Danny Pino's 'Case' for CASA

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

We here at PTR are all about supporting good causes - especially when our faves lend their names to some outstanding organizations.

Cold Case's Danny Pino, who plays Detective Scotty Valens on the CBS crime drama, is a spokesperson for the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. CASA’s mission is to provide trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the foster care system in court. Recently, Danny headed to Washington, D.C. to produce a video broadcast from the National Mall in support of CASA's effots.

"I’m here to call to action adults throughout this country," says Danny, "who are interested in helping children within the foster care system – many of whom are abused or neglected - to navigate the waters of that foster care system and be representatives for these children within the court system. [They can] become officers of the court and report back to these judges about these kids lives, in detail, so that these judges can make appropriate and positive decisions for these children."

Sounds awfully good to us. Check out the the full YouTube video!



Our thanks to Nicole over at Look Again for sending along the news!

Hot 'Case' Spoilers

It may only be May, but PTR has some hot scoop on Cold Case's upcoming sixth season. You know the rules, if you don't want to know, don't read any further. So, we already know that Det. Saccardo (Bobby Cannavale) is expected to return for a few episodes (in what can only be assumed is a love interest role for Lilly), but no word yet on which ones or how many. Here, however, is a rundown of two of the new season's episodes (NOTE: All information subject to change).

"Glory Days" (scheduled as the season premiere) - Lilly and co. re-open the 1974 case of a college football player murdered the night before the big championship game. Jeffries gets some new direction on the case from a former college teammate from back in his football days. Apparently, he was known as "Tombstone" on the field!

"True Calling" (scheduled as the 2nd episode) - Lilly and the gang re-open the 1991 murder of a recent Princeton grad who decided to teach at an inner city school in Philly. The victim is found shot in the school's parking lot. Also, Vera has a run-in with a surly ballistics lab tech and one of the detectives gets pranked.

As a reminder, all of the info (including episode order) could change at any point before the show kicks off its sixth season this fall on CBS. Special thanks to all of the spoiler queens at Look Again for the information.

London Calling

According to the scooperific Mike Ausiello (TV Guide), Bones is taking a trip across the pond for its 4th season premiere. The 2-hour episode's story line is being kept under wraps for now, but creator Hart Hanson told fellow TV Guider Matt Roush to expect plenty of comedy with Booth and Bones loose in London.

TVGuide.com: Let me guess — they have wacky run-ins with the Bobbies.
Hanson: [Laughs] That's exactly correct. And funny English people.

He also disclosed that they have shot 4 additional episodes for fall (all scheduled to air after the 2-hour London adventure). Filming (on location in London) will begin later next month. Look for the special 2-hour season premiere in August. In the meantime, you can read more from Hart Hanson and his controversial decision to make Zack Gormogon's apprentice over at TVGuide.com.

Photo courtesy Emily-Deschanel.org

PTR's Summer TV Showcase

Well, the long, strange season that was Fall 2007 is behind us and in its place -- another fabulous Summer Season to look forward to! And while I will mourn the loss of The 4400 every frickin' Sunday this Summer, I will also celebrate the return of some of my other favorites. Honestly, I can't even imagine Summer TV without Diana, Tom, Maia and all the rest of the gang, but I suppose the TV world goes on minus Joan of Arcadia, Everwood, Veronica Mars and now The 4400. Enough with the glass half empty and on to the exciting! Here's a rundown of what to expect this summer:

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (PTR Returning Fave)
Season 4 underway on Fox

My favorite dance competition is back with a new crop of dancers. And unlike its more popular sibling, this talent competition tends to get it right week after week, meaning less frustration for us. Some of these kids can really mesmerize with their elegant moves. Things heat up once the final contestants pair up and hit the live stage with a different routine each week. And don't forget to vote for your favorite! For more on Dance, click on over to Fox.com. Next episode: Tonight at 8 p.m. EST

IN PLAIN SIGHT (NEW!)
Premieres June 1st @ 10 p.m. on USA

The West Wing's Mary McCormack stars as a U.S. Marshall working with the Federal Witness Protection Program. The show takes place somewhere different for a change: the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area. According to USA's official site, Mary "protects and manages relocated Federal Witnesses who come from all over the country. The witnesses under her care can be anything from career criminals, congenital liars, thieves and murderers to those who have had the misfortune of witnessing or falling victim to a crime. For the innocents, testifying means leaving behind everything and everyone they know, cutting off all contact, changing identities and relocating to the unfamiliar southwest to build a new life as the reward for their good deed. But no matter what walk of life—or what side of the law—these people come from, they all have one thing in common: Someone wants them dead." Check out the preview:

For more on In Plain Sight, visit USANetwork.com.

MY BOYS (PTR Returning Fave)
Returns June 12th on TBS

PJ and the gang are back for more laughs and to answer that burning season one finale cliffhanger -- who called her into first class on the plane to Italy? Jordanna Spiro returns as PJ, a sports writer who spends her free time hanging with her best buds playing poker, going to bars, and discussing dating. Look for Nia Vardolos to make a 3-episode arc as Andy's (Jim Gaffigan) co-worker and more obstacles on the path to finding PJ's Mr. Right. Check out previous episodes for free at TBS.com.

THE CLOSER (PTR Returning Fave)
Returns sometime in July on TNT

Kyra Sedgwick returns as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, whose seemingly sweet Southern charm masks her tough-talking, confession-getting side. The quirky detective with an insatiable sweet tooth is back on the case after a hilarious cross-country RV trip complete with Mom and Dad. And then there's her recent engagement to FBI Special Agent Fritz. Click over to TNT.com for exclusive clips and all of the hilarious TV ads now airing on the network.


PSYCH (PTR Returning Fave)
Returns July 18th on USA

TV's second best buddy comedy (Scrubs' JD and Turk will always be #1) are back in business this July. Look for Shawn's wayward mother to make an appearance (and she might look an awful lot like Cybill Shepherd) and a former flame (guest star Rachael Leigh Cook) to pop up at a high school reunion. As always, expect more crazy cases and the always-silly Shawn using his pretend psychic powers (read insane attention to detail) to solve them. Good thing Gus is there to keep him in line! Click on over to USANetwork.com for more on this hilarious series.

ALSO COMING THIS SUMMER...
Reno 911 (Premiered May 22nd): Thursday nights on Comedy Central
Last Comic Standing (Premiered May 22nd): Thursday nights on NBC
MTV Movie Awards: Sunday, June 1st on MTV

So, there you have it -- a look at just some of this summer's offerings. Be sure to check local listings for time and channel in your area. Long live TV's Second Season!

