2006's Best TV Moments

It's that time of year again -- time to reflect on the TV season that was. Packed with thrills, chills, laughs, tears, old favorites and new, 2006 was another stellar year of television. Today, as PTR's last post of the year, it seems only right that we revisit all of the wonderful moments of the first part of this television season. The moments are from network television only and they're all from September 2006 to the present. Here are this year's Best Primetime Moments in no particular order...

Supermarket Hostages - (Desperate Housewives) In a dark and comical hour, crazy Carolyn took many members of Wisteria Lane hostage in her husband's grocery store after learning that he cheated on her. When the dust settled, there were two dead and several wounded. Many saw the story as the perfect exit for the annoying Nora character, but the scene was so much more. It set up a promising future story line between Lynette and her new neighbor and it made Edie's troubled nephew bond with Julie. The best moment happened when Carolyn shot and killed Nora because it happened so suddenly and managed to catch us all off guard.

Lilly and Scotty Get Friendly - (Cold Case) After four seasons of working together, detectives Rush and Valens finally shared a friendly moment in the hallway of their hotel in Nashville, TN. Sorry Lilly/Scotty fans, this wasn't anything more than friendship, but it was nice to see the two partners bond Benson/Stabler-style. I'm all for keeping work partners work partners, but it's nice to see two people who have been working together for so long finally act like friends. Lilly even opened up a bit about her closely guarded past. Let's hope that the second half of the season brings us more scenes like this one.

The Great Wall - (The Amazing Race) Proving that TAR really is the best reality show on television, all of the 11 remaining teams of 2 scaled The Great Wall of China in an empowering moment that brought tears to our eyes. Watching everyone from Sarah to single moms Lyn and Karlyn complete the challenge and jump for joy at their amazing accomplishment easily landed in the TAR Hall of Fame. Overcoming fears and realizing that you're stronger than you think are just a couple of this show's Amazing attributes, and both were highlighted in this moment.

Hiro Delivers a Message - (Heroes) In a heart stopping moment, the subway train carrying Peter and Mohinder came to a sudden stop as well as the world around Peter. With everything stuck in frozen animation, Hiro appeared to tell Peter that he had come from the future to deliver an important message. The message, "Save the cheerleader, save the world," became the catch phrase of the fall and the anthem for our favorites TV heroes. And the delivery sent goose bumps up and down our spines. That's good television.

A Quarterback Falls - (Friday Night Lights) In a show made up of "Best of" moments, this one stood out the most. We all held our breath along with the residents of Dillon, TX as star quarterback Jason Street went down during the opening game of the Panthers' season. Little did we know that the team would have to carry on without its star player or that that player would have to carry on without the use of his legs. Talk about your dreams (college, scholarships, the NFL) disappearing in the blink of an eye as you lie helpless in a hospital bed. The ensuing scenes were pure heartbreak and are just a sample of what makes this show so real and so good.

Veronica's Close Call - (Veronica Mars) With the Hearst rapist on the loose and Veronica hot on his trail, things took a dangerous turn when our favorite teen detective almost became the latest victim. We watched powerlessly as she took sips from her soft drink and became increasingly "out of it." Then, she made her way to her car and saw a hooded figure before she fell over unconscious. Luckily Logan arrived just in time, but not before the rapist removed a small lock of Veronica's hair in his trademark style. Logan's heroics made our heroine more aware of the important people in her life and made us all breathe a sigh of relief.

Lilly Doesn't Follow her Heart - (Cold Case) In an emotional hospital room goodbye, Lilly tried to finally put her motorcycle-riding ex behind her. Sure, the two almost married when they were 19 and have been close friends since they were children, but she was sure that their passionate goodbye and her long walk after had finally closed the Ray chapter in her life. So, she went running to the stable man in her life, Joseph, until he walked out and left her alone. So, did Lilly say goodbye to Ray and run to Joseph because she had really closed that book? Or did she choose the safe option while still possibly pining for MCRay? With Lilly, you can never be too sure.

Those are my picks for 2006's best moments. What are yours? Be sure to leave a comment with your thoughts on this TV season.

That's all for today and 2006! PTR will be on hiatus next week to enjoy the holiday season. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday filled with good times and good people. Thank you so much for your comments, suggestions, corrections and readership. Be sure to tune in on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007 for the latest edition of Pass the Remote. This New Year should bring plenty of new TV moments and most important, brand new episodes of all your favorite shows! Pass the Remote will be there for all of them, so be sure to come back on January 2nd! Happy Holidays!


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

Mid Season Report Cards Pt. 2

Yesterday, PTR took a look at some of our favorites and how they're faring this season. Some are having the season of their lives while others are struggling just to pass. So, TruBlu, Turtlemama and I found it only necessary to sort it all out and let you know where some of your faves land in the bell curve. Here's the second part of this year's Midseason Report Card.

Veronica Mars - (The CW) It used to be that the mix of the characters and the stories made this show so special, but lately, it has been the characters alone. Blame network intervention or a creative staff running out of juice, but something about this show has kept it from returning to the perfection that was its first season. Luckily, an off episode for this show is still leaps and bounds above most shows, so it's still one of the best shows on TV. The new format this season seemed to be going along just fine, until the first mystery just ended (well, but abruptly). The pacing started out like seasons past, but then hurried to build the conclusion to the Hearst rapist story line. Last season was too slow, and the mystery was lost in the shuffle of midseason, but this first mystery's pacing wasn't the answer. Perhaps, things will get better with the second arc as Rob Thomas and co. get used to the new format. Room For Improvement... A more balanced pace instead of the first arc's slow then super fast "Wrap it all up in an hour even though it doesn't feel like the story is at that point yet" approach. There needs to be an equal amount of development over the course of the 7-9 episode arc. GRADE: A-

Gilmore Girls - (The CW) This has always been one of my most favorite shows. Lately, however, Tuesdays are becoming “Oh yeah, Gilmore Girls day." We’ve seen everyone fly through this first half of the seventh season. Lorelei broke up with Luke and ran off and married Christopher in the span of what seemed like a week or two. Then we were force-fed conflict between Rory and Logan, and Christopher and Lorelei. Luke and Christopher became mortal enemies, which doesn’t make much sense. Lorelei told Luke that she spent the night with Christopher and Luke left; his decision. So, why be upset with Christopher? It seems that this season’s theme is "Forced conflict and speedy storylines." Room For Improvement... Slow it down. Gilmore fans are patient people, we’ve spent seven years with the Girls, so we’ll wait on a good story line to play itself out. Stop forcing conflict; again we’ll wait with a good story line. The relationships that have formed on this show need to be nurtured with care. Bring back our beloved Stars Hollow citizens; Miss Patty, Lane, Mrs. Kim, Sookie and Jackson. We want them all back! We want to see Lorelei interact with her fellow Stars Hollowians! GRADE: B
-Turtlemama

