Fall 2010 New Show: "$#*! My Dad Says"

Shit My Dad Says is a comedy based on a twitter account of the same name. The show stars Henry (played by Jonathan Sadowski) as a recently laid-off man, living with his 72 year old dad Ed (played by William Shatner) who never minces his word. I remember there being a lot of hoopla about "shit" in the title but thank goodness CBS didn't budge and kept the word "shit" - even if it is as $#*! *sidenote* HBO never had any problem with Senator Davis' impressive use of the word...sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

First, I enjoyed the Wall Street - Money Never Sleeps promo - $#*! Gordon Gekko says. Second, considering the source material and the fact that it came from Will & Grace producers, I was expecting a lot of zing. But this is cbs; how much of the vulgar nature of the real Ed can be portrayed on network TV? In my opinion, the show would be a better fit for cable tv, but on the other hand, the show can reach more viewers on network tv. However, is the latter worth deviating from the original feel of the tweets? How much of the spirit of "real Ed" from tweets can you fit in a half-hour comedy show?

In the end, I think the writers will have to feel comfortable enough to explore Ed - you know, flesh out the character past his quips - and grow past tweets less than a year old as source material. All in all, there's a lot of room for improvement. However, I will keep checking in hoping it will get better.

Every Little Step I Take

Funny or Die is filled with comedic gold moments. The sites latest offering just brightened my day. Wow Mike, dancing is not your strong suit but I gotta love him for being such a sport. Wayne Brady should do more comedy; rare episodes of How I Met Your Mother is not enough. Make sure to check the sites Hall of Fame section on the right. Enjoy!

Every Little Step with Mike Tyson & Wayne Brady from Mike Tyson

Fall 2010 New Show: The Event

Just like you, I'm wondering what is The Event? But more importantly, how long will it be before that question is answered for us? The Event is a new show on NBC starring Blair Underwood as Afro-Cuban American President Martinez who survives an assassination attempt and discovers his own administration is keeping secrets from him. Jason Ritter plays Sean who is looking for his girlfriend who goes missing during a cruise. As he searches for her, he stumbles upon a government conspiracy bigger than the President (trust me, I would never make up that vomit-inducing sentence). Other characters include Laura Innes as political detainee Sophia and - the brilliant - Zeljko Ivanek as a Presidential Aide with something to hide.

I was left confused after the show ended - not the nice confused I felt after a great episode of Lost. More like an unsatisfying episode of Lost. Here's what I gathered:

• President Martinez wants to release non-American detainees held in Alaska. His advisors think he's making a big mistake. He also finds out that his aides are also keeping secrets from him.
• Sean wants to propose to his girlfriend Leila. While on a cruise, he saves a girl - Vicky - from drowning. They start hanging out with Vicky and her boyfriend - Greg. However, Leila disappears before Sean is able to propose.
• Leila's dad - played by Gilmore Girls' Scott Patterson - gives his blessings to Sean. However, Sean figures out that Mr. Buchanan is the pilot who's attempting to crash the plane at the site where President Martinez is located. It's alluded that the masked intruders who invaded the Buchanan home, killed may be his wife, and are holding his family hostage are forcing him to do this.
• Simon - played by His Hotness Ian Anthony Dale - is the only visitor Sophia seems to get in prison. The two of them seem to know what the event is and are determined not to let the president know.
• What in the world was that white light that swallowed the plane? I get the feeling that is not the event. 

Who is "they"? Aliens? They are not Americans but they must be the other detainees. Somehow that couple - Vicky and Greg - have something to do with either the event or the abduction of Leila. It's not Lost, it's much better than Heroes and - I hate to admit this - Flash Forward. I'll be tuning in next week.

Fall 2010 New Show: Better With You

Better With You is a new comedy on ABC about 3 couples. Mia and Casey (Joanna Garcia and Jake Lacy) have been dating 7 and a half weeks. Their relationship has progressed very fast. Mia is pregnant and her and Jake are engaged. Her older sister Maddie (Jennifer Finnigan) has been dating Ben (Josh Cooke) for 9 years. They are not married and continue to defend their "valid life choice". Mia and Maddie's parents (played by Kurt Fuller and the wonderful Debra Jo Rupp of That 70's Show) have been together 35 years. We are introduced to all three couples as Mia prepares to break the engagement rule to her family.

So that's the plot. Verdict? It's forgettable. It's a show I would put on if there was nothing else to watch really. There was nothing fresh or exciting about it - which is too bad because I find Josh Cooke super hot! Honestly, that's all I can say about the show...next!

