Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Mark Burnett Goes Scripted for CBS; Roma Downey to Co-Exec Produce

Roma Downey and Mark Burnett at the 7th Annual Geffen GalaBy LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer


Since we here at PTR like to keep tabs on our faves, we'll file this under: Total.Coolness.

(Or: Please, CBS, take this from "script commitment" to pilot order to full blown series to a reason to put Roma Downey back in primetime).

News yesterday from the Hollywood Reporter (and elsewhere) that CBS has given a script commitment for a drama project teaming reality show kingpin Mark Burnett with Dirty Sexy Money creator Craig Wright.

HOWEVER, the best part (as far as we're concerned) is that PTR Fave Roma Downey (who is married to Burnett) will co-executive produce the project.

Niiiice!

The premise of the show?

It's not a procedural.

Thank.God.For.That.

Like we need another one.

Rather, the untitled project, to be produced by Sony Pictures TV, is set to be about a lawyer who, after a near-fatal car crash, is offered a second chance at life by the ghost of his ex-wife.

Am I the only one thinking dearest Roma SHOULD BE the ghostly ex-wife?

(Pipe dream on my part, I know. She already told us here at PTR how much she prefers being out of the limelight these days; we don't blame her).

But alas, one can dream. And so, too, can CBS given that little show she used to do called Touched By An Angel is a legend - and still watched in droves in syndication over on the Hallmark Channel.

Angel. Spirit. Ghost. Apparition. It all works for me when Roma's involved.

And kudos to Mark for getting his wish to delve deeper into the scripted drama realm.

We'll be watching hoping to see if it gets picked up for actual pilot-hood.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

How Marshall 'Met' Lily's Dead Ringer

I love how this show plays with the concept of fate and destiny. Whether it's the girl with the umbrella, Ted trying to lecture the wrong class or this week's story (Ted on a second blind date with the same girl), this show really shines when it centers the episode around it. I love how it took both Ted and his date until about halfway through the date at the same restaurant with the same conversation to realize they had done this before. And I love the way they mutually decided to help each other out by pointing out what went wrong the first time around. I figured this was going to lead to them realizing that they had feelings for each other, but I didn't see the twist at the end coming. Ted, in a moment of complete clarity, realized instead that he and his date weren't compatible. Neither was willing to accept the other's faults (his stupid jokes and perceived "snobbery" and her propensity to talk about her cats), so they ended things (again) before they even began. But this time, they ended them on good terms.

Meanwhile, Barney and Marshall were busy spotting the Triple Doppelganger (apparently, they had already found Robin's and Marshall's). Barney dragged Marshall into a local strip club (I know it sounds crazy, but he seriously had to drag him in there and then convince him to relax and to fantasize about other women) and they were both shocked when the featured stripper took the stage. She looked exactly like Lily! They were so surprised, Barney ran back and told Lily who wanted to see "Stripper Me." She was so impressed with her stripper doppelganger that she threw a hundred at her (much to Marshall's chagrin). The biggest surprise to this story, though, was Robin's reaction to Barney's strip club ways. Like Barney, I thought she would be totally cool with it. It seems we were both wrong. She was definitely not cool with it. And Barney being Barney, he decided to avoid discussing the topic all together. Uh-oh, I sense issues forming between the non-couple/couple.

How I Met Your Mother airs Mondays on CBS. If you missed last night's episode, watch it for free at cbs.com.

Monday, September 28, 2009

'Cold' Voyage

Continuity. It's not that Cold Case is usually lacking it per se, but the show doesn't normally present us with story lines that require it. It's more of a close-ended kinda show. Each week, cases are wrapped up and personal stuff is put on the back burner in favor of the case stuff. But, something tells me that this season might be a little different. First, we had a CC rarety: "Previously on Cold Case..." and that little recap had nothing to do with this week's case. It was purely personal, as in, personal for Lilly. And that was a clear indicator for the episode that followed. Moe Kitchener is back (the one who tried to kill Lil by forcing her car off that bridge in last season's finale), and his initial hearing put him right back out on the street and set his trial for May. Looks like this is going to be a season-long arc for Lil. And judging by her stalking behavior at the end, things are going to get interesting. We've never seen Lil's dark side and I'm intrigued. I hope the show really delves into it throughout the season.

