to his wife: live in Italy.  His gesture seems sincere, and for once it seems like he will silence the deafening background noise and tend to his family.  But where will this leave Vince?  This question is posed again when Eric makes it clear that he is moving to NY to be closer to Sloan and their baby; whether she takes him back or not.  That’s a man’s move right there. 

Throughout the ups and downs of life, one thread has remained constant, and that is friendship.  I’m blessed to have friends that I would probably do anything for if I could, much like Vince has always done for his entourage.  The series has witnessed a remarkable growth in all of its characters.  Over the years Vince (Adrian Grenier) has remained true to himself and his core values, but not without hitting rock bottom first.  Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) transformed from a chubby errand boy to an entrepreneur in his own right.  Drama (Kevin Dillon) never quite ascended above his B level status, but his television career is thriving.  Eric (Kevin Connolly) spread his wings and became a more powerful manager.  Finally, Ari (Jeremy Piven) rose to the professional heights we always knew he could reach, but remembered that it means nothing without someone you love to share it with.  They’ve grown in a natural progression, evolving in the same way we all do when learning from our mistakes.  They did it all while living a charmed life that I’ll miss tuning into every Sunday. *Cheers Boys* It’s been real.

For another take on this episode check out “That’s All?” by Josh Hatala.

Entourage Season 8, Episode 8: “The End” (original airdate September 11, 2011)

Images courtesy of IMDb.

Historical fiction has an artificial authenticity that has the potential for excellent storytelling.  It makes the audience wonder, could this really have happened?  Where does fact end and fiction begin?  Apollo 18 had all the potential to be a provocative, conspiracy-driven movie, but instead it failed to deliver.  There were many more yawns than thrills.

The movie begins by telling us that the last official U.S. mission to the moon was Apollo 17 in 1972, but that two years later a covert lunar mission took place, the details of which have been secret until now.  Footage was recovered from the landing, and that footage is the basis for the movie.  The movie is shot “home video” style, adding a supposed air of realism.  This usually works, except that the actor portraying Pilot Ben Anderson (Warren Christie) is so incredibly handsome that he looks more like a leading man than a real American astronaut.  Anderson and two other astronauts (played by Lloyd Owen and Ryan Robbins) make a trip to the moon, purpose somewhat unknown.  The men can’t tell their families about the mission, and there will be no heroic widespread welcome for them upon their return.  They seem content with anonymity, secure in the belief that they are serving their country.  Two pilots will actually traverse the moon, while the third pilot remains aboard another vessel.  It takes a long time for anything remotely interesting to happen in this movie.  Sorry, just the sight of them walking on the moon was not cool enough for me. 

There was a constant sense of foreboding, but that wasn’t enough to stave off my boredom.  Things finally got interesting when the two astronauts’ exploration of the moon revealed a set of foreign human footprints that do not much their space boots.  Next they discover a crashed Russian space vehicle.  They had no knowledge of Russian lunar activity, so they instantly are on high alert.  Fearing the Russians may be prowling the moon at that very moment, they continue investigating.  Deep inside a crater they find the corpse of a Russian cosmonaut.  The whole time that they’ve been on the moon they have been hearing an odd screeching noise, some sort of feedback over the radio waves.  They wonder if the strange noise could be related to the cosmonaut’s demise. 

 They discover that a moon rock collected the day before seems to have a life of its own, and later one of them is seemingly attacked by one of the rocks, as it turns into an extra-terrestrial spider and imbeds itself in the astronaut’s body.  When they re-board their vessel, Anderson attempts to extract the foreign object from his compatriot’s body.  It appears to have turned back into a rock, similar to the one that they collected before.  While all this is going on, Houston has reassured them that the feedback noise is not much cause for concern, and they aren’t sure what to make of Russian presence on the moon.