Cook Wins 'Idol'

PHOTO: Fox

From USA Today:

David Cook rocks his way to the 'American Idol' title

By Bill Keveney and Ken Barnes, USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES — American Idol crowned its first real rocker Wednesday as David Cook rolled over 17-year-old balladeer David Archuleta to become Idol No. 7.

Cook, 25, cried when his name was read. "You kind of hold that air in for four months, throughout the whole process. To be able to exhale was kind of the ultimate release," Cook said after the show. "Ten-plus years of work I put into wanting to play music has been vindicated all of a sudden."

He didn't expect to win. "It didn't hit me at first. I'd expected the name David Archuleta to be said. But part of what made the moment perfect is I was standing next to him."

The win for Cook, a bartender in Blue Springs, Mo., came as a bit of a surprise, considering Tuesday's performances and the judges' reactions, which swung heavily in Archuleta's favor. Earlier Wednesday, Simon Cowell apologized to Cook, saying his remarks had been "verging on disrespectful. … When I went back home and watched it, it wasn't quite so clear-cut."

Was there a backlash? "I didn't necessarily think that helped (get the vote out)," Cook said. "After Week 2, when I had a little verbal spat with Simon, I took a step back and took it for what it was. It's an opinion. And somewhere in the things he says, there's always constructive criticism."

Archuleta said afterward that he was satisfied with the results. "Cook is such a great guy. I've looked up to him. It's never really gone to his head, and I really admire that. He's had some tough times. And he's always stayed strong. He's proven that to America, and that's why he's the last one standing."

As for his own future, Archuleta said, "I'm so excited to see what it'll be like after all this. It's been months since I've been out of American Idol World. I just want to see what happens to me musically, how everyone's doing at home, and how touring turns out. I'm so excited to keep working on music, and this is opening doors that I've been dreaming about."

Of a record 97.5 million votes, Cook won by 12 million, host Ryan Seacrest announced. The two-hour-plus finale, in which the winner was announced at the 1:59 mark, paraded out not only this season's eliminated contestants but also present and past pros. ZZ Top traded Sharp Dressed Man licks with Cook; OneRepublic performed a duet with Archuleta on Apologize.

Cook came to the Omaha auditions to provide moral support for his brother Andrew; talked into singing, he made the Hollywood rounds while his brother didn't. (That's not to say Cook is an amateur: He has sung in several bands and released an independent album, Analog Heart, in 2006.)

He became one of the first contestants to play electric guitar onstage, and made a specialty of applying rock textures to softer songs such as Lionel Richie's Hello. His penchant for dramatic rearrangements marked him as a mold-breaking contestant.

'When in Rome' Part Deux

Last week, PTR brought you some photos of Kristen Bell shooting her new film When in Rome on the streets of NYC. Well, she was back in action this week -- this time in Central Park. In the film, Kristen plays an art curator being pursued by wannabe suitors after she steals coins from the Roman Fountain. The scene in these photos, shot May 19th, shows someone in hot pursuit of her character.





When in Rome is scheduled to hit theaters sometime next year.

New Spots for 'The Closer' at TNT.tv

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

This is the time of year when TNT drives me bonkers.

In a good way.

Why?

Because as I watch all 4,567 NBA Playoff games in 4,567 days, I continually get to see the new television spots for PTR Fave The Closer.

And wow, it reminds me: a) how much I miss BJ (that would be Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson for those just tuning in); b) I cannot wait for July when new episodes are set to resume; c) how good the TNT folks are at coming up with ingenious spots to promote the heck out of their shows.

In this new spot, everyone has something to confess to ol' BJ - even when it's her day off.

Classic.

You can check out all of the new spots over at TNT.tv as well as get a sneak peek at what is in store for the upcoming fourth season! A reminder (like, you really needed that) new episodes will return in July, so be sure you're all caught up on the series. Visit the the show's official Web site!

TNT - they know drama.

And BJ.

# # # # #

The Squint in the Murder

I think Cam spoke for most of us when she said in this week's Bones finale, "I didn't see that coming!" And to be completely truthful, I'm not so sure that I'm buying Zack as Gormogon's apprentice. I mean, he killed a lobbyist! Sweet, little innocent Zack??!! I suppose we all have a dark side, but using your access to the lab to assist a serial killer and stabbing a man to death are sorta on the extreme side, doncha think? While I try to piece all of this together and accept Zack's terrible decisions, I'm also mourning his departure from the lab. Bones isn't going to be the same without him or his constant bantering and hilarious experiments with Hodgins. To think, I was spending most of the episode concerned that Sweets was the apprentice and we would lose him from the show! Who knew!

After this week's episode, I've decided that "try the pie" is my new euphemism for Booth and Brennan hooking up (as in, "Brennan really should try the pie" or "Bones admired the pie from its dessert counter encasing, but chose not to sample it quite yet" for that hilarious bathroom scene). I like it. It's catchy. And it's all thanks to Sweets. He hypothesized that Booth's constant insistence that Brennan try fruit pies is a form of seduction. Ha! Love it! Also loved the way Brennan marched herself right into Booth's house and then into his bathroom where a very naked Booth was enjoying his beer hat in the tub while listening to loud music. "Would you like a towel?" and "Just so you know, I find your lack of Puritan modesty very refreshing" might just be my new favorite Brennan-isms. I was surprised that Sweets didn't jump all over her obvious hurt feelings from not being informed about Booth's fake death. Why did it bother her that he didn't call her personally and tell her? Perhaps, she interpreted it as a lack of closeness and importance, which leads to a whole different set of questions that lead us right back to her trying that damn pie. Guess we'll have to wait until next season to see if that happens.

In the meantime, TVGuide.com has an interview with actor Eric Millegan (Zack) on his departure, the possibility of Zack returning from time to time, and how he found out that his character was Gormogon's apprentice.

Photos are copyright Fox Broadcasting Co. If you missed last night's season finale ("The Pain in the Heart"), check it out for free at Hulu.com.

'Cold Case's' Thoms Heats Up the Stage

Cold Case co-star Tracie Thoms is spending part of her summer break on stage at LA's Fountain Theatre in And Her Hair Went With Her. You can check out the Juilliard-trained actress in the 2-person play now through June 15th. More from the LA Times (special thanks to PTR Senior Staff Writer LillyKat for finding the story):

Tracie Thoms in 'And Her Hair Went With Her'
By Greg Braxton
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 9, 2008

Complex African American characters draw her to the part in Zina Camblin's play

BACK ON STAGE: "I’m stretching muscles that I haven’t been able to stretch for so long,” says actress Tracie Thoms.