Greed Is Good and Legal

Jake Moore (Shia LaBeouf) says "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different outcome". While watching Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, it was amazing to see powerful, educated men fall into the same traps as their predecessors thinking they can do it better and not fall into the same traps. Jake is torn between revenge for his mentors suicide caused by the fall of the investment firm KZL, the allure of making money for the clean energy firm he believes in with the help of Gordon Gekko  (superb as usual Michael Douglas), and living a non-money hungry life with Winnie Gekko (Carey Mulligan).

Gekko is now out of prison - he was given one of the harshest sentences for a white collar crime. He comes out of jail in 2001 to see a very different financial landscape and with no one waiting for him after he is released. He still thinks the name Gekko is a powerful name in the financial world, but to his former colleagues, he's a joke. The scene in the restaurant when he reunites with Winnie is not only awkward but shows how vulnerable Gordon is too. He cannot survive in a world where he cannot reclaim his pre-prison glory. But can he navigate a world where greed is no longer only good but legal? What is he capable of doing to reclaim his lost standing?

This sequel was very timely. KZL could be seen as a substitute for Lehman Brothers, Schwartz could be Merrill Lynch/Bank of America. Seeing how the executives threw each other under the bus and sought government help through scare tactics (too big to fail) was surreal. Where is the moral hazard - what is to stop these financial institutions from making the same mistakes if we keep bailing them out? It is sickening to think that the spread of rumors such as the financial viability of a firm could spread like wildfire, be considered true, affect stock prices thus impacting the lifesavings of many unsuspecting main street families. It's a game to these executives - but they pack away their additional golden parachute in Switzerland knowing fully well of the crimes they are committing.

Although it was evident how seductive money is (Gekko explains this very well to Jake) it's the thrill of the game that keeps these men doing what they do. The picture of Satan eating his son in Bretton James' (brilliantly portrayed by James Brolin) home office nicely sums up what these men are capable of. They will devour their young - mentors, children - to retain the thrill, the power and the seductive mistress that is the mean green.

There was also a contrast between the old school Wall Street players and the newcomers. At the start of the housing bubble burst, Bretton and Jake go racing their ducatis to get away from it all. After Bretton informs Jake that they will not be investing the $100M in the firm of his choice, Jake is clearly upset. But Bretton tells him that there's no room to be emotional in business. The old schoolers seem to have no souls e.g. Bretton and Gordon. However, it is Jakes mentor Louis Zabel (Frank Langella) who tells Jake before his death that the most precious thing in life is not the money and assets you accumulate for your retirement, it is time - the time you spend with your family. This is a lesson Jake tries to teach Gordon when he tracks Gordon down after he disappears with Winnie's trust fund to mixed results. Maybe there is some humanity/soul left on Wall Street. I suspect we won't find out until the next bubble bursts.

Fall 2010 New Show: Lone Star

Lone Star is poised to be a night time soap offered by Fox; which is bad news for this show. It feels like a show that should be offered in the summer where it can fare better than in the fall. It's a show about con artists. Bob grew up learning the art from his father; a fellow con man. He learned the trade and is now living two cons of his own in Texas. On one side of Texas, he is married to Cat, the daughter of a wealthy oil tycoon played by Jon Voight. His father-in-law wants him to take over the company. However, his father - played by David Keith - thinks he has a great gift. It's a gift not to be wasted by going straight. His father would rather he clean out the family rather than take over the company and live that life for real. Bob leads another life, 400 miles away, with his girlfriend Eloise. There he is busy conning people out of their life savings while pretending to be the perfect boyfriend to Eloise.

Which of these two lives will he choose? Will he need to choose? He seems to be genuinely in love with both women; something that is debatable as possible. He seems to be so comfortable doing cons; he's smug, extremely charming and handsome. All these give him the confidence to think that he can do it both. But you can see there's a sense of guilt in him when he hears Eloise's parents talking about the people who've lost their retirement due to the financial crisis. At the same time, he can't risk being caught; there's a lawyer questioning the deeds of some of the oil wells he supposedly owns. Will he finally be able to lead the normal life - by his standards - that he so craves? Will the viewers keep watching? Apparently not. With such bad ratings, it seems like this show is an early favorite for the first cancellation victim of the fall season. I will miss seeing James Wolk's handsome face.

