What’s On: Finale Monday!

At least 8 series end tonight in what I’m sure will be thrilling and tense finales. Will Naomi Clark graduate? Is Sarah dead? Who’s wedding is Ted best man at? What brings Georgina Sparks back to the Upper East Side? and who’s the casualties on Castle and Hawaii Five-O? All will be answered tonight, Monday May 16, 2011.

Finales!

3rd Season Finale Alert!
90210 “To The Future!” 8:00 on CW

Ivy and Raj have an “A Walk To Remember” type wedding, Liam decides not to pursue a post-secondary education, Ryan and Debbie get written out of the series in what I’m sure will be a ridiculous but satisfying manner, and Adrianna’s revenge scheme on Silver gets revealed resulting in her banishment. But the biggest question on my mind is will Naomi Clark get to graduate with her friends? And why is Naomi Clark not only the best character on this series by far, but probably the best character on the CW? Tonight’s finale was written and directed by departing Showrunner Rebecca Sinclair, who is responsible for the creative turnaround at the end of the first season, so it should be great.

4th Season Finale Alert!
Chuck “Chuck vs. The Cliffhanger” 8:00 on NBC

NBC beloved gem of a series ends it’s fourth season tonight with Chuck on a revenge rampage for his interrupted wedding. It returns on fridays next fall for a final 13 episode season. It’s really nice to see tv execs caring about the fans when they make their decisions.

6th Season Finale Alert!
How I Met Your Mother “Challenge Accepted”

Robin and Barney rebond when helping Ted get over Zoey until they run into Nora. Is the wedding Barney’s? Is he marrying Nora or Robin? Could this season have been any more focused on Daddy issues? Imagine it returns next season minus that awful laugh track?

4th Season Finale Alert!
Gossip Girl “The Wrong Goodbye” 9:00 on CW

This season has had its ups and downs, I mostly loved everything to do with Juliet, but the subsequent reprocussions have been really obnoxious, as has the Russell Thorpe/Raina plot line (Michael Boatman is a billion times better in his Good Wife recurring role. There are two shining beacons of joy on the horizons, first is the yearly finale visit by Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) and second that Vanessa Abrams and Jenny Humphrey will be persona non grata come next year. After 4 long seasons those obnoxious bitches will finally be gone.

 

First Season Finale Alert!
Mike & Molly “Peggy’s New Beau” 9:30 on CBS

I saw Bridesmaids over the weekend and Melissa McCarthy killed it. Go check that movie out! Tonight Mike and Molly are introduced to Peggy’s new boyfriend (played by True Blood and Deadwood’s William Sanderson.)

First Season Finale Alert!
Hawaii Five-O “Oia’i'o (Trust)” 10:00 on CBS

The wildly successfull first season comes to an end tonight as the team gets too close to Wo-Fat with devestating consequences. As the Governer cannot protect them any longer it’s time to pay for their actions. Also someone is dying. Mark Dacasos and Larissa Oleynik guest star.

3rd Season Finale Alert!
Castle “Knockout” 10:01 on ABC

Castle is usually one of the lighter procedurals on TV, unless its dealing with the murder of Beckett’s mother, which it does tonight. When Hal Lockwood (guest star Max Martini) escaped from prison the team discovers that Lockwood’s escape is linked to Joanna Beckett’s murder. The investigtion comes to a fatal and tragic conclusion; one of the regulars is dying tonight, and while plot and impact wise, killing Esposito, Ryan or Lainie would have a greater impact, but I have a feeling that the ill fated is Captain Montgomery, played by Ruben Santaigo-Hudson. It’s been a great third season for Castle and from what I hear it’s gonne be one helluva cliffhanger tonight.

The Rest:

Dancing With The Stars 8:00 on ABC – 4 “stars” are left.

House 8:00 on FOX – House deals with the reprocussion of taking an experimental drug.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager 8:00 on ABC Family – I want Molly Ringwald and Mark Derwin to sit on a table and eat a cake together.

Series Finale Alert!
Mad Love 8:30 on CBS – This awful series ends if awfully short awful run tonight.

The Chicago Code 9:00 on FOX – This was a great little series that too a little too long to find it’s footing, I hope that there’s some sort of conclusion before the series finale next week.

The EVENT 9:00 on NBC – There was so much promise with the cast and the concept, it’s a shame that it all fell totally and incredibly flat. I will especially miss Taylor Cole’s Vicky Roberts and Zeljko Ivanek’s Blake Sterling.

Make It or Break It 9:00 on ABC Family – I rewatched DJ’s anorexia episode of Full House the other day. It’s a classic.

Law & Order:LA 10:00 on NBC – Haha NBC, you cancelled the flagship only to greenlight this grittier version only to have it FAIL.