Something seemed to be eating at Tracie Thoms. The actress was trying to relax after an intense rehearsal at the Fountain Theatre, but she couldn't keep still. Finally, she leaned forward to deal with the source of her discomfort.

Pulling up one leg of her jeans, Thoms pointed to a half-dollar-sized welt. "It's a mosquito bite," she said with a mock frown as she rubbed the redness.

The bump on her leg isn't the only itch Thoms, 32, is scratching these days. The last few years have been hectic for the petite actress, bouncing between her regular stint as no-nonsense detective Kat Miller in the CBS procedural "Cold Case" to more showy roles in "The Devil Wears Prada," the film version of the Broadway musical "Rent" and "Grindhouse," Quentin Tarantino's hommage to exploitation films.

Though the Juilliard-trained Thoms is appreciative of the steady screen work, it's all but cut off her ability to pursue her real love -- theater. Since graduating from the New York school in 2001, she has appeared in off-Broadway plays ("Up Against the Wind" at the New York Theater Workshop and "The Exonerated" for the Culture Project) and made her Broadway debut in 2004 in "Drowning Crow." But her busy TV and film schedule has allowed her only scant opportunities to participate in readings or workshops for projects, such as Broadway's "Passing Strange."

Her unceasing appetite for the footlights has Thoms particularly charged about her role in Zina Camblin's "And Her Hair Went With Her," a dramatic and comic exploration of the joys and pain of African American women. The two-person play, which opens today, revolves around two friends -- played by Thoms and Tony Award-winner Tonya Pinkins ("Caroline, or Change") -- who run a beauty salon.

"I'm just trying now to get over my terror and nerves in doing this play because I'm stretching muscles that I haven't been able to stretch for so long," Thoms said. "I haven't been able to do a full theatrical production in about three years. I'm trusting that I still have those chops because of all the workshops and readings I've done. But it's definitely scary."

The play represents more than just Thoms' passion for being onstage and receiving immediate feedback from a live audience. Appearing in the production parallels her mission to play prominent, complex, multidimensional African American women. She maintains that Hollywood too often doesn't give black actresses enough chances to shine in leading roles that have depth.

"When I go on auditions and get breakdowns for black female characters, the descriptions I see mostly are 'sexy and sassy' or 'fierce and broke,' " Thoms said. "There's nothing in between. I'm in the middle of that. And every black woman I know is funny, smart and witty, and it's a shame we don't get more opportunities to show that."

Too often, she says, options for black actresses are extremely limited; they often wind up playing the BBF -- Black Best Friend -- of the white heroine, having no personality or goal in life other than to lend support to the leading white character. She speaks from experience: She played the BBF of Anne Hathaway's character in "The Devil Wears Prada." She and other black actresses have even teased one another about forming a support group for BBFs who have to assist their "woefully helpless white girls."

"I know I have a higher purpose," she said. "I have a larger desire to play characters that are not only African Americans but human beings. We have so many beautiful stories to tell and they're just being neglected."

In "And Her Hair Went With Her," Thoms and Pinkins flip their wigs -- literally and figuratively -- playing not only the beauticians, but their customers and others. Thoms' gallery includes an overzealous actress and a woman with an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

For Thoms, there's comfort in working with Pinkins, whom she has admired since she was a young actress. It's not their first collaboration -- Pinkins has played Thoms' mother on "Cold Case."

"Tonya is so skilled at what she does," Thoms said. "I just try to glean every bit of inspiration I can from her. Playing with her just makes this job a lot easier."

Thoms has been attached to "And Her Hair Went With Her" from its earliest development. While at Juilliard, she did a reading of the play, which Camblin wrote as part of a Juilliard playwriting fellowship. The two kept in touch and when the Fountain production was set, Thoms was Camblin's first choice for the role.

"Tracie gets my quirky comedy," said Camblin. "I was thrilled when she was able to work it out to come on board."

Director Diane Rodriguez added that Thoms and Pinkins have a palpable chemistry: "They obviously like and respect each other. They speak the same language, they understand what makes a scene work. There is comedy here, but this is not about cartoonish characters. Tracie is a real good observer of people, and she brings a truth that finds the humor in these characters."

It's a side that Thoms doesn't get to show too often in her regular role on "Cold Case," where she mostly interrogates suspects. "I'm truly blessed to be on that series, and it's a great show that is so meaningful to people," she said. "But the material is not geared for my character's journey. It's all about the guest star. There is a formula, and my job is an exercise in how to get the best scene out of the guest stars."

"Cold Case" co-executive producer Greg Plageman said Thoms possessed "such an embarrassment of talent. Given my preference, every other episode I would work in a song for her to sing."

The film "Rent" offered an opportunity for Thoms to show off her singing voice. She was one of only two performers to join members of the original Broadway cast for the highly anticipated film (her good friend Rosario Dawson was the other). "I tried out for 'Rent' a total of nine times between the stage version and the film," she said with a chuckle.

She was disappointed when the film bombed. However, consolation came when she nabbed a juicy part in "Death Proof," Tarantino's portion of "Grindhouse," which was expected to be one of last spring's biggest hits. Thoms played a foul-mouthed stuntwoman who was terrorized, along with another stuntwoman and an actress, by a psychopathic stunt driver. The three women eventually turned the tables on the driver, celebrating as they exacted their bloody revenge.

But "Grindhouse" too was almost an instant flop. Even more troubling to Thoms was negative feedback she received from reciting some of Tarantino's more earthy dialogue, including the N-word. "I got a lot of flak from people calling me a sellout," she said quietly. "They didn't understand what the character was supposed to be. It was an hommage to Pam Grier and those blaxploitation movies that Quentin loves. That girl was supposed to be over the top."

She's hoping for a more positive response with "And Her Hair Went With Her." "It's just a fine play, and you don't have to be black to get it. It just proves what I've always known -- theater is my favorite thing to do."