Fall 2010 New Show: Mike & Molly

Mike & Molly is a sitcom on CBS brought to you by the creators of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory. I'm not sure if this comedy will bring their batting average to 3-out-of-3. Mike is a cop in Chicago while Molly is a school teacher. They both meet at Over-eaters Anonymous. Mike is a great guy but filled with insecurities about his weight. Due to this, he's not able to see that Molly is interested in him. Plus, after his partner convinces him that Molly is interested, Mike has a hard time getting the words out.

The list of supporting characters include the highlarious Katy Mixon as Molly's sister and Swoosie Kurtz as Molly's mom. They could be in line for their own show. Mike's partner, Carl, on the other hand is an annoying, trying-too-hard, token minority of the show. His only redeeming quality is that he's Mike's constant champion and cheering squad.

The laugh track feels very forced. May be with time the show will find it's rhythm. I do believe that the characters that play Mike and Molly (Billy Gardell and the always lovely Melissa McCarthy) have great chemistry. They definitely do need this since the show is about them. Another show that it resembles is Dharma and Greg; also brought to you by Chuck Lorre, the producer of this show. The writers will have to tone down on the fat jokes. Yes, Mike's fat jokes could be masking something deeper but should the supporting actors constantly make fat jokes even unintentionally? I'll give this show 2 more viewings and see whether it will stay in my tv viewing schedule.

An Ode to Ben

You are not back. To be back means that you must have left at some point. You never did. I read your recent article on Entertainment Weekly. You hoped that people do not view you as a one-hit wonder. NEVER! Yes, Hollywood is a fickle town. You are only as good as your last hit. Ben, you are a great actor, director and writer. Your Oscar for Good Will Hunting was not a fluke either. Yes, both movies you've directed were based on your home town of Boston (I loved seeing so many places I visit weekly). But, Martin Scorcese and Woody Allen based most of their films in their city of New York. Does that negate their great work? I am truly proud of the work I saw on the screen Saturday night. It was funny, engaging, moving, heart pounding and against better judgement, I was rooting for the bad guys. So Ben, stay grounded, keep marching on and keep up the excellent work.

P.S. I would love to work on production of one of your films :-)

Congratulations Mrs. Bardem!

Just as I deduced, Penelope Cruz is pregnant. Her Spanish agency finally put all the speculations to rest. The actress married fellow actor Javier Bardem back in July without any fanfare. She is currently filming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides with Johnny Depp in Hawaii. She is four months pregnant. Congratulations Penelope! I am always happy to see one of my favorite people receive such blessings.

Fall 2010 New Show: Nikita

Let me preface this by saying I was hell bent on not watching the new update of Nikita on the CWl. The constant previews playing Rihanna’s rockstar was unbelievably irritating. Yes, I’m not a Rihanna fan – sue me! Further, Maggie Q, who plays the titular character, is soo skinny I just want to feed her a couple of burgers. But I know she plays action real well – she’s a huge star in Asia – and all the rave reviews the show has been getting cajoled me to give the pilot a try.


For those of you who don’t know about Nikita, here’s a little info on her. Nikita was recruited out of jail by a secret government agency and trained to be an assassin. She broke one of their rules – she fell in love with a civilian. The agency, or Division as Nikita calls them on the show, kills her boyfriend. She is now on a mission to take them down. Nikita was originally introduced to us in the 1990 French film, La Femme Nikita. Seven years later, the movie was made into a US tv show. This is technically not a retelling or continuation of the story from the movie or the television show.

First, whatever happened to Shane West? I thought he would have been a bigger star by now. Anyway, the show reminded me of Alias - Nikita could easily be Sidney Bristow minus the hot boyfriend Michael Vaughn. It moved at a fast pace, great action, you learned a few things about the characters that made you want to know more rather than inundate you with too much information. Yes, I’ve been drawn in, checked my tv watching schedule – What?! You don’t have one? – And found that the show won’t conflict with my already set Thursday night viewing schedule. Welcome Nikita!

Fall 2010 New Show: Hellcats

Hellcats is the first of the crop of the new fall shows I have watched. Wasn’t expecting much, after all, it’s the CW channel and produced by Mr. Superman, Tom Welling. At the most, I thought it would be a guilty pleasure ala The Vampire Diaries, another CW show. The premise is rather simple. Marti (played by Alyson Michalka - one half of the pop group Aly & AJ) is a pre-law student on a scholarship at Lancer University. Her irresponsible mother neglects to tell her that her scholarship was cancelled the previous semester. As luck would have it, the school cheerleading team (The Hellcats) has a scholarship available after one of their members suffers an injury during practice. Marti thinks the cheerleaders are just football groupies but she needs to stay in school, graduate, and get as far away from her mother – and lead a normal life. Therefore, she tries out for a spot on the team. Once selected, she has to learn how to navigate her new world.