The Hard Times of RJ Berger 10:00 on MTV – Just the worst sitcom.

Nurse Jackie 10:00 on SHO – Edie Falco with short hair is so spunky!

The United States of Tara 10:30 on SHO – What a waste of everything.

FALL 2011: The Axe Continues To Fall ABC’s Brothers & Sisters! Mr. Sunshine! V! & 3 More Cancelled

The Grim Reaper went nuts at ABC today, most notably canceling Brothers & Sisters after 5 seasons. The worst news of all is that the season finale, which left many plot lines up in the air was in fact the series finale.

The veteran series which has continued to fall in the ratings (despite it’s high production cost) let go of six cast members at the end of last season including Parks and Rec’s Rob Lowe and Emily Van Camp (who has a pilot called Revenge in contention at ABC). Ryan Devlin who plays Seth should be bummed, after leaving Cougar Town and getting replaced on Shit My Dad Says, his character knocked up Kitty (Calista Flockhart) and he was set to become a regular next season. Also unless Fox’s Breaking In gets resurrected again (which might happen, it was resurrected once before) this means the newlyweds Dave Annable from Bro & Sis and Odette Annable will both be simultaneously unemployed. There was talk of Brothers and Sisters returning for a final short season to tie up storylines but ABC decided the to go with a clean slate.

ABC also cancelled V after it’s second season, the sci-fi series had a lackluster second season but went balls out in the game changer finale, killing off three characters including the protagonist’s teenage son. It’s disappointing that this remake never really found its footing. From the beginning it struggled with it’s pacing and structure; it wasn’t entirely sure what kind of series it wanted to be. Add to that the awful Logan Huffman and truthfully on ABC V never really stood a chance. I’m still happy they killed Huffman off in the finale.

ABC also cancelled 3 freshman hourlongs Detroit 187, No Ordinary Family & Off the Map. This should surprise no one who’s seen them. 

ABC also cancelled Mr. Sunshine, the series starring Matthew Perry and Alison Janney about a man who runs a stadium and goes through a mid life crisis. The series was hilarious, it just never found it’s audience despite being placed in the prime post-Modern Family slot. 

The axe keeps swinging. One the heels of NBC’s cancellation of THE EVENT, NBC has also opted not to renew Law & Order:LA for a second season. The troubled series never really found an audience, it underwent an creative overhaul in the winter, cut three castmembers, turned Alfred Molina from a ADA into a Detective and even brought back in Alana De La Garza from the cancelled mothership.  I’ll keep updating you as they keep chopping.

FALL 2011: NBC Renews 3, Cancels 1 & Picks Up 7 New Series **UPDATED**

**Updated**

NBC gets one last Chuck, Axes The EVENT

As expected Chuck received a 5th season renewal, but a shortened one. Chuck, which has one of the most loyal followings on TV, will return for a 13 episode season that will be it’s last. It’s not often fans of a much loved serialized show get to have closure, but NBC was feeling charitable to Chuck fans.

They were not however feeling charitable to The Event, which after a really rocky and mostly awful first season has been cancelled. I wish the cadre of awesome actors in the series were available for pilot season… oh well I guess I’ll watch Zeljko Ivanek’s new show (cause he’ll have one for sure) next year.

Parenthood and Harry’s Law Renewed!

NBC has granted Parenthood a third season. The beloved family drama performed well but placed third behind Body of Proof and The Good Wife. The second season ended with Christina (Monica Potter) and Adam (Peter Krause) finding out they’re having another baby.

Harry’s Law, the David E. Kelley  midseason replacement series starring Kathy Bates, Rob Corddray and Brittany Snow premiered in the spring to decent ratings was expected to be picked up. With Kelley’s Wonder Woman officially dead – and thank god, lord did that ever look stupid – a renewal for Harry’s Law was a decent consolation prize.

A 13-episode renewal for perennial bubble series Chuck should come any day now but there’s no official word yet.

Smash! Whitney! Prime Suspect! Up All Night! Grimm! Awake! Playboy Club!

Hourlongs:

Smash: The Steven Spielberg produced musical series Smash got picked up. The series follows the struggles of putting on a broadway play. It stars Debra Messing as the lyricist, Tony Nominee Christian Borle as the composer, Katherine McPhee as the ingenue, Anjelica Huston as the producer and Jack Davenport as the Choreographer. Word from the screenings is that Messing is amazing and McPhee steals every scene she’s in. Could this be an adult’s Glee?

The Playboy Club: The 60′s set Playboy Club about the happenings of a girlie club stars Eddie Cibrian, David Krumholtz (Numbers), Amber Heard (Zombieland, left in costume), Jenna Dewan-Tatum (Step-Up), Naturi Naughton (Fame remake), Laura Benanti (Eli Stone) and Wes Ramsey (The Event). Jeff Hephner was set to play the lead but Eddie Cibrian replaced him shortly before filming began.