'And Her Hair Went With Her'

Where:
Fountain Theatre
5060 Fountain Ave.
Los Angeles, CA

When:
8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays
2 p.m. Sundays

Ends: June 15th

Price: $25 to $28

Contact: (323) 663-1525

BREAKING UPFRONTS NEWS: Fox Starts the Fall Season Early

It's Day 4 of Network Upfront week, and that means it's Fox's turn to announce its fall (and beyond) slate. The network will roll out several returning and new series during a special Two-Hour Premieres Week beginning August 25th. Prison Break, Fringe (new), Bones and Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? will all roll out their new seasons with 2-hour episodes ahead of the traditional fall premiere week. PTR Fave Bones will return to Wednesday nights in the fall (before going back into schedule limbo at midseason when American Idol returns). Here is a look at Fox's complete fall and winter schedules:

FOX PRIMETIME SCHEDULE: FALL 2008
(All Times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES

9:00-10:00 PM PRISON BREAK

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE

9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM BONES

9:00-9:30 PM 'TIL DEATH

9:30-10:00 PM DO NOT DISTURB (wt)

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

9:00-10:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?

9:00-10:00 PM DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS!

SATURDAY

8:00-8:30 PM COPS

8:30-9:00 PM COPS

9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK

11:00 PM-Midnight MADtv

Midnight-12:30 AM TALKSHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN

SUNDAY

7:00-8:00 PM THE OT (NFL post-game)

8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM KING OF THE HILL

9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD


FOX PRIMETIME SCHEDULE: BEGINNING JANUARY 2009
(All Times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM DOLLHOUSE

9:00-10:00 PM 24

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL

9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE

9:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL Results Show

9:30-10:00 PM TBA Comedy

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM HELL'S KITCHEN

9:00-10:00 PM SECRET MILLIONAIRE

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM BONES

9:00-9:30 PM 'TIL DEATH

9:30-10:00 PM DO NOT DISTURB (wt)

SATURDAY

8:00-8:30 PM COPS

8:30-9:00 PM COPS

9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK

11:00 PM-Midnight MADtv

Midnight-12:30 AM TALKSHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM COMEDY ENCORES

7:30-8:00 PM COMEDY ENCORES

8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM KING OF THE HILL (January) / SIT DOWN, SHUT UP (wt) (spring)

9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD (January) / THE CLEVELAND SHOW (wt) (spring)


For more on Fox's schedule (including details on new series), visit The Futon Critic.

'When in Rome' Do As Bell Does

PTR Fave Kristen Bell is in New York shooting her latest film When in Rome. In the romantic comedy, Kristen plays an art curator who finds herself pursued by a band of wannabe lovers after she steals coins from a Roman fountain. It co-stars Josh Duhamel, Dax Sheppard, Will Arnett and heavy hitters Anjelica Huston and Danny DeVito. Thanks to the Superior Pictures Forum, here are a few photos of Kristen and Josh Duhamel shooting in the Big Apple May 7th.



When in Rome is scheduled to hit theaters sometime next year. You can see Kristen on the big screen now in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

BREAKING UPFRONTS NEWS: CBS Keeps 'Mother,' Moves 'Trace'

CBS stepped up to the podium today on Day 3 of Network Upfronts week and made some minor tweaks to its successful formula. The network added two comedies and three dramas and moved favorites Without a Trace (to Tuesdays at 10 p.m.) and The Unit (to Sundays at 10 p.m.). PTR fave Cold Case remained in tact with its usual Sunday night slot (and DVR shuffle as we battle another season of NFL overruns). The best news of the day, though, comedy How I Met Your Mother will be back for a fourth season. Freshman drama Moonlight was not as fortunate as it did not pick up a renewal. Here's a closer look at CBS's fall schedule:

CBS TELEVISON NETWORK

2008-2009 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

(N=New, NT=New Time, all times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY

8:30-9:00 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN

9:30-10:00 PM WORST WEEK (N)

10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM NCIS

9:00-10:00 PM THE MENTALIST (N)

10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE (NT)

WEDNESDAY

8:00-8:30 PM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (NT)

8:30-9:00 PM PROJECT GARY (N)

9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS

10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR

9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

10:00-11:00 PM ELEVENTH HOUR (N)

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER

9:00-10:00 PM THE EX LIST (N)

10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS

SATURDAY

8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY

9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY

10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY

SUNDAY

7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES

8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE

9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE

10:00-11:00 PM THE UNIT (NT)

For more on the schedule and new series, visit The Futon Critic.

TNT's Tribute to Jesse L. Martin: L&O Det. Green Marathon on Sunday

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

All good things do indeed eventually come to an end.

Then the tributes begin.

Jesse L. Martin's beloved Detective Ed Green departed Law and Order last month, but fans who have been missing both Martin and his portrayal of Green will have a chance to get reacquainted.

This Sunday (May 18th), TNT will present an 11-hour marathon of memorable episodes in the life of the character, including his first appearance (“Gunshow”) and a special two-episode crossover with sister series Law & Order: Trial by Jury in which Green is critically injured.

So get clear off some space on those DVRs, or take in Sunday L&O style. It all begins at 2 p.m. ET/PT. Episodes scheduled to air are as follows:

2 p.m. “Tombstone” – Detective Green is critically injured while trying to transport a reluctant witness to a trial about the murder of a prestigious lawyer.

3 p.m. Law & Order: Trial by Jury – “Skeleton” – This special crossover episode covers the investigation and trial of the person who shot Detective Green.

4 p.m. “Gunshow” – After the case of a mass murder in Central Park is settled, the DA goes after the gun manufacturer. This marks Green’s first appearance on the series and the revelation that the character has endured two prior complaints of excessive force.

5 p.m. “Prejudice” – The murder of a black publisher by a racist turns into a difficult trial when the defense claims racism is a mental defect.

6 p.m. “Foul Play” – Corruption, deceit and immigration fraud within a baseball league for youth come to light when a private investigator is killed.

7 p.m. “Suicide Box” – Deep racial tensions arise after the re-opening of an old case involving the brother of an African-American teenager accused of killing a police officer.

8 p.m. “In Vino Veritas” – A washed-up, anti-Semitic actor is accused of murdering a television producer after he is arrested with blood on his clothes.

9 p.m. “Gunplay” – A bitter defense attorney may be at the middle of a case in which two undercover police officers are killed during a sting operation against black market gun dealers. Det. Green must now put his own life on the line by going undercover to weed out the killers.

10 p.m. “Caviar Emptor” – A caviar salesman from Persia is found murdered in his bed, and immediate suspicion lands on his children and new young wife.

11 p.m. “White Lie” – The murder of a drug dealer leads detectives to the door of a military officer’s wife who may be involved in a Colombian smuggling ring.

Midnight “Stiff” – After a woman dies of a prescription drug overdose, detectives uncover some disturbing sexual secrets in which she and her husband engaged.