The case was interesting. As usual, I enjoyed the trip through time to 1966. It's always fun to see the sets, film effects, costumes and way of life. I liked Darcy, and I was intrigue by the mystery surrounding her death, but I had a couple of issues with the story. First, I thought Grace made a bad doer. I normally give this show the benefit of the doubt and just assume heat of the moment and all, but this time, I just had too difficult of a time buying this one. It felt forced. It felt like the show was falling into that trap of making the killer be the least likely person. It didn't feel natural. Second, I found it hard to believe that no one came across Darcy's body after her friend left it right there in the open in the engine room. Someone had to come upon it, right? I know the ship was decomissioned after that voyage, but they had to do a quick once over before they put it permanently into port.

So, this was kind of a mixed bag for me. Great continuity and personal developments, but just a mediocre case because of the resolution. I think we're off to a good start, though, so let's start off with a win. CC kicks off the season 1-0. Screencap courtesy of RichE.

Gus Has Got Talent

Gus was in a boy band!! They were like Boyz II Men with Hammer pants and taller hair and the revelation drove Shawn crazy with jealousy (he has always wanted to sing in a 4-part band) and disappointment (that Gus kept this from him). In a word, it was AWESOME!! Here's a look at the rest of the best in this week's edition of "The Funny, The Funnier and OK, For Real, My Side Just Split."

THE FUNNY
Can I get an amen? Shawn went to the funeral of one of Gus's college friends for moral support, but wound up having a fun time with the "amens" and the "hallelujahs." He asked Gus if he could give an amen if the preacher asked, and Gus told him he could but to wait for it. He did -- patiently too. When the preacher asked, "Can I get an amen?", Shawn gave an enthusiastic one. But, he couldn't let things go with that simple refrain. A few seconds later, he was standing up and shouting "hallelujah!" by himself in front of the entire church. Gus gave him a look and he apologized saying that he got a bit carried away. Shawn getting carried away? How unusual! Of course, the more carried away he gets, the funnier the scene.

THE FUNNIER
For reasons not initially known to Shawn and Gus, Jules and Lassiter were especially tight-lipped about this case. They cited higher-ups and wouldn't share any info with Shawn and Gus. So, Shawn decided to resort to his own tactics (as usual). This included cozying-up to the new coroner, which meant posing as a coroner tech while Gus had to play a cadaver. Shawn used his charm to ascertain "Diddle's" cause of death. Luckily, Cadaver Gus was there to decipher the coroner's words so Shawn could ask a follow up question. The two learned that "Diddle" could have been strangled before he was involved in the hit and run.

OK, FOR REAL, MY SIDE JUST SPLIT
Shawn and Gus posing as American ninjas and spying on a huge drug deal sounds hilarious on paper (because you know they're gonna mess it up!), but it was downright side-splitting to watch it play out. First, Gus's cell phone started ringing (with its "Hello" ringtone). The drug dealers heard it and Shawn and Gus started fighting over who was calling him this late at night. Gus discovered it was Shawn! He hadn't locked his keys when he put his phone in his back pocket (and yes, I know because I too own an iPhone, the keys automatically lock when the phone goes into "sleep mode." But benefit of the doubt -- his back pocket slid the bar and unlocked the phone). Then, Shawn used his phone to call Gus's phone and the "Hello" ringtone distracted the bad guys long enough for Shawn and Gus to get away. They were scooped up by one of them, though. When their masks were pulled off, the two screamed like children until they realized they were staring at Jules and Lassie. Then, the man with the scar entered and they started screaming while they rolled their chairs back into the wall of the interrogation room. Funny, funny stuff! My only complaint, where was Shawn's awesome Psych iPhone cover?

Psych airs Friday nights on USA Network. Catch up on this episode ("High Top Fade Out") and others at hulu.com. And learn more about the awesome-ness that is Shawn and Gus at USA's official site or friend them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Welcome Back, 'Dexter'



By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer


A new creepy and clever adversary.

The return of Special Agent Frank Lundy.

Rita's back in charge.

Deb's doing good.

Harry's guiding light has returned.

Can we just forget the third season of Dexter ever happened and pick up the series from here?

Seriously? Can we?

I never like it when my favorite shows decide to take a creative left turn, and I was less than impressed with the direction Dexter took during its third go around.

I know I wasn't the only one.

It was, by far, the weakest season. I didn't get it. Nor did I buy it. And after the third episode, when the whole show should've been renamed Miguel Prado's My New BFF, I wondered whether I would even be back this season.