Awake: A sci-fi series from Kyle Killen, rebounding after his Lonestar devestation, this one’s about a Detective (played by Jason Isaacs, Lucius Malfoy in the HP film series) who awakes from a car crash to find he’s living in two different realities. Laura Allen (Terriers), Michaela MacManus (Law & Order: SVU), Tony Winner Cherry Jones (24) and Steve Harris (The Practice) co-star.

Grimm: A procedural set in a world populated by Grimm Fairy Tale figures. It stars Privileged’s David Guintoli, Sasha Roiz (Caprica), Silas Weir Mitchell (Prison Break) and Kate Burton (Ellis Grey on Grey’s)

Prime Suspect: Across the pond this series, about Detective Jane Tennison, launched it’s star Helen Mirren to a ginormous film career and an Oscar. Here Jane is played by Maria Bello (right, in costume), who should have been nominated for an Oscar for both The Cooler and A History Of Violence. I’ve watched a couple of the Mirren ones and they’re outstanding, with the right script this could be a real (and much needed) hit for NBC.

Wonder Woman, Ron Moore’s Harry Potter-meets-Law & Order series, the 17th Precinct and A Mann’s World, starring Don Johnson as a lothario hairdresser are dead. A Mann’s World’s producers are shopping the series around to cable nets. 

Comedies:

Whitney: Whitney Cummings has been on fire lately and now the red hot comedienne’s sitcom, that was considered a lock from the beginning, is being brought to series.

Up All Night: Stars Christina Applegate (YES!) as a single new mom and business woman.

I hear NBC is finished with their drama pick ups and are sifting through some comedies, which include Chelsea Handler’s series,  before the upfronts next week.

What’s On: Monday!

Today is gonna be brief, I hate to preview and dash but I’ve got a lot on my plate, some of which is enjoying the glorious weather I have here in Toronto (I know, choosing the outdoors vs the warm glow of TV is mega shocking!) Here are our recommendations for tonight, Monday May 9 2011.

The Best:

90210 ”The Prom Before the Storm” 8:00 on CW

Though the prom king and queen were spoiled (I’m not telling here) it’ll still probably gonna be a great night in our favourite zip code, especially considering Beverly Hills 90210′s prom lead us to the brilliant “DONNA MARTIN GRADUATES” 2 parter.

House ”The Fix” 8:00 on FOX

Looks like House is gonna start chasing the dragon tonight, or it’s another misleading promo…

The Chicago Code ”The Black Sox”

Teresa amps up her war against Alderman Gibbons. It’s about frikkin time. 

The Event ”One Will Live, One Will Die” 9:00 on NBC

Seeing as this is pretty much guaranteed a cancellation notice next week, can zero live and all of them die? Especially Leila. And especially the Vice President. OH MAN, and especially President Martinez. 

Seeing as it’s renewal time lets look at the chances of the Rest:

Chuck 8:00 on NBC – Renewal Chances (RC): 50/50.

Dancing With The Stars 8:00 on ABC – Renewed as long as there are F list celebs looking for attention.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager 8:00 on ABC Family – Cable series have a different renewal schedule.

How I Met Your Mother 8:00 on CBS – Renewed for two more seasons.  

Mad Love 8:30 on CBS – RC: Dim, like it’s comedic efforts. 

Gossip Girl 9:00 on CW – Renewed already.

Make It or Break It 9:00 on ABC Family – Same as Secret Life…

Mike and Molly 9:30 on CBS – RC: In light of everything to do with two and a half men, looks like a keeper. 

The Hard Times of RJ Berger 10:00 on MTV – Also cable.

Law and Order: LA 10:00 on NBC – RC: Pretty grim.

Hawaii 5-0 10:00 on CBS – RC: It’s only a matter of time. 

Castle 10:01 on ABC – Already renewed.

Nurse Jackie 10:00 on SHO – Cable.

United States of Tara 10:30 on SHO – Also cable. But also awful. 

What’s On: Manic Monday!

May Sweeps is in full effect, and tonight brings a slew of new programming, all the major nets are fresh, and I’m personally most looking forward to Silver’s continued descent into bi-polar madness. Here are our recommendations for tonight, May 2 2011.

The Best:

Chuck “Chuck vs. Agent X” 8:00 on NBC

Considering how in the dumps NBC is, Chuck funs should smoke ‘em if they got ‘em. It’s bachelor party Chuck-style, which means obviously its attacked by spies. Elsewhere, Ellie makes an astonishing discovery, along the same lines that Aunt Jenna made in the last few eps of the Vampire Diaries. Check out the promo for more.