Law & Order: SVU - (NBC) So far this season SVU has shown some promising differences from last seasons' disappointing offerings. Mariska Hargitay's tired Olivia Benson was sent away for six episodes and the refreshing Dani Beck (played by Connie Nielsen) was brought in to fill the void. Getting either Olivia or Elliot out of the picture was essential this season in order for the series to get out of its "All Elliot and Olivia, All the time" rut. Now that Olivia is back, the crew will need to tread a fine line to keep the show from falling back into the same boring pattern. Room for Improvement.. The balance between personal and professional plotlines is not quite where it should be. SVU is certainly the most personal of the three Law & Order shows, but the main focus should still be the case. More cases like last season's "Raw" and "Gone" are just what the show needs right now. And of course, the balance between Olivia and Elliot, and Munch and Fin needs to tip more in the Munch/Fin direction. GRADE: B+
-TruBlu

Friday Night Lights - (NBC) Who would have thought that a little show about high school football would turn out to be one of the most moving, best written hours to ever grace our television sets? This show caught me off guard, and I still can't believe how perfect it is every week. It's definitely TV's most consistent hour with real stories about human emotion and characters that will have you rooting for them while you're hoping they pay the consequences for their poor decisions (and don't worry, because on this show, they always do). Easily one of the 10 best shows on television week after week. Its only fault is the fact that it can't seem to draw in more viewers. Thankfully, NBC believes in it as much as I do because they gave it a full season order. Room For Improvement... File this one under "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." After all, how can you top perfection? GRADE: A+

Lost - (ABC) This season's biggest disappointment. It's slower, boring and we never learn anything more. I've been patient with this show from the beginning because it always played onscreen like a work of literature, but now, it's coming across like a novel with no clear plan or ending in sight. The truest test of all - it has been off the schedule for a few weeks and I don't miss it. I don't miss the frustration! Perhaps this is where the true fans and the casual viewers part ways and Lost finally becomes the genre show with the small, devoted audience that the critics always predicted it would become. I'm not sure which side I'll be standing on if it is. Room For Improvement... More answers, fewer questions and A LOT more action. If I never see the captive scenes again, it will be too soon. WTH happened to all of the other characters that we love (Charlie, Claire, and everyone else I can't even remember)?? GRADE: C-

I was going to write one for CSI, but I really have nothing to say other than that it has been an uneventful, boring season. This show used to be great, but has faded to the land of mediocrity in the face of strong competition from Grey's Anatomy.

So, there you have part 2 of PTR's Midseason Report Cards. Do you agree or disagree? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.


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Tis the Season for Report Cards

'Tis the season for shopping, decorating and cramming for those all-important exams if you're still in school. In the world of television, your favorite shows are always trying to make the grade. Today, PTR takes a look at some of our favorites and how they're faring this season. Some are having the season of their lives while others are struggling just to pass. Of course, TruBlu, Turtlemama and I found it only necessary to sort it all out and let you know where some of your faves land in the bell curve. Here's the first part of this year's Midseason Report Card.

Cold Case - (CBS) What a difference a season, new showrunner and new writers make! Last season, I was hanging onto this show out of loyalty to it and star Kathryn Morris, but this season Sunday at 9 p.m. (or 9:15, 9:30 or whatever time football pushes it to) is my favorite hour of television. First rate cases, intriguing, unobtrusive personal stories, chemistry and energy that this show has been missing since its first season, and a touching scene between Lilly and Scotty thrown in for good measure are giving us the definition of a show firing on all cylinders. Room For Improvement... Honestly, there's little to improve on. We can always stand for more Lilly since she's the heart and soul of the show, but basically, just keep on keepin' on. GRADE: A

Without a Trace - (CBS) Call it "A Tale of Two Crime Dramas" because while Cold Case is having its best season ever, Without a Trace is struggling just to get by this season. The show has become so formulaic, and yet, too personal at the same time (don't ask me how they have managed to pull that one off). Every missing person seems to leave on their own, so why don't they call their loved ones and let them know that they're OK?? Right, because then there would be no FBI involvement, and hence, no show. Jack's love life was a non-starter that fizzled quickly and ended with the typical Hollywood pregnancy loose end fix. The rest of the cast is deeply underused. Room For Improvement... More variety in cases, more personal growth for characters not named Jack, and more moving writing. This show needs to re-watch season 1 and figure out what made it so special. Stop wasting Marianne Jean-Baptiste! Status: Full season order. GRADE: C (and I'm being generous)

Heroes - (NBC) When it comes to so-called "intrigue shows," this one gets it right. While striking the right balance between keeping us guessing and giving us information, Heroes manages to give us fun characters, envy-worthy powers and a classic battle between good and evil with just the right amount of gray area thrown in. After such a generic pilot, it's hard to believe that this series has turned out to be one of the most original shows on television. There's a reason it's this season's most watched new entry. Room For Improvement... Tweaking with this winning formula would only damage the show. Just keep doing what you're doing! GRADE: A

Desperate Housewives - (ABC) After a lackluster sophomore season, Desperate Housewives revived itself this year with some interesting story lines. Although the marriage between Bree and Orson was a little forced, it has proven itself to be rather intriguing. Orson seemed to be a bad guy, then maybe he wasn’t….then he was, then wasn’t. Then we saw his mother, and after her involvement, we’re all intrigued as to what the second half will bring. The other ladies have had some rather snooze-worth story lines. I’m sure that we’re all sick of Susan’s man troubles and her ping-pong relationship with Mike and another man (this season it’s Ian). Poor Edie is always thrown into stories with Susan; Edie as second fiddle to Susan has gotten a bit boring. Lynnette’s storylines had promise with the neighborhood pervert, but that ended rather abruptly and we’re left hanging with nothing to look forward to. Gabby and Carlos are also on the "Who? Oh yeah" list. Especially after their baby story line ended rather abruptly. I’m a little disappointed in the lack of story lines with all of these characters, but I hold on to my hope that Marc Cherry and his merry band of writers will come through in the New Year. Room For Improvement... Let’s have a few more story lines that will hold our interest and when they do hold our interest, let’s not abruptly end them and leave the viewers thinking, “What? That’s it? A big storyline like that and you just wrap it all up in one night!?” Give the characters more credit and get them INVOLVED with one another and with their own independent stories. Lately ‘Housewives’ has seemed a little weak, almost as if the writers don’t trust the actors to handle great story lines. The actors had some awesome story lines in the first season, we know they can do it! GRADE: B-
-Turtlemama

My Name is Earl - (NBC) Funny comedies are sort of a rarity these days, so when you find one that is, keep watching! Earl has managed to carry over its first season success to its sophomore year with more crazy list antics and the same funny characters. But, it just wrapped the first half of its second year with its funniest episode so far this season. Earl's fear of flying and Joy's chill pill are some of the best scenes on any comedy all year! Like Scrubs, this show's strong sense of heart is what grounds it and gives it the balance that makes it one of TV's best. Room For Improvement... More Joy, Randy and Mr. Turtle. There's a reason Jaime Pressly received an Emmy nomination. With these three, the laughs don't stop. GRADE: A-

That's a look at the first part of PTR's Midseason Report Cards. Be sure to tune in tomorrow to find out how Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls, Friday Night Lights and more are faring this season. What do you think about Part 1? Do you agree or disagree? Leave us a comment with your thoughts.


