Vera's Marriage Grows 'Cold!' Plus, Gaby's 'Desperate' Move, 'Bones' and TV on DVD

I always seem to enjoy the episodes on Cold Case that make good use of the year they take place. After all, what's the point of setting a case in the past if you don't utilize the year? This isn't to say that I don't enjoy the cases that tend to not reflect the year well, but I almost always like the ones that do. Last night's tennis-themed episode nicely incorporated the famous Battle of the Sexes match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, Title IX and other women's rights causes from the time period. It seemed very plausible to me that colleges would have staged their own Battle of the Sexes match-ups after Billie Jean King defeated former Wimbledon men's champion Bobby Riggs in the legendary 1973 match. What I love most about these more historic episodes is seeing the different attitudes. I know we have Title IX now, but even so, can you imagine a college athletic director saying the things that UPenn's (fictional) Arnold Brown said to Andi? Who, by the way, I totally pegged as the doer until we learned that he was dead. This show is not big on dead doers because it loses its whole sense of justice that makes it so strong, so I knew he was out. Even seeing Fritz's attitude about losing to a girl and how the match-up was a lose/lose situation for him was fascinating when you put it in today's context. It's amazing to think that this wasn't that long ago. Andi's dad was the typical overzealous parent, and I didn't want him to be the killer. I was very glad when we learned that he left her room angry with the still-alive Andi, although I found it kind of tragic that that exchange was their last. I know that had to be weighing on him all these years. There were subtle clues that pointed to the reporter along the way (his constant coverage of her, acting like he owned her at the alumni dinner and calling her "superstar"), but I was still surprised when Andi's father said that the caller called him "sport." Loved, loved, loved Lilly's interrogation with Eric. I don't know whether it's the writing or Kathryn Morris' brilliant acting or a combination of both, but Lilly's interrogations are always the best. She blends the right amount of intimidation, brains and understanding and I always enjoy watching her chip away at these suspects. She maintains control, but always seems to give the suspect the illusion that they have the upper hand because she appeals to their emotional side. The way she called Eric "sport" was priceless! Lilly seemed more together last night than she has seemed all season. I think she may have turned a corner emotionally. It was nice to see the old Lil back.


Nick Vera wasn't enjoying the same sort of emotional luck last night. After 12 years of marriage, plenty of fights, too many nights spent at hotels, and indescretion allusions, his wife finally reached the point where she had emotionally disconnected from him and their life together. It was one of those sad, honest moments that this show plays so well. You could feel that both of them were hanging on by a thread, but deep down, were ready to let go. They had pushed each other so far away that they reached the proverbial point of no return. It always seems that television shows present easy scapegoats when it comes to the end of a character's marriage (affairs, long hours, etc), but there really isn't anything simple about the end of a 12-year marriage. I liked the way this episode captured the complex nature. Major kudos to Jeremy Ratchford for his spectacular performance in this scene. He gives Vera a complexity that left me feeling bad for him when his wife dropped off his suitcase at work, even though we know that he hasn't been the most faithful husband. I hope that the show continues to delve into the complexities of Vera's situation without going down the Jack's divorce (Without a Trace) route. Bummer that the adoption thing is kind of off the table for now, but Vera's wife was smart not to let that keep them together. Things would have only gotten worse if they had brought a child into their crumbling marriage.