90210 “Woman on the Verge” 8:00 on CW

90210′s thrid season has been fun but mostly uneven, but late in the run its finally finding its stride. Naomi’s relationship with Max (guest star Josh Zuckerman) is the breath of fresh air the show needed, and I’ve been waiting for Silver to have a flare up of her bi-polarness since it went dormant in the tail end of the first season. What’s still not so good? Everything Annie, its funny how Liam can be such a bad ass when he’s dating Naomi or working for that rich girl, but the moment he’s in a relationship with Annie he becomes completely emasculated. Also Ivy, her Walk to Remember plot with Raj (guest star Manesh Dayal) is really grinding my gears.

Gossip Girl “The Frog Princesses” 9:00 on CW

I guess the powers that be over at Gossip Girl could smell the staleness a mile away becuase they’ve gone back to one of their two tried tested and proved formulas for great TV, one is Georgina Sparks, who always manages to show up and be awesome and the second is having Blair and Serena at war with each other. Even though the battle will probably be resolved by the episode’s end, we should enjoy it while it lasts. Entertainment has been pretty fleeting this season.

Castle “To Love and Die in L.A.” 10:01 on ABC

Beckett gets evidence suggesting the murderer of her ex-partner has fled to LA, so her and Castle head across the country to hunt him down renegade-style, stoppubg by the Heat Wave set and enlisiting the cast in solvign the murder. Sounds like a lot of fun, and we’ll need it considering someone is dying in the finale. Gene Simmons, Dominic Purcell, DB Sweeney, and Jason George guest star.

The Rest:

Dancing with the Stars 8:00 on ABC – Gross pageantry, and no one even remotely interesting this season. I wish Jamie Lee was still in the audience every week.

House 8:00 on FOX – Candice Bergen stops by again as Cuddy’s mom, this time she’s suing the hospital for malpractice, meanwhile Donal Logue (Terriers, above) stops by as the patient of the week, and Foreman and Chase mess with eachother.

How I Met Your Mother 8:00 on CBS – This show needs to do SOMETHING to liven it up. It’s getting stale as ol’ bread.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager 8:00 on ABC Family – Come for the kids stay for the parents.

Mad Love 8:30 on CBS – Mad stupid.

The Event 9:00 on NBC – A set-up episode, lining up the pins for the endgame. Probably will be a slow one.

Make It or Break It 9:00 on ABC Family – The stunts are really well done here.

Mike & Molly 9:30 on CBS – Mike helps Vince study for his GED.

The Hard Times of RJ Berger 10:00 on MTV – The worst half hour on TV? Very likely…

Hawaii 5-0 10:00 on CBS – Rick Springfield guest stars as a fashion photographer killed during a swimsuit shoot in Hawaii. Desperate Housewives’ Andrea Bowen and Breakout Kings’ Serinda Swan guest star too.

Law & Order: LA 10:00 on NBC – They cancelled the flagship for this? Le grande sigh.

Nurse Jackie 10:00 on SHO – Peter Facinelli is pretty funny here as Dr. Coop, I’m just happy Mike Dexter survived Amanda’s breakup.

The United States of Tara 10:30 on SHO – More like The United States of Tarable.

The Event Recap: “I’m talking about making you President”

The Event was super lame last night, even though Dempsey shot himself in the head and Sophia tricked the VP into becoming an assassin the episode wasn’t really that interesting. But even though we got one of the Event’s duller hours there was still much to laugh at, which brings us to…

The WHAT?!? List
Chronicling the events in the EVENT that drive us crazy.

There’s just a few big ones today and not the usual 10, a lame episode begets a lame recap.

Manipulative Sophia Sophia played VP Jarvis like a fiddle enlisting him to assassinate the President by poison. It took very little convincing on Sophia’s part but that’s becuase everyone is treating him like a ‘red-headed step child’ and keeping him for appearances. Once again Elias let his anger cloud his judgment and he kept the VP maligned. From then on it was simple for Sophia. Had she known how poorly he was being treated she may have enlisted him earlier. We left off with the President about to be killed (with poisoned  sweetener) by an anxious Jarvis. Sophia’s plan is to use ice cores(?) to kill the population. Hopefully they contain a creature indigenous to NGC253, like Godzilla or a Cloverfield and not some lame killer virus.