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

'My Boys' Hits it Out of the Park

Much like its main character, TBS' My Boys is charming, fun, and sure to make you laugh more than once an episode. It's the type of comedy that ABC and Fox would love to add to their schedules. Jordana Spiro stars as PJ, a tomboy sports writer who spends most of her free time hanging with her guy friends. She's a baseball fanatic, so her narration relates everything in life to America's favorite past time. Her guy friends, with the exception of her married and moving-to-the-suburbs brother (Jim Gaffigan), are single and PJ is trying to navigate dividing her time between her new love interest and her best friends. Imagine Sex and the City with a little more testosterone. Sure, the baseball analogies are a bit heavy-handed at times, but they're also a little clever. Spiro is absolutely perfect as PJ, and she'll have you wondering why you never knew her name before this show. The supporting players are strong as well. Newcomer Reid Scott is destined for big things in his future. Kellie Stewart plays PJ's best female friend, and the two make perfect foils for each other with Stewart's character playing the girly-girl to PJ's tomboy. There are many reasons to watch this charming comedy, but perhaps the most persuasive argument is the current TV state. 'Tis the season for reruns, so it's the perfect time to load your bases with all-new episodes of the incredibly smart My Boys Tuesday nights on TBS. If you haven't been watching, click on over to tbs.com to catch up. Batter up!


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Monday's Quick Cuts

*The Grammys are teaming up with CBS and Yahoo! Music to give unsigned artists a chance to perform at The 49th Annual Grammy Awards this February live on CBS. The Recording Academy announced "My Grammy Moment," a competition where online viewers will vote for their favorite and the winner will perform live with Justin Timberlake during the show. The nine-week event is currently underway with hopefuls uploading their videos to Yahoo! Music. A Grammy Blue Ribbon panel will narrow the submissions down to 12 finalists and online viewers will select the winner. Click on over to Yahoo! Music for more on the contest. The 49th Annual Grammy Awards will air live February 11th on CBS.

*ABC is pulling Daybreak from its schedule, effective immediately. Blame declining ratings for the decision. You can watch the remainder of the episodes at abc.com. The network is also abandoning William Shatner's Show Me the Money. [Source]

*In my quest to keep you abreast of PTR fave Kathryn Morris' new movie Resurrecting the Champ, I present the first movie still that I have been able to find anywhere on the net. Morris plays Josh Hartnett's wife, and the two are featured in the photo. The site, RopeofSilicon.com, has embedded the image, so I can only provide you with the link. Check out the still HERE. You can view more stills from the move at RopeofSilicon.com.

*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday! Attention all of you last minute holiday shoppers -- the 9th season of the popular animated series The Simpsons hit shelves tomorrow along with ER (season 6), Hogan's Heroes (season 5), and Married... With Children (season 6). For more TV on DVD holiday ideas, visit tvshowsondvd.com to see a complete list of tomorrow's releases.

For more of today's biggest TV news, click on over to PassTheRemote.net!


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

'Scrubs' Coffee Talk

On Scrubs, even the more serious story lines can take a comic turn at the blink of an eye. Take the fact that JD barely knows the mother of his child (or the fact that the two didn't even seal the deal and wound up pregnant) -- that's a serious problem, so Scrubs douses it with comedy. JD decides that he's going to get to know Kim better considering the fact that they'll share a child for the remainder of their lives. As usual, there were plenty of funny things to keep us in stitches last night. There was the new coffee shop at Sacred Heart, a tired decaf joke on Elliot, Janitor's sneak attack, Dr. Cox's tip jar, Turk's back alley money, JD turning to Carla to get Turk to do the right thing, and a talking muffin puppet. There were also some shockers like Elliot deciding to join a private practice and Kim getting a job in Tacoma, Washington. Here's a look at last night's best, funniest and all around awesome lines in this week's edition of the Scrubies.

The Scrubies
"What's next, Bob? An ice cream parlor in the morgue?? Admittedly, not a horrible idea seeing as the freezer's already down there. Plus, it will be a perfect place for kids. One of our famous vanilla malts definitely takes the sting out of having to identify the freshly charred remains of your father." Dr. Cox to Dr. Kelso after seeing the new coffee place at Sacred Heart

"Here's a novel idea. Why don't you go fetch me a very large cut of coffee with so damn many fake sugars that the coffee itself gets cancer." Dr. Cox to "Coffee Bucks" employee

"I'm just gonna go ahead and tip myself for calling this one. Thank you... me." Dr. Cox to Elliot after her physician patient diagnosis and treats himself as Dr. Cox predicted

"Are you crazy?? You could get sued! Secondly, I can't believe you went to the mall without me. I specifically told you I needed to buy loafers! And thirdly, how could you go to the mall without me? That's our thing." JD to Turk after learning that Turk was diagnosing on the side at the mall

"I'm gonna go hold the crap outta that baby!" Elliot after catching the ball that Turk uses to decide whether someone can hold Isabelle

"That's going to be a little rough on my scooter." JD after learning that Kim got a job in Tacoma, Washington

That's this week's edition of the Scrubies. If you have a line that you would like to nominate for a Scrubie, drop me a comment and I'll publish it in a future edition. As always, if you would like to discuss last night's Scrubs episode, leave me a comment with your thoughts.

And if you were loving the ending song to last night's episode and are dying to know what it was, PTR is at your service. That was Lifehouse's "All and All" off of their self-titled CD. Click HERE to get the track from iTunes.



Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

Thursday's News & Notes

~Primetime Pass~
(a look at what PTR is watching tonight)

Scrubs (9 p.m. NBC) - "My Coffee." J.D. (Zach Braff) spends time getting to know the future mother of his child, Kim (Elizabeth Banks), and finds that they are surprisingly compatible. Meanwhile, Turk (Donald Faison) gets nervous when Carla (Judy Reyes) starts contemplating returning to work now that the baby is born. Thinking he won't be able to support his family he begins giving medical advice on the side for a quick buck. Elsewhere, Elliot (Sarah Chalke) contemplates moving into private practice while Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) finds new ways to torture her sensibilities.