But Jennifer Carpenter saved it for me.

I'm so glad she did.

The fourth season premiere got the show back to its basics. As in, repackaging the best of the first two seasons.

1) A new, more impressive, more creepy serial killer adversary in the form of the Trinity Killer (played by the can-be-a-baddy-in-the-best-of-ways John Lithgow). Jimmy Smits' I'm-a-serial-killer-DA-and-I-need-to-share just didn't work for me. Lithgow is a huge improvement considering he CAN be a bad guy, not just a third rock from the sun. We may not be at Tobin Bell's Jigsaw character from the Saw film franchise as yet, but quiet, calm, steady and ice cold works for me. Just like Dex's brother in season one. Go.Trinty.Killer.

2) The return of Special Agent Frank Lundy - who was, is and always will be the best thing to happen to Deb Morgan. I am thrilled he's back in town - albeit retired - to track down the Trinity Killer as his one "special case" that seemed to have gotten away (all good cops seemed to have one, eh?). Lundy's presence creates that very subtle sense of unease with Dex as he once again is set to help the one guy (outside of Sergeant Doakes) who could figure out his secret.

As such, I think these two elements alone make for a great fourth season premise.

Dexter was at his best when he was opposite his own brother in that first year, going tit-for-tat with someone cut from the serial killer cloth. Not in rehab. Not showing up for golf lessons and lunch dates. Not playing house. No teaching someone how to be a serial killer.

Moreover, Deb was at her best when she had the cool, steady, supportive and guiding hand of Special Agent Lundy in her life - personally and professionally. There is fantastic chemistry between Jennifer Carpenter and Keith Carradine. His character's return to the show is a huge plus not only for the potential love triangle that will likely arise between Deb, Lundy and Anton (one of the few good things to come out of season three), but also for what will surely bring more growth for the Deb character all the while creating uneasiness in the Dexter character.

All that said, I have to say I'm also happy to see Harry Morgan resurrected from being last season's roadkill. Seriously. I wasn't happy when he was turned into the bad dad who had a fling with a confidential informant (CI), which suddenly found Dexter wanting to ditch anything and everything that had to do with Harry. I'm all for flawed characters and getting out from underneath the parental shadow, but that whole approach just didn't work for me. Besides, James Remar is one of the best things about this show, so sending him to Davy Jones' Locker wasn't a good idea in my eyes.

And the lovely Julie Benz was so ridiculously wasted last season that it was insulting. I got tired of seeing everyone's character development pushed to the side so the entire show could revolve around Miguel Prado's family, his obsessions, his whatever. The character of Rita, in my opinion, was sacrificed the most as part of the Prado/Dexter BFF routine. Thankfully, Julie's Rita is back in the forefront in the fourth season, being the wife, mother and confident woman we love her to be.

The other steady hand in Dexter's life.

Some office hanky panky between Batista and Laguerta should be interesting. Didn't see that one coming. Probably will see that end before it really begins UNLESS the writers decide to do the opposite and make it work. In some strange way, I'd actually like to see that.

After all, these writers still have a way of surprising me.

Even in my discontent.

That's the sign of a good show.

All in all, a strong fourth season premiere that had me feeling like the real Dexter is back in town.

And possibly better than ever.

New episodes of Dexter air Sunday at 9 p.m. on Showtime. Check out the official Dexter Web site for the inside scoop on the series. You can follow the show on Twitter: Twitter.com/sho_dexter; or, become a fan on Facebook: Facebook.com/Dexter.

Moving into the 'Dollhouse'

'Dollhouse' Airs on FOXBy LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer


I moved into the Dollhouse by accident last season.

Bored by the mid-season mess that was Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, I hung around to watch Dollhouse and suddenly found myself wanting to watch Echo instead of Cameron.

I liked what I saw.

From the start.

Maybe it's the former X-Phile in me who dug the idea there's this super-exclusive company that has "dolls" who are, essentially, people turned into memory-less human beings who can be imprinted with whatever personality one is willing to pay for. The "dolls" are seemingly troubled souls who are recruited into the company as a last resort to reclaim their life (which they get back after they serve their five year term; er, I should say they get back their "personality").

This is a premise you don't hear - or see - every day.

And it worked for me.

Call me easily entertained, but I didn't have the same issues others in television blogosphere had with the set-up, the stories, the dialogue, the acting, the whatever.