Sean the Sentinal Dempsey lit a house on fire as a test for Sean. Seems a little elaborate but okay. Sean of course passed (cause what can’t he do) and Dempsey let Sean in on the conspiracy. The Sentinals have been here for more than three millenia, they can forsee events because of the tapestry? Honestly this bit was confusing. Basically there is a prophecy (for lack of a better word) that a non-sentinal (Sean) will be the one to stop Sophia. Then he gave Sean a bag and shot himself in the head. Wait what? Yeah. He tells Sean that he’s gonna save the world, gives him a bag and then shoots himself in the head. Utterly ridiculous. I didn’t buy any of this for a second. Why shoot himself? Does Hal Holbrook have a movie to film or something? It was shock for the sake of shock, regardless of plot,  which is something I cannot appreciate. PS did you notice how many times Holbrook said the word ‘event’ before he shot himself. It was like a lot. PPS did you notice Vicky’s sadface when Leila called Sean. Someone’s got a crush…

Christina Martinez, putting the Alien in illegal alien. Since last week when Sen. Lewis (Virginia Madsen) was mole hunting in the White House, Christina, the president’s barely seen wife (despite being a regular) was suspected of being a sleeper Alien. Her backstory didn’t match up and Lewis noted how she doesn’t seem to age. Martinez questioned his wife who told him an incredibly believable story about how her parents lied about being Cuban to seek asylum in the US and that her parents are illegal aliens from the Dominican. Once she confessed she started bawling and had Elias comfort her, and once he hugged her, she looked away ominously indicating her extra-terrestrial nature. It’s a smart storytelling move to have someone be a regular, hide in the background only to have their betrayal be the game changer (Hiding O’Malley in the background of Grey’s season 5 made his finale twist more awesome). PS did you notice how latino Elias and Christina get when they say eachother’s names?

Very much a set-up episode but probably not the worst we’ve seen on this show. Tune in next week to find out if Martinez drinks the coffee, and hopefully get some closure on Christina’s immigrant status.

What’s On Monday: Cougar Town, 90210 and Gossip Girl are back!

It was 3 months ago that Courtney Cox and Cougar Town vacated it’s prime post Modern Family spot to make space for her ex-TV husband Matthew Perry and Mr. Sunshine. Finally the cul-de-sac crew returns, and on a special night too, one that also sees the return of nerd-boinking Naomi Clark and our favorite upper-east siders. Here are our recommendations for tonight, Monday April 18 2011.

The Best:

90210 “Enchanted Donkey” 8:00 on CW

Silver and Adrianna still battling? Yup! Naomi still loving nerds? Yup! Tonight TV’s juiciest and guiltiest pleasure returns with the whole gang taking a trip down to Cabo for spring break. This series was at its best when Naomi and Annie were warring last season and it’s gearing up to be that fun again with Silver and Adrianna’s battle over Navid. It gets mad intense tonight.

House “The Last Temptation” 8:00 on FOX

It’s Amber Tamblyn’s last episode, and the first time that two women will be on House’s team at the same time (Cameron and Thirteen never were, and his reality show selection process doesn’t count). For her farewell they’ve made it Martha Masters centric. She could return;  Wilde has yet to sign a contract for next season. Check out the promo and tune in tonight for what Tamblyn calls a juicy scene with her and 13.

How I Met Your Mother “Hopeless” 8:00 on CBS

Barney tries to get to know his father (a returning John Lithgow) better by spending some quality time with him. Of course for a Stinson that means getting arrested. Robin falls in love with Sam Anders.. I mean Michael Trucco. I have to keep reminding myself that Battlestar isn’t real.

Gossip Girl “The Kids Stay in the Picture” 9:00 on CW

When we last left off Lily was confessing her part in framing Ben and Serena and Eric’s father William (William Baldwin) had returned to NYC. Tonight Cece Rhodes (Caroline Lagerfelt) and her sister Carol (Sheila Kelly, but the part was played by Kristen Ritter in the backdoor pilot two years ago) come to NYC to support Lily in these tough times. Carol’s daughter Charlie (Kaylee DeFer, The War at Home) comes too. This makes me nervous, the last cousin the CW introduced was 90210′s cousin Emily – and she was just the worst – lets hope cousin Charlie is less obnoxious. Also the love triangle between Chuck, Blair and Dan becomes a square tonight as Vanessa, the worst character ever (yes worse than Jenny) gets involved and likely is terrible.

Cougar Town “Walls” 9:30 on ABC

Damn it’s been too long. I’ve really missed the Cul-de-Sac crew, their games, their hijinx and all the fun I have playing Penny can at home while I watch. And as a reward for our patience, ABC has given us two new episodes this week, tonight and in it’s regular slot on wedneday.

The Rest:

Chuck 8:00 on NBC – Love it while you can cause it’s looking like a goner.

Dancing with the Stars 8:00 on ABC – Kirstie Alley is a hot mess and the sole reason for watching this season.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager 8:00 on ABC Family – Molly Ringwald Alert!

Mad Love 8:30 on CBS – The worst show with the best cast? Probably.

The Chicago Code 9:00 on FOX – Getting better with every episode and making Delroy Lindo’s villainy ambiguous they’ve made the character relatable which he was not at the start.