'Bones' Just Wants To Have Fun

I had the opening bit for this week's write-up of Bones all written in my head. It had something to do with American Idol, Booth calling Bones Paula, and the word awesome, but then they went and SHOT BOOTH!!! and all semblance of clever thought escaped me. One minute Bones is on stage at open mic night singing her heart out to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" (P.S. mom was lying, dear) and the next, Pam shows up, pulls out a gun, points it at Brennan and pulls the trigger! "Oh. My. Gah!," I thought, "They're going to shoot Brennan!" But no, Booth stood up and took the bullet for his partner. At least they're not leaving us hanging as we're getting a new episode next week. And it's not like I think that they'll actually kill Booth. Much like last season's Cold Case finale (in which Lilly Rush was shot), I think Booth will pull through just fine. I'll admit, this caught me completely off guard. It was the Alias driving- in- the- car- listening- to- "Lay Lady Lay"- and- suddenly- a- car- crashes- right- into- Syd- and- Vaughn's- car all over again. Brennan was singing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" for goodness sake! I was laughing and marveling in the way she was able to kick back and the way that Booth was admiring it. It was a nice moment that turned very wrong.

[Insert witty bit about American Idol, Booth calling Bones "Paula," and the word awesome]. See? Every coherent, clever thought is gone. OK, it was pretty frickin' awesome that they had Ace Young playing the wannabe singer/murder victim. It was also pretty frickin' awesome that open mic night included so many ridiculous contestants ala Idol. And I can't express how much I (hearted) Booth calling Bones "Paula" because she had nothing but nice things to say about each ridiculous contestant. This was Sweets' debut as a consultant as opposed to just their therapist and I enjoyed his funny insight on the suspects and the case, but I missed his therapy sessions with Booth and Bones. Maybe this shooting will mark the return of those sessions. See, something good could come out of something bad.

Photos are copyright Fox Broadcasting Co. If you missed last night's outing ("The Wannabe in the Weeds"), check it out for free at Hulu.com.

BREAKING UPFRONTS NEWS: ABC 'Scrubs' In, CW Stays Course

It's day two of the Network Upfronts week, and that means it was ABC's turn to step up to the plate. The network confirmed one of the worst kept secrets in television: Scrubs is moving from NBC to ABC where it will finish out its 8-year run starting at midseason. But, things did take a more shocking turn when ABC revealed that favorite Boston Legal will return in the fall with only 13 episodes that will end its 5-season run. Later in the day, it was the CW's turn. The young network renewed Gossip Girl along with favorites America's Next Top Model and One Tree Hill. Newcomer Reaper moves to midseason. Here's a look at both network's fall schedules:

ABC's fall primetime schedule is as follows:
(all times listed are Eastern, with new shows in bold):

MONDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars" 9:30 p.m. "Samantha Who?" 10:00 p.m. "Boston Legal"

TUESDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Opportunity Knocks" 9:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" 10:00 p.m. "Eli Stone"

WEDNESDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Pushing Daisies" 9:00 p.m. "Private Practice" 10:00 p.m. "Dirty Sexy Money"

THURSDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty" 9:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy" 10:00 p.m. "Life on Mars"

FRIDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Wife Swap" 9:00 p.m. "Supernanny" 10:00 p.m. "20/20"

SATURDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Saturday Night College Football"

SUNDAY: 7:00 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos" 8:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" 9:00 p.m. "Desperate Housewives" 10:00 p.m. "Brothers & Sisters"



THE CW's 2008-2009 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE:

MONDAY 8:00-9:00 PM GOSSIP GIRL 9:00-10:00 PM ONE TREE HILL

TUESDAY 8:00-9:00 PM 90210 (New Series) 9:00-10:00 PM SURVIVING THE FILTHY RICH (New Series)

WEDNESDAY 8:00-9:00 PM AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL 9:00-10:00 PM STYLISTA (New Series)

THURSDAY 8:00-9:00 PM SMALLVILLE 9:00-10:00 PM SUPERNATURAL

FRIDAY 8:00-8:30 PM EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS 8:30-9:00 PM THE GAME 9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (Encore Presentation)


For more on both schedules, visit The Futon Critic (ABC and CW).

Allison Keeps it All in the Family

I know I've been begging Medium to reinstate Devalos and pair him back up with Allison and Scanlon, but giving Van Dyke a terminal diagnosis was not exactly what I had in mind. I spent this entire season loathing the man, but this week, I felt terrible for him, his wife and his children. That scene at the end with Allison was so heart wrenching. The man wanted nothing more than to ease his family's suffering. He wanted it so badly he was trying to find out how he can find Allison after he passes. All of this sadness put a huge damper on my "Yes! Devalos is back and he re-hired Allison" celebration, so I guess I'll have to wait until next season for it to commence.

I was, however, able to kick off the "Yes! Joe got a quarter of a million dollars, a new job that has him working on his quarter million dollar idea, and he gets to stay in Phoenix" celebration. I have to hand it to Meghan Doyle for pulling off quite the con savvy brokering. She had me fooled right along with Joe and Allison. Although, I would have wanted a lawyer to look over that paperwork she had drawn up to make sure it was on the up and up. Little good that would have done me!

This week's case still has me scratching my head. So, Kelly married her brother then killed herself and framed her husband to make it look like he killed her and staged it to look like a suicide all in an attempt to get back at her father? For serious?! Umm, shouldn't she have been focusing on getting back at her mother for killing her baby brother??!! Or better yet, reconsidered the whole "I'm going to kill myself -- that'll show you" routine because, quite frankly Kelly, you really only hurt yourself in the end. Maybe Kelly was harboring the same breed of crazy as her mother and that explains all of this insanity. Either way, Medium got me again. And I can't complain about that.

Photos courtesy nbc.com. If you missed last night's outing ("Drowned World"), check it out for free at Hulu.com.