Maybe I just don't watch enough science fiction.

Or maybe I'm so bored with the overkill of police and legal procedurals on network TV that this show seemed like something shiny, new and different.

Whatever it was, I was really happy it bucked the trend and got itself renewed for a second season when all the so-called "experts" in the television world thought it was DOA.

Yay!

Win one for the fans.

And the network for giving it a chance (even with lowly ratings).

Lowly ratings or not, the show comes to PTR this season, and the second season premiere was pretty darn good.

My ab-fab Special Agent Paul Ballard (played oh-so-well by the irresistible Tahmoh Penikett) is now working on the doll team as opposed to trying to tear it down. But turning him into Echo's handler is PERFECT. He was one of the highlights of the first season, so I'm thrilled to see him move into this role.

Eliza Dushku's Echo continues to evolve into an intriguing character - whether in her native active state (not imprinted with a personality) or engaged as an active (imprinted with a personality). I don't think she gets enough credit for having to take on so many different characters in such a short period of time all the while maintaining Echo's passive, non-active state.

But even with Dushku as the star, the show truly works as an ensemble.

Dichen Lachman's Sierra STOLE (and I do mean stole) several episodes last season. She has tremendous range to play almost any type of character and is my favorite doll.

Miracle Lurie's Mellie was the sentimental sweetheart last season as Paul Ballard's love interest. When I found out she WAS a doll, I dropped my Twitterberry. Although her character was set free from the dollhouse at the end of last season, we haven't seen the last of her.

Enver Gjokaj's Victor is the resident good guy doll. He, Echo, Sierra and Mellie make a good team. As do the actors.

Harry Lennix's Boyd Langton was Echo's handler last season, but promoted to head of security this season. I.Love.Him. If you don't like this guy, there's something wrong with you.

Amy Acker's Dr. Saunders was so quiet and gentle last season, scarred for life when the Alpha active went a little haywire (hey, it happens). While I loved her being so understated, she's poised to turn into something entirely different this season.

Olivia Williams' Adelle DeWitt couldn't be more perfect as the head honcho of the dollhouse. She seems to be mostly ice with a chance of thaw every so often on the horizon - llike a super-strict teacher that wants everything done her way, on her time, in her terms without being all bad.

And Fran Kranz's Topher Brink - the man behind all the imprints, the computers, the software, the everything that MAKES the dollhouse what it is - is quirky weird, yet totally likable. I think he has the BEST lines on the show.

Talk about revenge of the nerd.

Joss Whedon wouldn't have it any other way.

Now if only everyone else would start watching it.

New episodes of Dollhouse air Fridays at 9 p.m. on FOX. For the scoop on the series, head on over to the show's official site.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

'Fringe' Goes Underground

I knew that subtle, yet awesome, nod to the X-Files during last week's premiere was a good omen for the season! This week's investigation into the strange and seemingly unexplainable was straight out of the 90s cult favorite's playbook. Rural area, farm land, creepy (yet secretly brilliant) farmer who seems so helpful, and a freaky human/creature hybrid that was created when an experiment went wrong. That human/creature was so scary! And evil! I actually covered my eyes when Peter turned around and saw it sneaking up behind Liv. And then it grabbed her and pulled her into its underground lair (TM Austin Powers) and I started freaking out. Only X-Files made my skin crawl like that! Kudos to Fringe for bringing back some memories.

I'm also glad to see that this Charlie story line is panning out as well as I had hoped. The magic mirror trick was back, and it said that Fake Charlie needs to make Olivia remember who she spoke with and what he told her. Meanwhile, a clueless Liv is still confiding in Charlie and I fear that it's only a matter of time before she remembers and tells him what she learned in the alternate universe. Walter and Peter have to discover the truth -- STAT! Fake Charlie is a huge threat and he must be neutralized as soon as possible. Poor Liv. First she confides in Fake Charlie and then she becomes creature bait. And, it was her first week back on the job!

It seems that traveling to another universe leaves its mark. Let's just say that it's worse than recovering from a simple case of jet lag. Olivia keeps having bouts of superhero-strength hearing. She could hear the human/creature under the farmer's house, she could hear insects flying and landing, and in her apartment, she could hear through the walls. Of course, this could come in handy at some point. When she went to find Nina's guy, he warned her that the headaches would be starting soon. Oh joy. She's still hobbling around from being flung through the car on her return trip to this universe. Now she has to endure headaches? This is going to be a rough season for Liv!