The Event 9:00 on NBC – It’s finally time for Lisa Vidal to shine as the First Lady, she gets her very first plot of the season tonight. Is she an alien? Tune in to find out (or just read my recap tomorrow).

Make It or Break It 9:00 on ABC Family – They made it!

William & Kate 9:00 on Lifetime – Royal Wedding fever continues to infect the world. Lifetime airs their movie about how two rich kids met and fell in love (above).

20/20 William and Catherine 10:00 on ABC – More royal fever!

The Hard Times of RJ Berger 10:00 on MTV – Ugh.

Hawaii 5-0 10:00 on CBS – Death is hitting the beach soon. Who’s gonna die?

Law and Order: LA 10:00 on NBC – Fail.

Nurse Jackie 10:00 on SHO – Edie Falco is a f’ing force to contend with. She’s outstanding here.

The United States of Tara 10:30 on SHO – Toni Collete is wasted to death here.

The THE EVƎNT Recap

That’s more like it! Last night’s THE EVƎNT was one of the more tense and fun hours, much more reminiscent of 24 than Flash Forward. The plot moved along briskly, the performances were decent for the most part – I enjoyed Scott Patterson, Taylor Cole and Zeljko Ivanek but I’m still struggling with Laura Innes’s half posh New England/Half gargling water voice and of course Sarah Roemer’s eye acting. The best part of the hour was that Lisa Vidal and subseqeuntly her character First Lady Christina Martinez received her first storyline of the season. This stupid show is so bloated that a series regular had to wait for another regular to be killed off before she got a plot. Rididculous, speaking of which brings us to…

The WHAT?!?! List
Chronicling the events in THE EVƎNT that make us crazy.

10. And we lost him… In a scene practically borrowed from the Matrix, Simon, knowing his cover was blown finds an earpeice with a mysterious seemingly all knowing voice on the other end who successfully guides Simon to safety. I thought THE EVƎNT would take the opportunity of Sterling playing with Simon and drag it out at least till the end of this episode if not more – but surprisingly enough they didn’t. Before the teaser was over Simon was on the run. With Simon escaping Martinez has once again lost his only advantage and more holes were poked in his power.

9. Senator Dr. Lewis, Alien Hunter. Martinez enlists the help of his frenemy, the Alaskan Senator who blackmailed him a few episodes ago. He wants her to use her medical past to initiate a fake TB test to test the populace for alien sleeper agent. This sounds really ludicrous – even for the EVƎNT.

8. We are no longer Benevolant. EVƎNT. Sophia, in light of the death of her son has decided that we, the humans are no longer benevolant, and therefore not worthy of their mercy. So she’s bringing the whole famn damily over from NGC-253, all two billion of them.

7. Stay Vicky! Sean lets Vicky go, disabling the program that’ll release her family’s personal information. But we all know that Vicky is in LOOOOOOOOOOOVE with Sean. We all knew that it wasn’t over for this couple.

6. Christina Martinez comes off the bench. The capable Lisa Vidal has been relegated to the sidelines since the start of the season, she finally was granted a plot. Against the TB testing, she seemed scared possibly becuase she’s an ALIEN? I can understand and even encourage her relegation to the sidelines IF she’s an Alien. If she’s a red herring it was a total waste. I hope she’s an alien.

5. OUR SON? Simon and Sophia commiserate about Thomas’ death and it’s revealed he’s THEIR son. Simon says “We always knew our son would die” our son? Wow? This confuses me, even for ageless aliens, Simon’s a bit young for Sophia and even more confusing is a later statement (see #1)*** See below but it’s totally “… our SUN will die” My booboo.

4. I’ll have the invasion, but hold the genocide. Simon, not wanting to kill hundred of millions of people joins up with similarly thinking Michael. Or so it seems… HAHAHAHA

3. Betrayed I. Sean and Vicky head into the french woods to find Dempsey only to find the cold bitch betrayal instead. An armed gestapo was waiting their arrival and while Sean managed to escape, Vicky wasn’t so lucky and she was taken to see her old boss. Sean meanwhile headed back to ambush and torture their betrayer, Vicky’s old spy friend. Note to self: never underestimate the effect smashing someone’s hands with a mallett.

2. Sentinals (Man I wish they were talking about big purple robots – but they’re not) Dempsey (Hal Holbrook) is a man that cannot seem to convey a story or anecdote without waxing nostalgic and spinning yarns. Here he tells Vicky how he’s from a long line of Sentinals tasked with protecting the world. From who? From them (points up) ooooh. How ominous. At least ‘Sentinal” is a better term than ‘Guardian Angel’ which sounded ridiculous.