BREAKING UPFRONTS NEWS: NBC's Presentation

Aaah, it's that time of year again. The time when TV fans all across the world pray that their favorites get picked up for another season. Yes, it's Network Upfronts Week. First up, we had NBC. Of course, this was a very anti-climatic presentation since the network announced its schedule a month ago. Anywho, here's the breakdown for the fall (and beyond) on NBC:

*New programs in UPPER CASE (with the exception of "ER")

MONDAY 8-9 p.m. "Chuck" 9-10 p.m. "Heroes" 10-11 p.m. "MY OWN WORST ENEMY"

TUESDAY 8- 9:30 p.m. "The Biggest Loser: Families" 9:30-10 p.m. "KATH & KIM" 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

WEDNESDAY 8-9 p.m. "KNIGHT RIDER" 9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" 10-11 p.m. "Lipstick Jungle"

THURSDAY 8- 8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl" 8:30-9 p.m. "30 Rock" 9- 9:30 p.m. "The Office" 9:30-10 p.m. "The Office"/ "SNL THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE" 10-11 p.m. "ER"

FRIDAY 8-9 p.m. "CRUSOE" 9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" 10-11 p.m. "Life"

SATURDAY 8-9 p.m. "Dateline NBC" 9-10 p.m. "KNIGHT RIDER" (Encores) 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Encores)

SUNDAY 7- 8:20 p.m. "Football Night in America" 8:20-11 p.m. "NBC Sunday Night Football"

NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR WINTER 2009

*New programs in UPPER CASE (with the exception of "ER")

MONDAY 8- 9 p.m. "Chuck" 9-10 p.m. "Heroes" 10-11 p.m. "THE PHILANTHROPIST"

TUESDAY 8- 9:30 p.m. "The Biggest Loser: Couples" 9:30-10 p.m. "KATH & KIM" 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

WEDNESDAY 8-9 p.m. "KNIGHT RIDER" 9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order"

THURSDAY 8- 8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl" 8:30-9 p.m. "30 Rock" 9- 9:30 p.m. "The Office" 9:30-10 p.m. "THE OFFICE" SPINOFF 10-11 p.m. "ER"/"The Celebrity Apprentice"

FRIDAY 8-9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" 9-10 p.m. "Friday Night Lights" 10-11 p.m. "Life"

SATURDAY 8-9 p.m. "Dateline NBC" 9-10 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Encores) 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order" (Encores)

SUNDAY 7-8 p.m. Specials/"Dateline NBC" 8-9 p.m. Specials/"MERLIN" 9-10 p.m. Specials/"Medium" 10-11 p.m. Specials/"KINGS"



Hmmm... something's missing. What could it be? Oh right, SCRUBS!! No worries, though, series star Zach Braff officially announced what we've all been expecting for some time now -- the medical comedy will move to ABC this fall for its 8th and final season. Look for the official network announcement tomorrow during ABC's Upfront presentation. For more on NBC's schedule, visit The Futon Critic.

Locke Gets More 'Lost'

I'm a little behind on Lost (thanks to that AWESOME episode of Scrubs that aired the same night), so it looks like this post is going to be batting clean-up. We were back in flashback mode this week as we took a peak pay back in Locke's past. As in, the day he was born to his unwed, teenaged mother and then raised in some sort of foster/group home. Nothing too earth-shattering here until we got to the part where "He Who Never Ages" (a.k.a Richard) showed up to test Locke as a child to see if he was special. He wanted Locke to pick out the item that belonged to him, and he failed. It was interesting to note, though, that the comic book was about a secret island. Hmm... The episode fast-forwarded to after Locke's accident, and we saw a man (the same man who tracks down Hurley after he gets off the island and claims to be from the airline) taking care of him while he worked through his physical therapy. All of this indicates that the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 was not an accident. Locke was somehow destined to be on the island.

If we need any further proof, then we can look no further than the bizarre Claire/Jack/Father reunion that's bound to happen sooner rather than later. Why is Jack's father EVERYWHERE?? And, didn't he die?? He turned up in the cabin and he wasn't alone. He had Claire with him! WTH?? Either Locke's seeing things, Claire has been brainwashed, Jack's father is still alive or a combination of all three because that cabin scene was crazy. The most interesting revelation of the night, though, was seeing the ship's doctor alive and then watching him get executed. Uh, didn't he wash up on the island's shore a couple of episodes back? Me thinks the island is a few hours ahead of the rest of the world, as in, everything is happening in the future. It's enough to make my head spin!

Screencaps courtesy Lost-Media.com

'Scrubs' Goes Medieval

That. Was. AWESOME!!! So awesome, that I'm willing to overlook the random "Dr. Kelso's back and seems to have never left" weirdness (which, I can only explain away by assuming NBC aired the episodes out of order). But seriously, who cares. There was too much awesomeness during this Princess Bride-inspired outing to let something like network idiocy spoil the fun. And oh what fun is was! If there was ever a need for proof as to why this show deserves a proper send off, this was it. The entire fairytale backdrop was beyond incredible. It was funny, clever, original and well, simply hilarious! You know what else was hilarious? Everything from the gang staying still so The Todd gets confused, Keith continuing to agonize over Elliot, JD's gloating, the Lost smoke monster making a cameo, "Turla" and their alternating words and shared female problems, "Sasha" the scooter playing the part of the donkey, Janitor as the giant, Village Idiot (JD) and Princess (Elliot) trying to kiss but not being able to reach because they're shackled to the dungeon wall, Laverne, and every single awesome detail of the fairytale story. Here's this week's best, funniest and all around awesome lines in this edition of the Scrubies [NOTE: Every line should have been nominated, but in the interest of time, here is just a sampling].

The Scrubies
"Much like one-hit-wonder Natalie Imbruglia, I'm torn." Dr. Cox to JD and Turk on child rearing

"What's the monster like? Is he nice??" Village Idiot (JD) to the Brave Knight (Perry) after Brave Knight gets beaten

"Are you outta your mind, woman?! We only got one ball!" Turk to Carla while they were joined together as "Turla"

"Your ass is bleeding." Princess (Elliot) to Village Idiot (JD) while riding his donkey Sasha
"Sasha!! Are you OK?" Village Idiot
"No, Idiot. Your ass is bleeding." Princess

"To Sasha!" JD after finding the Golden Ring

If you have a line that you would like to nominate for a Scrubie, be sure to leave me a comment.

Catch up on this and other outings of Scrubs with full-length, free episodes at Hulu.com.

'Scrubs' Gets a Fairytale Ending

But is it forever?? That is the question of the day. One thing is for sure -- Scrubs wraps up its 7-year run on NBC tonight. But reports are still swirling that it will continue next season on ABC. In the meantime, the show pays tribute to the 80s classic The Princess Bride. Thanks to the good folks at BNC PR, I have a clip from tonight's finale that also includes an interview with star (and episode director) Zach Braff:



Don't miss tonight's finale at 8:30 EST on NBC. As usual, PTR will have the best and funniest lines from the episode tomorrow.

Morris Helps Celebrate TV Moms

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

It's all about the moms this week.

With the fifth season of Cold Case now wrapped up and heading into its summer hiatus, PTR Fave Kathryn Morris was out n' about this week as she attended The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Mother’s Day Salute to TV Moms. The event was held at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood on May 6th.