Fringe airs Thursday nights on Fox. If you missed this week's episode, you can watch it for free at Fox.com.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Spy 'Bones'

Cue spy music, enter the fancy car, and send in the spies! Er, Booth and Bones! This week's episode was like watching a mini movie on my television instead of the big screen. There was action, intrigue, danger and even a little romance (wink, wink). And in the middle of all of that, the show managed to shift its tone closer to its usual fare while also maintaining this season's central conflict: Does Booth have real feelings for Bones or are they coma-induced? I think we all know the answer. But, Booth has to make the journey in order to be sure. Last week, I noted how Bones didn't seem to be too shocked or upset about Booth telling her he loved her until he added the "in a professional kinda way" bit (at which point, she looked a little disappointed almost). This week, she took Sweets's suggestion and convinced Booth to teach her about plumbing (even though she had no real interest in learning). After he re-taught himself, he guided her through it. And she was successful... for a few seconds. Her fix held, but then it started spraying water all over them. It didn't seem to matter, though, because both parties looked happy just to share the experience.

There was also an awesome spy case in the middle of the plumbing lesson. First, the gang had to figure out who their victims were, then why they were killed and finally who was responsible. They managed to sort through the tangled web to uncover a "diamond" dealer, a CIA analyst posing as a spy and a highly sort-after briefcase. That briefcase was supposed to contain millions of dollars of diamonds, but the dealer was re-routed through the diplomatic check point at the airport (by the CIA!). When they finally located the case (thanks to an awesome coded photograph that Angela discovered and decoded), there were no diamonds inside. Instead, there was a small white USB drive. Imagine what that little drive must contain if two people died trying to get it, those transporting it claimed it was diamonds and the CIA re-routed the courier through the diplomatic check point. Fox.com is taking guesses now on its contents if you'd like to take a stab at it.

Making its first appearance this season, here's this week's The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly in its new, modified form:

THE GOOD: That plumbing scene at the end because it showed that Bones is just as invested as Booth.

THE BAD: The killer. I wasn't buying the Ukranian torturer-turned-murderer.

THE UGLY: It's so hard to pick just one this week. Cam's eye ball exam turned my stomach, the body in the trunk with the melting flesh was gross, but the murder in the beginning takes the cake this week. We don't usually see the actual murder on this show -- now I know why!

If you missed last night's episode ("Bond in the Boot"), check it out for free at Hulu.com.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

'Mother' of a Commitment

Going into this week's season premiere of How I Met Your Mother, I was a little concerned about reports that put Barney and Robin in a relationship this season. How can Barney be Barney if he's in a serious, committed relationship? And how would I feel about these two together? Last night's opener showed that HIMYM knows how to tackle a show-stopping obstacle with humor and continued intrigue. Barney and Robin's inability to have "the talk" to define their relationship was hilarious! And, the ramifications were even funnier. Barney punched a guy who was 100x larger than he is! They both got uncomfortable anytime someone mentioned the words "boyfriend" and "girlfriend." When Lily locked them in the bedroom until they defined it, they "lied" to the gang in order to get out of the room. Of course, as Lily pointed out, they're really only lying to themselves. I wonder how long it will take for both of them to realize this fact?

Meanwhile, Ted started his new job: Professor of Economics Architecture. Loved the way he flip-flopped between being their buddy and being their authority figure. As is usually the case, Barney's advice (in this case, that Ted shouldn't take questions on the first day because it shows weakness) came back and bit Ted 7 minutes into the class. Then again, had he not listened to Barney, he might not have been in that classroom long enough to make the necessary impression to meet the mother. She was in that class, so Ted's accidental foray into economics was fate lending a hand. I can't wait to see what she does next.

How I Met Your Mother airs Mondays on CBS. If you missed last night's season premiere, watch it for free at cbs.com.

Monday, September 21, 2009

'Psych' Goes Bollywood

Shawn and Bollywood go together like, well, super spicey food and spicey water: one just escalates the other. He was very quick to dismiss the curse and "solve" the case in a way too wham- bam- thank- you- ma'am manner. Too hell-bent on beating Lassie at his own game. And too anxious to impress Abigail. But no matter because this meant laughs for us along the way. Here's a look at the rest of the best in this week's edition of "The Funny, The Funnier and OK, For Real, My Side Just Split."