SPOILER ALERT! I’m going to end the re-cap there, because those are the highlights.  To sum it all up, the Department of Defense sent the three astronauts to the moon as sacrificial lambs on an ill-fated recon mission.  When they become infected by the extra-terrestrial spidery moon rock thingies, they are prohibited from returning to Earth and are left to die in space.  Ok, what did we learn here? Not much. The astronauts were able to confirm that the Russians were there and that there is something on the moon that doesn’t take kindly to visitors.  Was that worth sacrificing three American lives?  It doesn’t seem like it.  The payoff was weak, and it took an eternity to get there.  I was dumb enough to think that The Blair Witch Project was real at first, and fortunately I didn’t make that mistake here.  Apollo 18 had a great concept that could have made for a thought-provoking, eerie and unsettling movie.  Instead, it was a boring, tedious affair resulting in a disappointing conclusion.  I knew that I was supposed to feel sorry for the characters…but I just didn’t care.  And the arachnid moon rocks?  Lame! Save your money!

Images courtesy of IMDbPro.

Jersey Shore is an entertaining but frustrating show.  They are all pretty funny, especially The Meatballs and Pauly and Vin, who decide to adopt guido alter egos this week.  Instead of Gym, Tanning and Laundry, true “toolbag guidos” follow the ritual of fist pumps, pushups, and heavy applications of chapstick.  The guys did a pretty funny imitation of the stereotypical guido, whom Jenni said was like every guy she’s ever dated.

The ironic thing about the show is that I think some elements are scripted (as is the case with most reality TV); yet the cast is very real, showing at various times the duality of human nature.  I think that overall they are a crass and rude bunch, but they are also capable of remarkable compassion for each other.  The guys are simultaneous douchebags and sweethearts. Ronnie is a prime example of this.

Throughout their relationship Ronnie has been very mean to Sammi.  Yet despite the cruelty he’s shown her, he displays an almost brotherly attitude towards Snooki and her relationship with Jionni.

Snooki has been frustrated in Jionni’s apparent disapproval of her personality and behavior.  She’s brash and boisterous, not demure and shy.  It seems as if he can’t deal with a woman as outgoing as Snooki, and she feels pressure to curtail her behavior and stifle her personality.  When they argue via telephone after Snooki tries to recap her night, Ronnie intervenes.  He explains to Jionni that Snooki loves him and he has a good girl, but Jionni doesn’t seem to want to hear it.  He cusses at Ron and tells him to give the phone back to Snooki. 

At this point, the roomies make a big deal of Snooki needing to dump him.  I agree that she shouldn’t change who she is to keep a guy, but they act like he went Ike Turner on her or something. It’s just not that big of a deal.  They even try to stage some half-assed intervention telling her that they don’t like how he makes her feel. This is one of the many problems that Sam and Ron have had over the years: meddlesome roommates. Snooki is annoyed by their efforts and has no intention of breaking up with Jionni.

Ronnie also showed a lot of compassion for Mike, encouraging him to stop moping around with his neckbrace, angling for sympathy. He tells Mike that he speaks from experience when he advises him to get out of the house and try to have fun. It seems that everyone has petulantly proclaimed that they were going home at some point, and this week was Mike’s turn –until Ronnie convinces him otherwise.  Mike tries to make amends with Snooki over the hook-up rumors, but he never actually admits that he lied – which makes one wonder what’s really true.  At least it seems that the housemates are trying to maintain the peace.  Did I say peace?  Well, peace with each other.  There isn’t peace at a local nightspot when a girl throws a drink on Deena and The Meatballs go into attack mode. 

Meanwhile, Ron and Sammi are back together again.  At this point I sincerely believe that I may vomit.  I’m really getting sick of this show and I don’t think I can continue to watch the roller coaster ride that is Sam and Ron.  They were fine this episode, but even they acknowledge that their relationship is day-to-day.  Who does that??  I understand that trashy TV makes for good TV, but at some point it gets old.

Best of the episode: Vinny and Pauly’s guido toolbag routine

 Worst of the episode: Snooki’s “intervention”

 What to watch for next: Jionni’s impending visit

Jersey Shore Season 4, Episode 6: “Fist Pump, Pushups, Chapstick” (original air date September 8, 2011)

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

Images courtesy of MTV.