Meredith Baxter was also in attendance. We remember her as Ellen Rush - Lilly's ever-so problematic mom. But how about Marion Ross - Mrs. Cunningham from Happy Days? Awesome.

(Can I just say that this is a totally cute event? I guess I'm just a sucker for mom stuff - 'cause hey, I love my mom and Mother's Day is this weekend, folks).

Go TV moms.

Photos: Mathew Imaging / WireImage

Allison's Shattered Dreams

I know I've lamented about the evils of network promos. They either reveal too much or completely mislead you to believe the episode is about something its not and/or includes something that, when viewed, is nothing like how it seemed in the promo. Oh, I HATE them. Scratch that, I LOATHE them!! I swear, they hurt shows more than they help. Such was the case with this week's Medium outing. If you saw one of the ubiquitous ads, then you knew that guest star Miguel Ferrer was playing a double role as twins. That's all well and good except for the fact that we weren't supposed to know about the twins!! Nice one, NBC. Ruin the surprise. Luckily, this is Medium, so we were in for more than one shocker. Still, it isn't right.

Apparently, Teddy Carmichael died after a run-in with some dangerous types. But, he lived on through his brain-damaged brother. His spirit was able to control his brother's body and enact revenge on those responsible for his death. Secretly, I kinda wished this could really happen because there are far too many senseless murders in the world. Realistically, it's probably a no-go, but it made for an interesting episode. Poor Allison was having dreams that were conflicting with what Scanlon was telling her and she had me scratching my head right along with her.

Joe, Joe, Joe -- when are you going to catch a break? Here I was thinking that this new business venture, although sketchy, would turn out the way he wanted, but then his controlling partner started her own little version of Disclosure. Obviously, he did the right thing, but the right thing isn't always the easiest. It just sucks that Meghan Doyle has the controlling interest in his idea. Somehow I knew that was going to come back and bite him. Looks like it's back to the unemployment line for the DuBoises.

Photos courtesy nbc.com. If you missed last night's outing ("Being Joey Carmichael"), check it out for free at Hulu.com.

ABC Cancels 'Trees'

TV Guide's Mike Ausiello is reporting that ABC has cancelled Men in Trees after two seasons of crazy scheduling and long hiatuses between episodes. The last run of episodes will begin May 28th. More from Ausiello:


Exclusive: ABC Chops Down Men in Trees

If this is a harbinger of the week ahead, I may be taking off on a last-minute vacation tonight. ABC has gone and canceled one of TV's most consistently heartwarming hours, Men in Trees.

The sad, depressing news was just confirmed to me by series creator Jenny Bicks, who says she was informed of the network's decision late last week. "I am really proud of the work we did on MIT," she tells me. "A huge thank you to our supportive fans."

Bicks believes that two years of schizophrenic scheduling ultimately did the cherished dramedy in. "I wish the show had not been moved six times and put onto two long hiatuses," she sighs. "No show could survive that."

Truer words have never been spoken.

As soul-crushing as this is, I managed to find a silver lining in all this: Viewers will get their happy ending.

Bicks and her team prepared for Trees' possible demise by shooting an alternate series-finale ending that will now be tacked onto the show's last episode, which is slated to air this summer. Trees kicks off its final run of episodes on Wednesday, May 28.

In the meantime, use the comments section below to mourn the passing of another great TV show. Also, feel free to share your fondest Trees memories. Mine? Marin falling through the ice and being forced to spend the night with Jack in the pilot. Now your turn.


I will miss this charming show. How do you feel about MIT's cancellation? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

Fractured 'Bones'

Angela: "Friends don't send friends' fathers to the electric chair."
Brennan: "Maryland uses lethal injection."

Leave it to Bones to accentuate the finer, more accurate points while her father sits in a courtroom with a jury that will more than likely send him to his death if they find him guilty. In fact, it never truly hit her that her father was facing incredible odds. He was accused of murdering an FBI bigwig, and even though there was no smoking gun, the evidence clearly pointed in his direction. Even Sweets believed that her father was capable of anything if he thought his family was threatened. Things were not looking good for Max Keenan, so Brennan took a huge risk and presented herself as a viable suspect in order to cast that all-important reasonable doubt on her father. It worked. More importantly, though, it showed Brennan what it feels like when you let your heart take over.

As far as Bones episodes go, this was a pretty heavy one. Even so, they managed to infuse enough humor to maintain that typical Bones charm. The funniest scene was that ridiculous discovery at the beginning of the episode. Seeing those bones twisted into some sort of yoga position (which, let's face it, would have been difficult even alive with muscles lending a hand), had me laughing right along with Brennan. And then there were a pair of Booth/Brennan/Sweets scenes that made me happy. Things should get interesting now that he's going to be studying the duo. And how much did we love the fact that Brennan and Booth had to be separated in the courtroom??!! They were scolded like second graders! Of course, there was plenty of heart in this one too (and not just Dr. Brennan's). LOVED the scene in Brennan's apartment when Booth explained how to put the brain "into neutral" and the heart "into overdrive." Maybe they both need to heed that advice. Wink, wink.

Photos are copyright Fox Broadcasting Co. If you missed last night's outing ("The Verdict in the Story"), check it out for free at Hulu.com.

Ullman's 'State' Renewed

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

She will be back.

Again.

Showtime has announced the always entertaining Tracey Ullman will return for a second season with seven new episodes of her critically-acclaimed series Tracey Ullman's State of the Union. Production will begin this fall, and the new batch episodes will begin airing in 2009. Ullman will once again serve as executive producer with her husband Allan McKeown, and she will also write the episodes.

Funny. Hysterical. Genius. Funny. Hysterical. Amazing. Entertaining. Funny.

Back to you, Brian.

Source: Showtime

Foe Becomes ‘Bro Becomes Foe on ‘Dexter’

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

“Does this make it easier for you? Because I can go on …”

Miami: The City of Brotherly Love.

Are we still recovering from last night’s first season finale of Dexter?

So. Good.

Even the second time around (and since the Cold Case season finale was less than stellar and/or an outright bore, Dex rescued Sunday night for me).

I still remain amazingly impressed with how they managed to take all the twists and turns of each character’s development, round it out and set it up for the second season (which all PTR readers should now be required to either a) watch over on Sho.com or b) put in their Netflix que).

I like to think this finale gave us the man with the missing arm (or woman, literally).

The smoking gun.

The gunman on the grassy knoll.

The reveal of Rudy as Dex’s real, honest to goodness brother – abandoned in that nightmare of a chainsaw massacre when real-life mom’s drug deal went bad – was just so insanely clever and clicked everything into place (the idea both could actually be serial killers … eh, a bit of stretch, but whatever).