About Last Night...
BIGGEST RATINGS WINNERS: The Biggest Loser, King of Queens, Bones, Criminal Minds, CSI:NY, Medium

For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.

QUICK CUTS
*ABC doesn't need any more Help. The network pulled its Ted Danson comedy Help Me Help You from its line-up next week. [Source]

*Meanwhile, TNT is done being Saved. Last summer's medical drama will not return for another season. [Source]

*And finally, The Golden Globe Awards aren't the only ones announcing nominations. The Writers Guild came out with its list of nominated television shows. The Office, Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development, and 30 Rock will compete in the comedy category while Grey's Anatomy, Lost, 24, Deadwood and The Sopranos will compete in the drama. 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Studio 60 and Ugly Betty will vie for best new series. The Writers Guild will hand out its statues on February 11th, while The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards will air live January 15th. [Source]

For more of today's biggest TV news, click on over to PassTheRemote.net!


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

BREAKING NEWS: Golden Globe Noms Announced

It's that time of year again. Nominations for The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards are out, and the usual suspects and some new favorites heard their names called this morning. Here's a rundown of the television nods (courtesy of TVGuide.com).

TV Series, Drama
24, Big Love, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, Lost
TV Series, Comedy
Desperate Housewives, Entourage, The Office, Ugly Betty, Weeds
Lead Actor, TV Drama
Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Hugh Laurie (House), Bill Paxton (Big Love), Kiefer Sutherland (24)
Lead Actress, TV Drama
Patricia Arquette (Medium), Edie Falco (The Sopranos), Evangeline Lilly (Lost), Ellen Pompeo (Grey's), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
Lead Actor, TV Comedy/Musical (aka "Must-Nominate TV")
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Zach Braff (Scrubs), Steve Carell (The Office), Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl), Tony Shalhoub (Monk)
Lead Actress, TV Comedy/Musical
Marcia Cross (Housewives), TV Guide cover girl America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Felicity Huffman (Housewives), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Avdentures of Old Christine), Mary-Louis Parker (Weeds)
Best Actor, Miniseries or TV-Movie
André Braugher (Thief), Robert Duvall (Broken Trail), Michael Ealy (Sleeper Cell: American Terror), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Tsunami, the Aftermath), Ben Kingsley (Mrs. Harris), Bill Nighy (Gideon's Daughter), Matthew Perry (The Ron Clark Story)
Best Actress, Miniseries or TV-Movie
Gillian Anderson (Bleak House), Annette Bening (Mrs. Harris), Helen Mirren (Elizabeth I), Helen Mirren (Prime Suspect: The Final Act), Sophie Okonedo (Tsunami)
Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV-Movie
Thomas Haden Church (Broken Trail), Jeremy Irons (Elizabeth I), Justin Kirk (Weeds), Masi Oka (Heroes), Jeremy Piven (Entourage)
Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV-Movie
Emily Blunt (Gideon's Daughter), Toni Collette (Tsunami), Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy), Sarah Paulson (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip), Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds)
Best Miniseries or TV-Movie
Bleak House, Broken Trail, Elizabeth I, Mrs. Harris, Prime Suspect: The Final Act

Click HERE for the film nominations.

BIGGEST SNUBS: Friday Night Lights, Veronica Mars, Scrubs, Cold Case, My Name is Earl, Kathryn Morris, Kristen Bell, Kyle Chandler, John C. McGinley, Jaime Pressly, and Ethan Suplee.

I am psyched to see Heroes and Masi Oka get nods as well as Zach Braff. If we could only get some of PTR's Ridiculously Overlooked Actors to get some nods (BTW, Friday Night Lights' Kyle Chandler has been added to the list).


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

Wednesday's News & Notes

~Primetime Pass~
(a look at what PTR is watching tonight)

Bones (8 p.m. Fox) - "Judas on a Pole." When a mans body is found gutted, burned and hung up like a scarecrow on the roof of the Federal Building, Booth and Brennan are called in to identify the charred remains and determine who was behind the murder. Ryan ONeal and Kathy Reichs, inspiration for Brennan character, guest star in an episode directed by David Duchovny.

Medium (10 p.m. NBC) - "Profiles in Terror." When a famous FBI Criminal Profiler is brought in to help out on a potential serial killer case, Allison (Emmy winner Patricia Arquette) begins to have visions that contradict his findings, causing them to butt heads and him to question the source of her information. Meanwhile, Joe (Jake Weber) grows concerned about Marie (Miranda Carabello), who begins to display odd behavior at home.

About Last Night...
BIGGEST RATINGS WINNERS: NCIS, House, The Unit, Criminal Minds (r), How the Grinch Stole Christmas

For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.

QUICK CUTS
* The recent "Forever Blue" episode of Cold Case struck a cord with a lot of you and sent people buzzing all over the Internet -- something that this crime drama is used to watching its bigger siblings CSI and Without a Trace enjoy. The episode, about a secret relationship between two male cops in 1968, generated heartfelt emails, blog entries and a beautifully written entry in Wikipedia. "Forever Blue" is just the most recent applauded Cold Case episode dealing with gay/lesbian/bisexual issues and relationships. Like "A Time to Hate," "Daniela," and "Best Friends" (which won a GLAAD Media Award) before it, this latest episode removed the stigma of the gay relationship and presented the characters as real people. The site AfterElton.com has an exclusive one-on-one interview with actor Shane Johnson who played the gay cop "Coop" in the highly-lauded episode. In it, the married actor tells the site that he had no quams about playing a gay character. "If the part is true to something and has a strong purpose, I couldn't care less about sexual orientation. If there are people out there that have a problem with it (which there are) that's their own battle and prejudice they'll have to come to terms with - hopefully sooner than later," he says. Johnson calls the role his "favorite to date," and says that he knew along with the show's cast that the episode was a stand-out. "When I read the script, I knew that it was something special. Even the regular cast on the show commented on how great they felt the episode was. I was emotional and connected just reading the thing. I could sense that this was a really important story and very well crafted by [writer] Tom Pettit." Johnson says that the atmosphere on the Cold Case set is "The best I've worked on" and he's "very proud of this episode." For more of AfterElton.com's interview with Shane Johnson, click HERE.