1. Betrayed II: Incest? As Simon was about to make a break for it Michael informed him that he narc’d him out to Sophia. A very dissappointed Sophia said “Today I’ve lost a second son” But wait, didn’t you have a baby with him? Even if Simon is only her child figuratively that still gross. Really gross. The more I learn about Sophia, the more grossed out I get.

(***reader Austin pointed out that they said “Sun” not “Son” which is much less creepy. Mucho Gracias to Austin)

I really hope the First Lady turns out to be one of them, that would be swell. Did you like this week’s EVƎNT, or was it more of the same crap? I’ll see you in two weeks when the next EVƎNT airs, here’s a promo of the next episode to tide you maniacs over.

What’s On: Pizza Monday!

It’s a blistery April day, the perfect day to curl up with a pizza pie and watch some Pizza related TV. I’m talking about Castle and it’s pizza flavoured mystery. Fact: Pizza only makes good things better so logically Castle will be extra good tonight. As an added pizza bonus our recommendations for tonight come with pizza toppings pairing suggestions for the best possible pizza-enhanced viewing. Here are our recommendations for tonight, Monday April 4th 2011.

The Best:

The EVENT “You Bury Other Things Too” 9:00 on NBC
Best Paired with: Pineapple, Bacon, Eggplant, St. Agur Blue Cheese and of course Guardian Angels

Tv’s wildest show is best served with a wild pizza full of all sorts of random crap on it. Last week Clifton Collins Jr’s Thomas was blown up along with two thirds of the aliens and tonight the president sets Virginia Madsen loose on finding other sleeper agents (the President’s Wife?) and Sterling (Zeljko Ivanek) keeps a close eye on Simon. Oh yeah also Dempsey waxes nostalgic about guardian angels some more.

Castle “Slice of Death” 10:01 on ABC
Best Paired With: Classic Pepperoni for a classic mystery.

A reporter covering a battle of pizzerias suddenly turns up dead inside one of their ovens. I wonder what he uncovered. Drugs? Affairs? Probably both. Sounds like a keeper for me.

Season Finale Alert!

Harry’s Law “Last Dance” 10:00 on NBC
Best Paired With: Extra cheese for an extra cheesy hour.

Harry defends Josh Peyton (Paul McCrane) the DA who she has continually humiliated since the series premiere. Out of all the mid season series, so far this one has the greatest chance of renewal and I’ll take Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore’s Shooter McGavin) where I can get him.

The Rest:

Dancing With The Stars 8:00 on ABC – Last week Psycho Mike got kicked out. Who? Loser.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager 8:00 on ABC Family – So many pregnant teens in one hour, this should be on MTV

Make It or Break It 9:00 on ABC Family – Roz and DJ Tanner (right).

Being Human 9:00 on Syfy – After a few weeks being off Syfy’s hit remake of the hit brit show

The Hard Times of RJ Berger 10:00 on MTV – The worst sitcom on TV.

Nurse Jackie 10:00 on Showtime - I absolutely need to catch up on this.

The United States of Tara 10:30 on Showtime – I have absolutely no intention of catching up on this.

The EVENT RECAP “Your People are Monsters”

SPOILER ALERT!!!

I am a glutton for TV death. I love it. So it’s no wonder I think last night’s episode of THE EVENT was the series strongest. Even before the climax I was thinking about how this was an above average episode of the EVENT, and the death (as wasteful as it was) was an apropo cap to a decent episode that was directed by Academy Award Winner Janusz Kaminski. Who’s that you say? He’s an oscar winning cinematographer best known for working on every Steven Spielberg film from Schindler’s List to now, and it showed the shot of the Washington Monument falling was beautifuly framed. But I’m getting ahead of myself, we got a lot of wackyness to cover so lets head over to the…

The “WHAT?!?!” List
Chronicling the events in the EVENT that make us nuts.

10. Continuity Error! Spotting these makes me feel special (mainly cause I usually can’t spot them). Fleeing  the secret service, Sean steals a van that’s being unloaded, so the back door’s open when he drives off, but when he catches up with Vicky, that back door is magically closed. And wouldn’t just close after driving. Trust me, I know.

9. Elias takes a Hard Line. He has the Aliens surrounded in an LA church and finally after months of being an ineffective diplomat President Martinez takes a hard stance and is totally ready to raid the church and kill anyone who opposes him. But as the president soon learns there are consequences for both action and inaction.

8. That Big White Crumbling Erection. To prove she meant business, Sophia had her portal thingy destroy the Washington Monument. This was great. It showed Sophia is not afraid to kill innocent people to save her race, and that she has the capability to be a badass and not one of those TV leaders who tend to always make the more popular/morally correct decision. In all 70 people died and 100 were seriously injured and the EVENT added some needed moral ambiguousness to their head alien.