Speaking of adopting a child and bringing one into your marriage, Gaby and Carlos are a lot closer to having one of their own, or is that even further? Things didn't seem to be on the up and up in the closing scenes. Did anyone else get the impression that the birth mother is scamming them? Of course, it's not like this adoption is really all that legal anyway, but I think the deception goes much deeper than we know yet. I can't say that I feel 100% bad for Gaby, though, after all, she's the one who insisted that the birth mother be pretty. All of this mother's other qualities didn't seem to matter because she had a pretty outside, so Gaby's kind of making her own bed here. It's an interesting storyline, and I'm certainly looking forward to seeing how it develops. I'm also interested in Bree "I'm just not a compulsive person" Van De Kamp's struggle with alcohol. I'm hoping that her little jaunt in the department store is her rock bottom, and that she'll start to acknowledge her problem now. I could tell from their brief car conversation that something is going to develop between Bree and her sponsor (previews seemed to confirm it). He's so not her, but that's why I think this potential relationship could be a lot of fun. Lynette's new employee and her breast feeding creeped me out and Susan's antics were as silly as ever. Why doesn't she just own up to her feelings for Mike and be done with it? It seemed that he still has feelings for her as well. I guess we'll have to wait and see with this story. What did you think about each of the stories for the ladies of Wisteria Lane last night? How about last night's Cold Case episode? Feel free to drop me a comment with your thoughts on one or both of these shows.

About Last Night...CBS won the first hour of the night with the end of 60 Minutes and the beginning of Cold Case, followed by ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (r) and Fox's The Simpsons and The War at Home. The second hour of the night went to ABC's Desperate Housewives, followed by the end of CBS' Cold Case/beginning of a CSI rerun and NBC's Law & Order: CI. The final hour of the night went to ABC's Grey's Anatomy (r), followed by NBC's Crossing Jordan and the end of CBS' CSI/beginning of Without a Trace (r). For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.

~Primetime Pass~
@8 p.m. - The WB's Everwood returns!!!! After more than three months, TV's best family drama returns with two back-to-back episodes. First, Amy and Ephram have to decide what their future holds after sleeping together during the last episode, and Jake and Nina face their biggest obstacle yet. Over on Fox, a face from the past haunts Lincoln on his execution day on Prison Break. NBC's Deal or No Deal rolls on.

@9 p.m. - Everwood continues with its second episode. Amy's new college professor and mentor encourages her to get involved with Planned Parenthood, so Amy tries to get Hannah involved as well, but it leads to a huge rift between them. Over on Fox, Jack Bauer interrogates the most recent link to terrorist mastermind Bierko and shocking secrets are revealed on 24.

@10 p.m. - NBC repeats the premiere of Heist.


QUICK CUTS

*Fox isn't making any Bones about it, the network wants to see more of its hit forensics show next season. Fox announced Friday that the freshman drama will get a second season. Bones has flourished in its pre-Idol slot, garnering more than 12 million viewers last week. On the flip side, The WB confirmed last Friday's broadcast of What I Like About You was the show's SERIES finale. It will not be returning for another season on the new CW network this fall. The comedy, starring Amanda Bynes and Jennie Garth, is the network's least-watched program with an average of 2.2 million viewers an episode.

*On the heels of its big return tonight, the cast of The WB's Everwood talks to Zap2it about this season's remaining episodes and its chances for a fifth season. Look for big things to begin happening with Hannah, a possible Abbott adoption and more on the Andy/Nina/Jake front. As far as the show getting a fifth season on the new CW network, star Tom Amandes is "concerned" since the show has not been given a definite pick up, a first for the family drama. You can read much more from the cast (including spoilers) over at Zap2it. If you would like to help Everwood get another season, click on over to my Save Everwood site for information on where to send your letters of support. Everwood returns tonight with back-to-back episodes on The WB. The new CW network will make its schedule presentation on May 18th.

*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday! Look for Knots Landing (season 1) to hit store shelves tomorrow, along with Northern Exposure (season 4), Quantum Leap (season 4), Six Feet Under (season 5) and The X-Files (seasons 4, 5, 6). To see a complete list of tomorrow's releases, visit tvshowsondvd.com.

That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the all-Everwood edition! Plus, all the latest television news! And don't forget to send me your questions for Veronica Mars' Rob Thomas and Jason Dohring via the comment link or email (tvfan08@yahoo.com). I'll be speaking with them tomorrow night!


SAVE EVERWOOD NOW! Click HERE to learn how to help the show get another season

Don't forget to help Veronica Mars with the $4,000 Shower Campaign. Click HERE for details