I think I complained a couple of weeks ago after the season premiere of Jersey Shore that the show was a little boring.  Well, after settling into their new digs comfortably, I can say that is no longer the case.  There must be something about the reunion of Ron and Sam that upsets the natural order of the world.  They are like two, sick twisted magnets continuously drawn together.  Their separation was all too brief.  I’ve learned to never count them out. The make up to break up routine is par for the course with this couple, despite any assertions of being “done” or “moving on.”  Don’t believe it. 

Some things are as regular as the rising of the sun on Jersey Shore. There will be meddling (usually from Sitch or J Woww), fights (verbal and/or physical), and there will be hook ups.  We’ve already had the trifecta in the past two episodes.  Deena pulled the robbery on Vin and they passed a girl back and forth like a willing joint.  Mike predictably reveals in passing to Sam that Ron disclosed that he could bring up to 5 chicks back to the house if he wanted to.  This bit of information proves to be the powder keg for last week’s episode.  After a night out clubbing ends in a silly spat, Sam tells Ron what Mike said about the 5 girls.  Ron and Sam confront Mike and he denies it.  Then Ron loses it.

Admittedly, this fight was long overdue, as Sitch has been known to Snitch in the past.  Remember Miami?  Well, I guess Ron bottled up all of his anger and it is now about to explode.  He drags Mike’s bed out of their room, yelling that he’s tired of him interfering in his relationship.  Mike yells back that he doesn’t care about his relationship, and the two come to blows.  Well, this was the equivalent of two schoolgirls on the playground.  Much ado about nothing.  I didn’t see a single real punch thrown.  Ron picks Mike up and throws him to the floor, and I see a lot of swinging and flailing – but no real damage.  But before all this Mike does something truly stupid, even for him.  He slaps his hands on the wall in anger, then he head-buts the concrete wall, knocking himself to the floor.  Everyone becomes concerned when he is woozy and a little incoherent after that, so an ambulance is called.  Pauly accompanies Mike to the hospital, where he is diagnosed with a slight concussion and a sprained neck.  Not bad for a night’s work.  Too bad they were self-inflicted.  What an idiot.

After the drama subsides a bit, Ron decides for the 999,999^th time that he and Sam are through.  But unless they both perish in some molten bath similar to this one, I’ll never believe it.

Best of the episode: Nothing this week. A total train wreck.

Worst of the episode: Mike being in the hospital

What to watch for next: Gianni visiting Snooki in the coming weeks and Hannah potentially visiting Ron.

Jersey Shore Season 4 Episode 5: And the Wall Won (originally aired September 1, 2011)

First off let me say that HBO cheated me out of about 7 minutes of Entourage.  What gives?  The show is only a half hour to begin with, can we please enjoy a full 30 minutes? Thank you.

On this week’s episode, Vince and Turtle must deal with the aftermath of Ertz’ gruesome suicide.  Vince doesn’t seem as shaken as Turtle, but the consequences for him are much greater.  He didn’t do anything wrong, but it’s just a bad look for him to have been there, because a death occurred and there were drugs on the premises.  After his stint in re-hab, Vince doesn’t need the bad press.  Eric, Ari, and Shauna go into survival mode.  Vince, for the most part, is unflappable as usual while those around him panic.  His calm is short-lived when his attorney tells him that he’ll probably have to take a drug test.  It seems like he’s been on the straight and narrow, and we know he didn’t do anything at Ertz’ place, so he’s in the clear, right?  Not exactly.

He proclaims that he didn’t touch anything at Ertz’, but he doesn’t say that he didn’t use drugs.  That’s because he took a few pulls from a joint the previous week, unbeknownst to anyone.  He tells Eric what happened and E does his best to reassure him.

Vince and Eric’s relationship has been strained lately, as the line between manager and friend is blurred.  Vince needs a friend right now, not a manager.  He tells Eric one of the realest things I’ve ever heard him say, and as a person who has abstained from alcohol for the past 2 years, I could relate.  Vince told Eric that while rehab was helpful, there was a lot of labeling taking place as well.  He was told that he couldn’t do certain things anymore and that he was an addict.  He rejected those labels and wanted to prove to himself that those labels were not true.  He didn’t feel like an “addict,” and wanted to prove that he wasn’t by indulging in something without succumbing to it.  He said that he took a few pulls of the J and hasn’t thought about it since; it was no big deal.  That scene resonated with me, and I’m sure that anyone who’s ever battled personal demons can relate. Good writing and good acting.