Dex picked up and saved by Harry.

Rudy left to fend for himself in a mental institution, then spend the next umpteen years planning an ever gruesome reunion.

One duty-bound by a code to co-exist in the regular world, albeit in a constant state of disguise; the other willing to forgo any sense of code to showcase a true identity and live in utter honesty with the one other person who would be able to accept him as-is.

Decisions, decisions.

Often, the question has been raised about Dexter’s morality. That is, he is a killer underneath it all, so how could he really be a good guy? Contrasted against Rudy’s rather self-absorbed mom-told-me-to-always-look-after-you-let’s-run-away-and-be-free-together-routine, well … it’s pretty clear Dex is incredibly moral, incredibly diligent about the handling of the condition from which he suffers, and he – most importantly – knows right from wrong.

Rudy, in contrast, does not. Even more cold-blooded and void of a moral code than Dex, all his warm-fuzzy-greatest guy in the world routine was just an act, a means to an ultimate selfish end.

And whilst one could make the argument Dex lives in a constant state of betrayal, he remains an integral part of so many people’s lives, and remains rather unselfish when it comes right down to it.

And yes, you can be a killer and a hero. It does work that way, Rudy.

So, aside from Rudy v. Dex … what wasn’t going on in this finale?

We have poor Deb. So desperate to fall in love. As irritated as I am with Lilly Rush’s inability to do the same, I definitely do not want her falling for a serial killer. Er, at least the bad kind since Dex has proven there is actually a good kind. Can we just say Amen to Jennifer Carpenter again? I was having a few Exorcism of Emily Rose flashbacks when she was tied up in the car screaming and/or sobbing uncontrollably … but hey, it’s all good.

Can we get another Amen for Rita (and Julie Benz)? She really came into her true sense of being, standing up to Paul, delivering on behalf of her kids.

“You broke my heart. You broke my bones, and I took it so those kids wouldn’t have to.”

Ok, I’m willing to overlook Paul suddenly working overtime to prove his innocence in being set-up by Dexter (which, ok, he was, but what goes around, comes around; it’s not like Paul doesn’t deserve to be where he is – even if had some help getting there).

Laguerta being demoted so that Captain Matthews could save his own job given the botched handling of this whole Icetruck Killer escapade (hey, we know stuff always rolls downhill, doesn’ it?). And yet, Laguerta actually was on her game in this finale – moving quick and swift to try and save ol’ Deb. It’s finally at this point this character does not get on my nerves.

Sgt. Doakes v. Dex: all I have to say is watch the second to see how that little tit-for-tat develops. Doakes was always on to Dex’s unusualness, and boy, that is never more true now. Erik King’s tougher than tough, unrelenting portrayal of Doakes is the one thing that makes it seem as if Dex doesn’t just get to have his cake and eat it, too. It’s the external balance to Dex’s own internal dialog of how he can survive, specifically amongst those who are trained to find him out.

Go Dex.

You can (and should) catch up on the second season of Dexter over on the show's official Web site on Sho.com. PTR will be bringing the third season of Dex to you when new episodes resume in the fall.

Lilly Gets a Chance for a Second Impression

It's weird. I was so excited when the Writers Strike ended and we got the fabulous news that many of our favorite shows would be returning with a few new episodes, and yet, somehow this didn't work out like I thought. Now that season five is officially in the books for Cold Case, I can't help but to feel a little shortchanged. Ironically, this was the one feeling I was expecting not to have given the extra 5 episodes. Lilly's therapy sessions were shortchanged. Residual effects from Lil and Scotty's late night ride with John Smith were shortchanged. And this week, I felt like the season finale was a bit shortchanged. It was a good story, excellent case, and I'm glad the show softened the Saccardo character, but for some reason I feel like something's missing. Maybe it's the 5-6 episodes that weren't made due to the strike or the lack of a more end-of-the-season feel to the season finale, but something was off. Last season, Lilly got shot and was clinging to life. The season before, she was throwing her career away for a non-victim and she was facing a deranged serial killer in the attic of his childhood home in the season 2 ender. This season, she was kinda sorta rehashing season one's former- alcoholic- mom- and- her- daughter- go- out- the- window 3-hanky outing (complete with the same harsh judgmental edge) and maybe seeing a different side to the rough and gruff Saccardo. So, if I measure this outing against past finales, then it doesn't hold up well. But, if I look at it as just another episode, then it shines pretty bright.

Sure, there were some plot holes bogging it down (the Fire Marshall didn't get the location of the start of the fire correct?? And he didn't realize that the window would have been blown out in a blast and not broken into shards on the floor inside the bedroom??), but I overlooked them because they had little to do with the story and the actual non-murder. Speaking of which, I LOVED the way they worked this case out. Max was alive because he was stolen out of his crib and the blaze was set to cover the whole thing up (including the body of another unfortunate infant). I'm wondering if the little baby John Doe will be Lil and co.'s first case of the new season. The camera seemed to linger on that box at the end, and it would more than likely give them an excuse to include Saccardo. If baby John Doe is the first case of the new season, just remember where you heard it first.

And then there was Saccardo. I know there was a rather... hmmm... should we say strong reaction to him the first time around, but I didn't feel one way or the other. The verdict was still out for me mainly because I felt that he was trying to impress Lil, but going about it all wrong. This week, he made a much bigger impression on me. He tried his usual machismo routine on her, but after sensing that it wasn't going to get him anywhere, he switched tactics. Turns out, that macho act is just that -- an act. There's a lot more to the character, and I think Lilly might be re-thinking her initial impressions. He certainly had her number about the addict moms with kids, but the thing that impressed me the most was his honesty at the flower mart. Lilly started to get a little personal with Priscilla when she wanted the answer to a question that has plagued her and Saccardo sensed that it was uncomfortable. So, he decided to reveal something personal about himself. He was a user and he drew on his own experiences to get Priscilla to open up. It let Lilly know that he has secrets too and he wasn't going to force her to reveal something she didn't want to. There was respect there, and Lilly didn't let it go unnoticed. It was just enough to make me intrigued about their potential.

This episode may not have measured up in the season finale column, but it was still a strong outing and definitely another win on the season. Seeing as this was the season ender, this means the crime drama ends the year undefeated 18-0. Not a bad hour all (shortened) season long. Bravo, CC cast and crew! And thanks for another great season. Can't wait for Lil and the gang's return this September, which is only, oh, 4+ months away!!! Stupid summer.

Screencaps courtesy RichE at Look Again.