*And finally, it's Nielsen Wednesday! In a week sprinkled with reruns, CBS once again dominated with its glutiny of crime dramas. Here's a look at the Top 10 shows from last week courtesy of USA Today:
1. CSI (23.3 million viewers)
2. Sunday Night Football (19.9)
3. Deal or No Deal (17.4)
4. 60 Minutes (15.8)
5. Survivor (15.7)
6. Heroes (14.9)
7. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (14.2)
8. Cold Case (14.1)
9. Shark (14.0)
10. Without a Trace (13.9)

PTR Faves in the Top 20: The Amazing Race (#13)

For more of today's biggest TV news, click on over to PassTheRemote.net!


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

Tuesday's News & Notes

~Primetime Pass~
(a look at what PTR is watching tonight)

Friday Night Lights (8 p.m. NBC) - "It's Different for Girls." The attention is focused off the football team for once and onto their biggest supporters - the cheerleaders. As the cheer team prepares for the Championship Classic, word of Lyla (Minka Kelly) and Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) affair causes Lyla to become the victim of brutal high school harassment. Matt (Zach Gilford) and Julie (Aimee Teegarden) also have problems of their own as Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) tries to keep the two of them apart in order to protect his daughter. Meanwhile, Jason (Scott Porter) adjusts to life back home after being released from rehab and Smash (Gaius Charles) falls for the preachers daughter. Be sure to click on over to nbc.com to catch the 2-Minute Replay to see what you've been missing.

About Last Night...
BIGGEST RATINGS WINNERS: CBS comedies, Deal or No Deal, Supernanny, CSI: Miami

For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.

QUICK CUTS
*The Amercian Film Institute (AFI) is out with its list of the 10 Best Shows on Television. Newcomers Friday Night Lights, Heroes and Showtime's Dexter snagged a spot on the prestigious list. Returning favorites The Office, South Park, Battlestar Galactica, The Wire, Elizabeth I (HBO), The West Wing, and 24 rounded out the 10 picks. [Source]

*And finally, it's TV on DVD Tuesday! Look for the second season of Law & Order: CI to hit shelves today along with Stacked (the complete series), Full House (season 5), The Andy Griffith Show (final season). For more of today's releases, click on over to tvshowsondvd.com.


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

Playing Catch Up with Some PTR Faves

With the television season keeping all of us busy here at PTR, I haven't had much time to keep you updated on your favorite TV stars' recent appearances. Since Heroes is on hiatus, I thought that today would be the perfect opportunity to get you up to speed. Can you believe that these guys have the time to keep up appearances?? Anyway, here's a look at what some of your faves have been up to lately:

Cold Case star Kathryn Morris attended the The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Power 100 Breakfast last week (Dec. 5th). Here are a couple of photos from the event (courtesy of Kathryn Morris Online).


Meanwhile, Veronica Mars' Kristen Bell attended the Billboard Music Awards last Monday. She presented along with members of Def Leopard for the "Best Rock Single" category. Here are a couple of photos of her at the event (courtesy of Getty Images).


Elsewhere, The 4400's Jacqueline McKenzie was busy helping with the launch of The Sci Fi Channel in her native Australia (the channel will air The 4400). The actress attended the event with her parents (Nov. 16th).


And finally, that zany cast of Scrubs was out and about celebrating the kick off of the show's 6th season. Check out members of the cast (Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke and Zach Braff) and creator Bill Lawrence having fun at the Season 6 party (Nov. 15th).


These are just a few of your faves and what they have been up to lately. You can click over to Getty Images for more pictures from these events and to keep up with all of your faves.


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

Teams Cross the Finish Line

Four words: Worst. TAR Finale. EVER!! I don't know whether it was CBS' decision to shorten the usual 2-hour fare to a single hour or the lack of a final challenge (like last season's flags and Family Edition's map), but something was rotten in The Big Apple. The final Pit Stop was missing, as was the traditional ending in the same city that you started in rule (the teams started in Seattle and ended in New York) and I didn't like it. I didn't like it one bit. I also wasn't too thrilled with who won because I wanted it to be Bama. I'm so convinced that the show got the models on that flight in order to create suspense in New York. It's Rob/Amber Gate all over again, except in that one, the advantage didn't hand them the Race. Of course, Rob/Kim's Achilles heal came back to haunt them when they landed at JFK and hopped into a cab with a cabbie that didn't know where he was going (and apparently, didn't see the advantage to purchasing EZ Pass!! Seriously, I have EZ Pass and I don't live in NYC and I'm not a cabbie. Would it have killed him to have gotten it??!!).

I figured it would all be a moot point once the two teams reached the finish line and found that they needed to complete the final challenge, but the show left that one out this time around. Meanwhile, Bama was left out in the cold, as they weren't able to get on that earlier flight out of Paris. I was bummed when it became apparent that they were out of it. The best part of last night's finale took place at the sky diving location. An over-excited Kim slid into the clue box and almost kept going until she grabbed onto the box to break her slide. It was hilarious! Of course it was made even more funny by the fact that I slow-moed it on my TiVo. Oh, where would I be without my TiVo. Other than this brief moment of sheer comic gold, the finale was pretty much a wash. A complete letdown after a fantastic season. Here's hoping that the upcoming all-star edition is much better than it sounds (JonVito/Jill and Kris/Jon better be included!).


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

'Case' Has Gone Country

A change of pace can be a huge disaster in the world of procedurals, or it can be a wonderful surprise. Tonight's road trip episode of Cold Case falls firmly in the "wonderful surprise" category. I should disclose that I was psyched about this episode. Not because of the country music (I'm not a huge fan, but there are some songs that I like), but just the simple idea of a more light-hearted hour in a completely different location. It's something that Cold Case never does, but it did very well tonight. I was worried that all of the hype that I was building up for it in my head would simply fall flat, but we had a road trip that lasted most of the episode (about 3/4 of it!), another interesting case that made sense and the best non-case moment to ever happen on Cold Case! In fact, that scene alone was enough to propel this episode to new heights (more on "that scene" later). Two of our favorite Philly cold case detectives packed their bags, interrogation skills, and apparently their friendship pills, and headed down South to solve who killed a budding country artist after his career-making performance in the City of Brotherly Love. This may have been a country tale, but there was plenty of sex, drugs and rock n' roll involved. There was the victim, who was married, but eyeing his pretty main act; the guitarist, who was harboring a pretty serious heroin addiction; and the brother who was just trying to launch a music career, but was lacking the talent. Yup, plenty of feasible suspects to keep the intrigue up all hour. Like the victim in last week's stellar "Forever Blue," Truck died because he wanted to be true to himself. He wasn't willing to trade in his boots and hat for a flashy pop career, even if his drugged up bandmate was willing to do anything to change his mind, including pulling the trigger that took his life. Truck was proud of who he was, and he didn't care if that cost him his shot at a music career. Too bad there aren't more Trucks in the world.