While Vince deals with his impending drug test, Ari tries to deal with being separated.  He’s clearly longing for his wife but lacks focus.  On the one hand it seems like he wants to reconcile, but on the other hand it seems like he’s trying to get back out in the dating world.  He has a history with Dana Gordon (Constance Zimmer) but ends up ruining their rekindled union when he uses her as a pawn to make Mrs. Ari jealous.

Now back to Vince, the golden boy. With a little help from Billy Walsh (Rhys Coiro,) Vince manages to pass his drug test. Now packed with a renewed focus, Vince makes plans of coming back bigger and better than ever.  Looks like he’s got his swagger back.

Season 8, Episode 4: “Whiz Kid” (originally aired August 14, 2011)

Entourage airs Sundays at 10.30pm.

Images courtesy of HBO and IMDbPro.

I thought the season premiere last week was tame, by Jersey Shore standards.  But luckly this week featured more of the ridiculously pathetic behavior we’ve grown accustomed to witnessing. So let’s get to it.

The episode opens at the club with Deena exhibiting “thirsty” behavior towards Pauly.  She’s always had a crush on him and wants to smush, but Pauly is reluctant because he knows that it’s nearly impossible for a girl to sleep with a guy and not develop feelings.  Who needs the drama?  Snooki and Vinny went down that road before, and don’t even get me started on Sam and Ron.  Deena tries to cuddle with Pauly later when they get home, but he pretends to be sleeping.  Ouch.  He acts like he wants to spare her feelings, but I just don’t think Pauly is feeling Deena like that.

Later we are reminded that they are friends first, when Deena gets angry at Pauly for spilling the beans about Mike trying to cuddle with her.  Mike is like a dog in heat.  Last week he was all over Snooki, and this week he tries to cuddle with Deena in truly bizarre fashion.  He eavesdrops on a minor argument over the phone between Snooki and her boyfriend and blows it out of proportion, saying that if Jionni can’t make Snooki happy, then he will have to step in. He makes a big show of consoling her, but she doesn’t look like she’s biting.

Later Mike brings home a random girl who is DTF, and Snooki sends mixed messages by making fun of the girl’s looks and telling Mike that he can do better than her.  If she doesn’t like Mike herself, then why does she care who he brings home?  Mike hints that Snooki is they type of girl he can do better with and reminds her that they hooked up before.  Snooki doesn’t say much about that, but she makes it clear that they aren’t anything other than friends.  Anything more than that is all in Mike’s head.

Speaking of bringing someone home, when they all go out partying Ron gets wasted and claims that he will be bringing plenty of girls back to the house and that he slept with several girls before coming on the trip.  Sam is right there and he says all this for her benefit.  They had been doing so well, but I should have known that it couldn’t last.  I hate to say this, but Sam is pathetic.  Ladies, let Sammi serve as a cautionary tale.  How much abuse and heartache does she plan to endure?

At this point I can’t even blame Ron, because he is single and free and owes Sam nothing.  He also has the good sense to avoid the emotional entanglement that Sammi is trying to create.  Even after he hurts her feelings at the club, she still asks to cuddle with him later at home.  She’s a glutton for punishment and it’s sad to watch.  Sometimes the only way to get over the last person is to move on to the next person.  Ron is certainly moving on, and plans to have a lady friend named Hanna visit him at some point.  Have some pride Sam.

Best of the episode: Mike coming up short with Snooki

Worst of the episode: Sam and Ron. Again.

What to look for next: House drama with Sam/Ron and Mike/Snooki

For another take on this week’s episode check out “She’s Too Young For You Bro” by Stephanie Jaar.

Jersey Shore Season 4, Episode 2: Like More Than a Friend (originally aired August 11, 2011)

Jersey Shore airs Thursdays at 10/9c on MTV

Images courtesy of MTV.