As a former team dancer – Go Spartans! – I understand this world; it’s actually a sport, very competitive, full of catty girls and not too ethnically diverse. Marti’s tryout reminds me of mine; nerve wrecking and super fierce. Enough of my trip down memory lane and back to our regularly scheduled program. Hellcats is not a guilty pleasure for me. It’s a show I would tune into if it doesn’t coincide with the 20 billion other shows I watch during its time slot. I am looking forward to seeing how Marti’s relationship with BFF Dan (the very hot Matt Barr) will develop. I am also looking forward the potential love triangle between the cheerleading coach (played by the wonderful Sharon Leal), the team doctor who is also her boyfriend and the new football coach who I assume she had a relationship with back when they both attended college. How I adore love triangles…on tv that is. Based on the first episode, I’d give the show 2.5 stars out of 5.

Trey Songz: Sneak Peek

For all Trey Songz lovers, and those who are curious about him, his new cd Passion, Pain & Pleasure is available on Myspace for your listening pleasure. Make sure to get your copy on September 14th. Enjoy!

There Is No Emmy god

As we all know, you can't always get what you want and at this years Emmys, I sure walked away with a lot less than I wanted. However, I was pleased to see a lot of newcomers get recognized this year. The show also made me think that I may finally have to watch Breaking Bad on AMC. Really?! Three times in a row for Bryan Cranston?! But there are so many tv shows on my plate! Ricky Gervais should host every awards show on tv. I love that guy! The non-alcoholic beer was a great touch! Then again, I am biased when it comes to the British.


I have to get something off my chest though; well a few things. First, we are in a recession but I don't think the Emmys, or better yet, AMPAS got that memo. Wow, everything was just...shiny...for lack of a better word. All I could think of was "That's $50,000 spent on showing full size shots of the nominees, on tv screens, on stage. I could use that to send my siblings to college." I sure hope many folks were employed.

Lastly, every year I gripe about this, and I know next year, I'll be back at it again. Why are some great tv personalities omitted every year from the farewell tribute? Some are such glaring omissions you can't use the usual "not enough time in the program/in error" excuse. David Mills and Alaina Reed Hall. How do you miss these two? For The Wire alone, David Mills should have been included. He also produced/wrote for The Corner and NYPD Blue, to name a few more. Who did not watch Sesame Street growing up? How do you not include Alaina Reed Hall. She was great in 227 as Rose.

Check out the full list of winners here.

Committed

So I finally got around watching Why Did I Get Married Too? The film is now available on dvd. I was eager to see how this sequel would hold up to the original and I was pleasantly surprised; but not that much. For one, all the main actors from the first movie were on board for the sequel. It has been a few years since we last saw them and they’ve all gone through changes. Tyler Perry and Sharon Leal’s characters now have kids and seem happier. Jill Scott and Lamman Rucker’s characters have relocated to Georgia with a baby. Malik Yoba and Janet Jackson’s characters are still married but body language says a lot. Tasha Smith and Michael J. White’s characters are still as dysfunctional and loud as ever. However, White’s character now has a steady job as a sportscaster.

Much like the previous Tyler Perry films without Madea, everyone is not leading the life they want their friends to see; they all have something to hide. Their annual couple’s retreat has a crasher; Richard T. Jones, who now realizes he let go of a great woman (Jill Scott’s character) and wants her back. Why now? That’s revealed much later in the film.
I felt that these couples were handed too many obstacles. Does everyone’s marriage have to be falling apart? Isn’t there one couple actually happy? A few performances stood out to me. Angela (Tasha Smith) brought on all the laughs but unlike the first film, she went way overboard with her over-the-top antics. Sidenote: The actress has a body to die for!

Patricia (Janet Jackson) really moved me. Much of this is to be credited to Janet Jackson. Her breakdown scenes alone are worth the admission price to this film. For the first time I actually saw Janet Jackson as an actress. I also couldn’t help but wonder if she taped the scenes before or after her famous brother’s death. Patricia, in my opinion, went through too much in one lifetime. The loss of a child, now a divorce and the surprise ending that I don’t want to spoil for anyone who hasn’t watched the film. This is definitely one of Perry’s stronger films.