In the middle of all of this case solvin' there was that little scene in the hotel between Scotty and Lilly. It may have been insignificant to the case, but it was crucial to the show and the future of the partners. Now, before all of the Lilly/Scotty (Lotty?? Scilly??) fans get all excited, I'm simply referring to their friendship. For years, we've watched them discuss nothing but their cases. I was beginning to wonder if they even liked each other (again Scilly fans, as friends - when Scilly or Lotty becomes huge, just remember where you heard it first). Sure, they have certainly had their bumps in the road (Scotty sleeping with Lilly's sister comes to mind), but they seemed to be past that, and yet, not friends. Well, that changed tonight after Lilly accidentally caught Scotty red handed as Charlene was leaving his hotel room. There was actual bonding taking place, which included Lilly confessing about her "almost marriage" on the steps of the Knoxville courthouse (for those who are confused, she almost married MCRay when she was 19). I was just so excited to see them talk about something other than work, that I didn't care what it was, so having this friend talk about marriage was just great. I'll shut up now, because... I uploaded the scene for you!! Here you go:


After viewing that scene, I've decided that Veronica Mars is going to have some stiff competition this year for cutest "Cute as a Button" detective on TV. Meanwhile, let the Lilly/Scotty lovefest begin. I'll be in my own little corner rejoicing over the fact that they're finally friends and NOT anything more. Cold Case goes to 10-1 on the season.

As if bringing you the awesomeness that is "that scene" wasn't enough, I also have the answer to the question that you're all going to email me about tomorrow. Truck's "Counting My Lucky Stars" was not a rare Tim McGraw song that you had never heard. Mike Stinson wrote the song for the episode (according to the end credits).

Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

Weekend Primetime Pass

SATURDAY
5 Takes (Saturday 10 p.m. Travel Channel) - The TJs travel to New York City to Austin to find out if everything truly is bigger in Texas.

SUNDAY
Cold Case (Sunday 9 p.m. CBS) - "The Red and the Blue." ROADTRIP!! When Jeffries' former partner shares new information regarding a case from 2000 involving the murder of a male country singer, the case is re-opened and requires Lilly and a reluctant Scotty to travel down south. Original Songs by multiple Grammy Award and CMA's winner Tim McGraw will be featured throughout the episode. (VCR/TiVo Alert: may be delayed due to football)

The Amazing Race (Sunday 8 p.m. CBS) - "Say Your Deepest Prayers Ever." The final three Teams race to the Finish Line for their chance at the One Million Dollar Prize, on the 10th season finale. The final three Teams depart Spain and travel to France. One Team gets left behind when the other two Teams discover and board an earlier train to their next destination. Once they arrive, Teams battle it out in a tedious Detour that causes frustration and arguments to ensue. Teams must do everything they can in order to maintain their composure and finish the task in order to receive their next clue (VCR/TiVo Alert: may be delayed due to football)

Without a Trace (Sunday 10 p.m. CBS) - "Fade-away." The team searches for a 17-year-old high school basketball star who vanishes the night he scores the winning basket at a game that secures his team's position in the state championships. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio returns as Jack's girlfriend and colleague. Connor Trinneer ("Star Trek: Enterprise") and Marina Sirtis ("Star Trek: The Next Generation") guest star. (VCR/TiVo Alert: may be delayed due to football)

About Last Night...
BIGGEST RATINGS WINNERS: Survivor, My Name is Earl, CSI, Shark

For moreon last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

And Baby Makes Funny on 'Scrubs'

It's week two of Scrubs' glorious return and I'm beginning to wonder how I ever got through my weeks without this show. I LOVE every single character, and I missed them dearly. Last night, we finally got the much-anticipated birth of Turk and Carla's baby Isabelle (remember, you guys named the little tyke). We also got Jack's "Fatty Dance" (and further proof that the kid is a chip off the old block), JD hitting on his theoretical adoptive daughter, Carla's delivery referred to as "Operation Brown Cub," a marching band to celebrate the arrival, a golden retriever who fetches bags, "blerd" (black nerd), a talking Jesus statue, Jordan's un-silent treatment, Justin the unicorn and Turk's cold hand. There were so many zany antics and funny lines that I spent most of the half hour cracking up. Here's a look at last night's best, funniest and all around awesome lines in this week's edition of the Scrubies.

The Scrubies
"You know what? Make it 22 fries." JD ordering at the drive thru after band member Miguel wouldn't stop playing the drums.
"22 fries. You didn't think I'd do it, did you?" JD to Miguel after he ordered fries for everyone except him

"Gin is an alcoholic beverage which, if your mommy's strong genes are any indication, you'll eventually learn to love as it slowly destroys a giant portion of your adult life." Dr. Cox to his son Jack

"Greatest. Show. EVER!!" The Todd after seeing Carla's live streaming video image of her impending birth

"Oh, this is way over Justin's head. He's never been in love. Not real love anyway." JD to Turk regarding his stuffed animal unicorn who helps him make decisions

"I want you to imagine that your uterus is like a tube of toothpaste and you're just trying to squeeze out all that minty fresh gel. But instead of minty fresh gel, there's a little black baby." Elliot to Carla in the delivery room

We have a reader-submitted quote from last week's season premiere. Thanks to liz for nominating this quote:

"I punched a whale. Right in the face."

That's this week's edition of the Scrubies. If you have a line that you would like to nominate for a Scrubie, drop me a comment and I'll publish it in a future edition. As always, if you would like to discuss last night's Scrubs episode, leave me a comment with your thoughts.

I don't have a lot of time, but I want to mention that last night's My Name is Earl was brilliant!! Joy on nice pills and Earl trying to get on the plane were some of the funniest scenes that I have ever seen on television. Genius! Between Earl and Scrubs, I don't think there's a funnier hour on television right now.


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

One 'Model' Rises to the 'Top'

There was just no way that my favorite contestant would go on to become America's Next Top Model. After all, I had rooted for Danielle (Dani) from pretty early on last cycle, so I never imagined that lightning would strike twice. Thankfully it did, and CariDee is the newest Top Model winner!!! I was so worried when the judges narrowed the final three down to the final two and Melrose was still standing. And then she rocked that crazy runway show, so I was sure that her win was in the bag. Luckily, the judges felt that everything that Melrose knew came from studying and not through natural ability. CariDee was the natural with the bubbly personality and the beautiful pictures to match. Plus, she wasn't a raging beyotch! I'm still not sure why Melrose completely freaked out when CariDee accidentally stepped on and ripped her dress at the fashion show. She acted like CariDee did it on purpose, and she went so far as to say that she wanted to smack her! Hey Melrose, guess what -- crap happens! And when it does, you have to move on like it didn't. Throwing a diva fit isn't going to help anything. I was laughing at the end when she brought the waterworks back. I understand being disappointed that you didn't win, but she actually was pissed because she thought that she was better than CariDee. Melrose, you may have been the oldest girl in the competition, but you certainly weren't the most mature.