7. Worst. President. Ever. In an instant Sophia had gone from having her back against the wall to having all the cards in her hand – and while we knew it was a bluff, Martinez didn’t and in a flash he had the tables turned on him proving once again that as a President he has no instinct on whom to trust or when to trust them. He said it best himself; ”I use diplomacy and I fail, I use restraint and lives are lost” Diplomacy and restraint werent the wrong moves, they just had no thinking behind them. What an idiot. I feel bad for Blair Underwood - not even the TV veteran can make Martinez likable.

6. Antiques Roadshow! Soon we cut to Dempsey (Hal Holbrook) who’s in France on big conspiracy related business. Seems the conspiracy is interested in 4000 year old vases with curious heiroglyphics. The archeologist tells Dempsey if he thinks those are nifty he should see the cavern wall… The cavern wall? No one was to go into the cavern! And then Dempsey shoots him to keep the cavern mystery a secret. But what is the cavern mystery? It better not be something ridiculous (see #2)…

5. A Gold Star for Blake! CIA director Blake Sterling (Zeljko Ivanek), the only effectual member of the president’s cadre of aides, uses logic and reason and memory to deduce that Agent Simon Lee is an alien. When Agent Lee’s cover was almost blown last time, Thomas snuck into the hospital and swtiched the samples and then shared a seemingly unimportant scene with Blake in the elevator. That scene came back brilliantly as Blake put two and two together (something people on the Event hardly do) and figured out that Simon was indeed an alien, and finally the government is one step ahead of the aliens all thanks to Blake (and no thanks to Martinez). The start monitoring Simon’s phone and they discover Sophia’s bluffing, the monument destruction was the extent of their current capabilities. Blake single handedly changes the course of the series with a solid realization – I hereby grant Blake the title of: Second Best Character (after Vicky of course!)

4. Even assassins wax nostalgic. Sean and Vicky(!) made it to France and to a safehouse with an old associate of Vicky’s named Henri. In my favourite scene of the night Vicky and Henri laughingly recount a story about how they were sent to kill a man at a bar who never showed, they cancelled the mission and got drunk and as they left Vicky got into a car accident. The driver of the other car died instantly. And as luck had it, he was their target. While the story was great the important revelation here was that Vicky was CIA. She was burned by her superior and thats how she ended up a mercenary. My money’s on Blake as the burner. The EVENT doesn’t give us tidbits like that without some pay-off down the line. But more than some good Vicky backstory we were also treated to some interesting glances…

3. Vickan? Seaky? Whilst at the safehouse Sean and Vicky traded some not-very-subtle glances. I know TV and subtext and I like where this is going, mainly because I don’t like Sarah Roemer’s Leila but also becuase Sean’s whitewash personality would benefit from a romp on the wild side, and Vicky is definely the wild side, also becuase it means Sean and Leila’s reunion will be short lived and full of pain. God I hate Leila. But now we need a name that us Vicky and Sean ‘shippers can call the doomed future couple. Suggestions?

2. Guardian Angels. Sheesh. So back at the dig site Dempsey enters the cavern he killed over and finds what’s on the cavern wall. It’s essentially a picture of a large stick figure surrounded by many smaller ones. Dempsey then begins the clunkily written exposition talking about Guardian Angels and how they exist in every religion and how they’re REAL. First a magic stone table and now Guardian Angels. I have absolutely no theory as to what they can be referring to – I really hope it’s not the aliens, that would be so not raven. I hope it has something to do with the titular EVENT.

1. DEATH! By the time the President realized Sophia was bluffing the aliens were on three coach busses on their way out. The president dispatched an apache helicopter to kill them all! It blew up the first bus full of red shirts. Cool. But then the President goes to hit the second bus, the one with Sophia, Michael and Leila on it! Thomas instructs the portal dude to save Sophia while he and his bus become martyrs. His bus pulls ahead and BOOM. Thomas, Isabelle and the rest of those aliens explode in a fireball! And before he can take out her bus Sophia jumps away. 

My thoughts on the deaths are confluicted. While I love death, it pains me to see potentially interesting characters die before their time. Thomas, like Dominic Monaghan’s FlashForward character, was an semi-antagonistic that provided a lot of drama and conflict, but was ultimately wasted in the plot. I really enjoyed the dissention withing the aliens ranks and having both Thomas and Isabelle killed in one bang eliminated more dissent from the immediate future ensuring that interalien relations are going to remain conflict free for the rest of the season at least… I really liked the concept of a Civil War within the dying factions of an alien race. I will miss Thomas and Clifton Collins Jr. (who I met a bunch of years ago. He was awesome and super nice. Just saying), they both left the EVENT before they should have. Let’s just hope his death leads to more interesting places than we’ve seen thus far.

I hope that once the end of the season finally rolls around I won’t feel as if I’ve been cheated.