For the final time this cycle, let's reveal PTR's Top Photo of the Week!! All three of the girls had to shoot a CoverGirl commercial and print ad. All three did a pretty good job (except for Melrose's print ad), but one stuck out the most. This week's honor goes to..... EUGENA!! She finally pulled it together for the show's final shoot. Here's her winning photo.



Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

The Girls Show Off Their 'Merry Fisticuffs'

By Turtlemama
PTR Staff Writer



Last night's introduction left me screaming in my head "NO! NO! Lorelei can't leave Stars Hollow!" Then I realized that they wouldn't have a show if Lorelei left Stars Hollow, so I just enjoyed their commercial-esque dialogue and went with it.



The episode really begins with Liz bringing Doola (ha! That still cracks me up!) into the diner and showing her off. Then she puts the baby carrier on the counter and exclaims to Luke “Ok, I’ll be back in an hour!” and off she goes…
Luke with a baby at the diner! HA! I wish that he would have put a little cook’s hat on her and given her a pen over her ear! Heeee! We could have called her ‘Flo’.



Next we move on to Lorelei arriving at Emily’s house and of course Emily must throw Lorelei a lavish wedding…and of course Lorelei doesn’t want one. The dialogue between the wedding planner and Lorelei was excellent! Classic Lorelei to be sure!



On to the meat of the episode; Christopher and Lorelei are at Dooce’s market getting groceries. And I just have to say; Dooce’s had Eukanuba dog food and a HUGE bag of Friskies cat food; in a small town? I can only find Eukanuba in the vet’s office and at big, box pet stores and my town is ten times the size of Stars Hollow. I think I want to move to Stars Hollow, too bad it doesn’t exist.
Lorelei goes outside to wait and find Luke with Doula walking past. Lorelei visits with them when Christopher comes out and acts a bit jealous.





Finally, on to Rory… Logan is visiting Rory at Yale (Interesting that Logan wasn’t in England for very long…I didn’t think that would last very long, but I sort of wished they would have brought Dean back…but that’s just me) and they meet up with Lucy and Marty. Does Lucy annoy anyone else other than me? Her acting isn’t that great and it’s like nails on a chalkboard when she calls Marty ‘boyfriend’ ack! Anyway, Lucy invites Rory and Logan out to dinner with her and Marty and it’s a date! Then Rory needs to explain to Logan that Marty doesn’t want Lucy to know that he knew Rory before he met Lucy. Logan doesn’t like it and….*drumroll* is jealous! But the date is set, and we’re all waiting in anticipation for the coming scenes.

I like how Rory and Lorelei’s storylines are always parallel to one another each episode…Logan is jealous of Marty and Rory, and Christopher is jealous of Luke and Lorelei. It helps to keep things in order and keep up with the conflict, you know?

Ok, now on to Lorelei and Christopher’s scene in bed that night…I don’t think I know many men that would throw out, in the middle of the night, “Hey! Let’s have a kid!” and then get mad when the chick says “Well, ok, but not right now!” Wouldn’t you want to figure out where the kid will sleep, at least? Lorelei said that she didn’t want to leave Stars Hollow or her house and her house has a whole 2 bedrooms. Do the math… 2 adults, 1.5 kids (Rory is part-time) plus another baby (with a LOT of stuff) equals a LOT of room that Lorelei’s current home doesn’t allow. Not to mention that you might want to discuss your parenting styles and all that. You know, make sure that you two won’t be at odds with one another every day for the rest of your lives. It just seems that the storyline with Christopher and Lorelei has forced conflict. Conflict should flow and ease into the situation, not just be thrown in at some inopportune time.



Luke needs an attorney; his baby’s momma is a wench at times….which we saw when Lorelei went to introduce herself so that Luke could see April unsupervised. The woman wouldn’t let Luke see his own daughter with Lorelei around, and then went off on Lorelei when they met at Anna’s shop…past behavior…future outcomes… Glad he did finally get an attorney; now this will be an interesting storyline.



I’m still trying to find out why Lucy had such a crazed reaction to finding out that Marty and Rory knew each other. I mean I can see being irked that your boyfriend and friend didn’t tell you that they knew each other, but I would have asked why and then, oh I don’t know…waited for a response BEFORE making a scene and running out of the restaurant. I just don’t get it.



The fistfight in the town square with the Christmas Carols playing in the background…HIL-ARI-OUS!! And how they ended it was PERFECT! Just walking away like they did! That was a great scene! Merry Christmas!

Emily’s ambush of Lorelei was really what Lorelei needed. Emily gave her some sage advice; I hope Lorelei heeds her mother’s wisdom and tries to be a little selfless now and again. As much as I love Lorelei, she really can be selfish and uncompromising at times.

I saw glimmers of hope here and there in this episode, I really hope that the writing slows down a bit and stops forcing conflict onto Lorelei and then just creating it out of the blue for Rory…I mean the conflict with Lucy and Rory about the Marty stuff, it just seems unrealistic. These are Yale students, meaning they aren’t community college drop-outs who react without thinking…these people got into their current situation by using their brains. The situation just seems forced to me, but again maybe I’m a hardcore fan who doesn’t like much change.

'The Closer' Delights in Special 2-Hour Return

By LillyKat
PTR Guest Columnist

PTR’s second favorite (or is it a tie for first?) homicide detective came back this week – Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson – for a two-hour The Closer special that was … well, pretty darn good. When we last left off, we essentially had a shoot-out at the O.K. Corral. Mafia style. A mob informant in federal protective custody (who we will call Mafia Marty) was slated to testify against a major mob boss, but he was killed by one of Brenda’s detectives on the floor of her murder room after he went a little haywire thinking the Feds had set him up. He pulled a gun from Det. Lt. Provenza’s desk and … well, that was that.

If you recall, the entire case was essentially the LAPD vs. the FBI arguing over who had rights to investigate what – especially after Mafia Marty’s wife and the FBI agent assigned to watch over the two of them had been murdered in the city of Los Angeles. Thus, the case was classic Pope vs. Fritz (with Asst. Chief Will Pope – Brenda’s former flame – muscling in local LAPD jurisdiction over what was to be Special Agent Fritz Howard’s – Brenda’s current flame – federal jurisdiction). Pope wasted no time assigning the whole thing to Brenda to solve, which of course, stepped all over Fritz’s territory – in more ways than one. Nothing like making it
personal.

So, when we pick it up, Brenda has been out on paid administrative leave for four months as the investigation into the death of Mafia Marty continues. Brenda’s favorite nemesis, Commander Taylor, has taken over her Priority Homicide squad. Or rather, brought in his own Robbery Homicide detectives for a full-fledged coup. As we find Brenda at home, Kyra Sedgwick remains as entertaining as ever to watch. If there were a recipe for all-things Brenda, consider: 5 parts neurotic; 5 parts lovable; 10 parts fierce; add sugar and ice as desired.

Sedgwick continues to deliver priceless moments where you swear she MUST have been Brenda in another life – fidgeting around a house full of dead plants (clearly not a gardener), half-knitted sweaters (clearly not a knitter), dressed up to jog down to the pastry shop (clearly not an exerciser).

This woman needs to get her job back.

We also still find Fritz delivering the best one-liners – and comforts – to keep Brenda sane. Ah, Fritz … proof that a strong, attractive, razor-sharp, no-nonsense, completely devoted work-a-holic woman who lives for her job as a criminal investigator CAN find and keep a good man. (Hello, show runners of Cold Case? Are you listening, er, reading? Pointers could be
taken, here, on how to write – and KEEP – a good relationship for the eternally down-and-out-on-love Lilly Rush).

But alas, not to digress, when a dead teenager of Middle Eastern decent is found in the middle of nowhere, and Robbery-disguised-as-Priority Homicide is left scratching their heads (no thanks to Taylor’s ineptitude), Brenda is secretly asked to take on the case by one of her former CIA directors (played by William Daniels – the voice of the KITT car in that
love-it-or-hate-it 80s show Knight Rider).

In exchange for getting her job back, Brenda agrees not only to find the murderer of the young teenager, but in doing so, also help reveal a potential mole in the CIA who has been leaking information of a highly classified operation to the Army of Allah. This all, of course, would
then really help everybody find some seriously important missing nuclear weapons grade plutonium that, of course, has made its way into the wrong hands as a result of this mess. All in all, life is not so good for the CIA at the moment. Even though they are desperate to clean up the mess, they don’t trust their own people. So, Brenda becomes their gal, given she “was” CIA, so she gets “how” it all is supposed to go down.

It’s a complex weave of espionage, missing plutonium, everyone suspecting everyone, Brenda going out on a limb (like she always does, of course) … all of which further explains why the Department of Homeland Security wanted to hire her, but also, why she turned it down: “Handing over suspects to the CIA so that I do not know what they intend to do with them … I don’t do that anymore.”

With episodes such as this, it’s again hard to wait until next summer for Season 3 to officially premiere. In the meantime, TNT has begun an encore of Season 2 – so if you missed any of the action, be sure to tune in and catch up!


Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!

Tuesday's News & Notes

**I had this edition all set to go yesterday, and then my Internet went down!!! It didn't come back up until this morning, so I apologize for the lack of Primetime Pass (which was all about the exciting Heroes and The Closer episodes) and news yesterday.**

QUICK CUTS
*I've been telling you about Cold Case star (and PTR fave) Kathryn Morris' upcoming film Resurrecting the Champ since she began filming it this past summer. Well, I finally have an update on the production. The film, which also stars Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Hartnett, will premiere next month at the all-important Sundance Film Festival in Sundace, Utah. The movie follows the story of a reporter (Hartnett) who believes that he may have discovered a former boxing champ when he stumbles upon a homeless man (Jackson). Morris plays Hartnett's wife. From the official Sundance site:

RESURRECTING THE CHAMP / U.S.A. (Director: Rod Lurie; Screenwriters: Allison Burnett, Michael Bortman, Chris Gerolmo, Rod Lurie)—A down on his luck sports reporter has his life and career upturned when he lands the story of his career: A former heavyweight boxing superstar, previously thought to be dead, is living his final years on the streets. Finally, he can earn the respect of his wife and editor—but the dark secret he finds may be too much for him to bear.
World Premiere.

Look for the film to appear at Sundance January 18th through the 28th. And you can expect plenty of coverage of Champ's big debut right here at PTR. (Photo courtesy Kathryn Morris Online)

*There's good news for fans of CBS' Without a Trace. Warner Bros. will finally release the crime drama's second season on DVD this spring. The first season hit store shelves 2 1/2 years prior in September of 2004. Look for the second season 6-disc set to contain all 24 episodes when it's released March 13th. Now, if we could just get fellow crime drama Cold Case on DVD (click HERE to join that campaign).

*Can't wait to watch Scrubs the musical? Well, click on over to iTunes to get a special sneak peak of the NBC comedy's upcoming musical style episode. Click HERE to download the free video from iTunes, and tune into Scrubs next month to catch the episode in its entirety.

*Fans of CBS' Jericho can get exclusive content on the network's newly launched web site whodroppedthebomb.com. You can get sneak peaks at upcoming episodes, insider commentary, episodes of the webumentary Countdown and much more to tied you over until new episodes return in February.

*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday Tuesday! Look for the 5th season of 24 to hit store shelves tomorrow along with Roseanne (season 6), The Dukes of Hazzard (season 7) and Survivor: Vanuatu. For a complete list of tomorrow's releases, visit tvshowsondvd.com.

About Last Night...
BIGGEST RATINGS WINNERS: Deal or No Deal, Heroes, CSI: Miami

For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.

~Primetime Pass~
(a look at what PTR is watching tonight)

Gilmore Girls (8 p.m. The CW) - "Merry Fisticuffs." Luke (Scott Patterson) and Lorelai (Lauren Graham) share a sweet moment when Luke introduces her to Liz's new baby. The next day, Lorelai and Christopher get into a fight over whether they should exchange vows at the elaborate wedding party Emily (Kelly Bishop) is throwing for them. Luke contacts a lawyer over his custody troubles with Ana, then runs into Christopher and the two have an ugly confrontation in the streets of Stars Hollow.

Friday Night Lights (8 p.m. NBC) - "Full Hearts." Emotions intensify as the game against the intimidating Gatling High nears. Lyla (Minka Kelly) and Tim (Taylor Kitsch) become alienated from their friends as rumors about their relationship spread all over town. Smash (Gauis Charles) continues to buckle to the pressure and puts his own health at risk in his attempt to improve his performance on the field.. Be sure to click on over to nbc.com to catch the 2-Minute Replay to see what you've been missing.


Juston Timberlake is bringing "SexyBack" with a little help from the Victoria's Secret models. Check out this exclusive photo from tonight's return of The Victoria Secret Fashion Show (10 p.m. CBS) courtesy of CBS:



Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!