THE FUNNY
OK, I'm just going to say it: Lassie getting the better of Shawn for a change was funny. I loved the look of complete and utter joy when he fetched Spencer to do the interrogation with Raj (or "Roger" to Shawn). He knew what he was sending Shawn into, and he relished every moment of it. Classic Lassie. And as the case went on, he was sure to point out Shawn's shortcomings even further. The "friendly" rivalry between these two is unmatched. Best frienemies on TV!

THE FUNNIER
With the competition between Shawn and Lassie heating up this week, Shawn decided that he would heal Raj of his fake curse by using the power of suggestion. So, he had him place one hand in water and the other on one of those science/energy balls. Gus kept repeatedly insisting that Raj could be electrocuted, but Shawn persisted. When Raj said that he could "feel something," Shawn chalked it up to the curse leaving his body while Gus grew more concerned that they were about to fry the man instead of relieving him of a girlfriend-harming spell. The bickering between Shawn and Gus and watching poor Raj in the middle was pretty hilarious. Warning, though, DO NOT try this at home for your own curse-be-gone cures.

OK, FOR REAL, MY SIDE JUST SPLIT
Another week, another "Best of the Series" moment. Shawn, Gus and Abigail weren't planning on staying for dinner when they dropped in on Raj and his family celebrating Raj's brother's engagement, but once inside the house, they had little choice. Cut to the three sitting around the table eating traditional Indian cuisine (i.e. SPICEY!!) and the hilarity ensued. Shawn asked if the food had been seasoned with molten lava while Gus suffered through watery eyes and the sniffles. Then, Shawn declared that he couldn't see out of his left eye, and Gus proclaimed that he sees "dead people." Both attempted to get relief from their water glasses, but it was in vein as the water appeared to be spicey as well ("Who does that??!!"). So funny!!!! Abigail seemed to get through the meal unscathed (she had spent time in India).

There was one interesting development this week: Shawn was forced to confront his repressed feelings for Jules. She was posing as Raj's fiancee in order to trap the perp, and he grew more and more jealous as the story played out. Hmm... interesting.

Psych airs Friday nights on USA Network. Catch up on this episode ("Bollywood Homicide") and others at hulu.com. And learn more about the awesome-ness that is Shawn and Gus atUSA's official site or friend them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

'Fringe' Returns

I'll admit -- I was a little behind the curve when this premiere started. For some reason, I had put this show out of my mind over the summer (not maliciously, just because I was focused on other stuff) and I should have reviewed the season ender before watching this season's starter. It kinda snuck up on me, though. So, I spent the better part of the episode trying to recall everything that had happened last season (like Olivia's travels to the alternate universe, the revelation that Peter is not the original and Nina and the FBI's special connection). Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this episode.

I wasn't sure how they were going to resolve the "Olivia is brain dead" story or how they were going to keep her alive once she came out of her brain dead state. I kinda saw the Charlie twist coming, but it didn't make it any easier. As bummed as I am to see that Charlie is dead, I think it was necessary because it put into motion this pretty kickass set-up. Fake Charlie (who is some sort of solider ordered to kill Olivia) was able to convince his cohorts that he's the real Charlie and he killed the shape-shifting soldier. So, no one is looking for the shape-shifter and Olivia will trust Charlie giving him full access to her. Things are going to get dicey really soon.

Right now, Liv can't remember where she went, who she met with, and what that person told her (except, everyone's life is in danger and there's something important hidden somewhere). So, she safe -- for now. But, she's going to start remembering bits and pieces and when she does, she'll share them with Fake Charlie. Yikes! I'm counting on Walter to discover Fake Charlie's real identity before it gets to that point.

And then we have the new agent who managed to hack into the fringe division's files. I can tell that she's just as intrigued as the rest of us, but I'm not sure whether her involvement/knowledge of the division is good or bad. Can Peter and co. trust her? And what was with the matching the cases with the bible verses at the end? That was very interesting!

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the awesome-ness that was the subtle homage to a former great FBI/freaky happenings Fox series: X-Files! That one shot of the victim's television tuned into the show made me want to yell, "I believe" and "Trust No One." Great stuff. Overall, a strong start to the sophomore season of a show that carries the X-Files torch beautifully.

Fringe airs Thursday nights on Fox. If you missed last night's episode, you can watch it for free at Fox.com.

Friday, September 18, 2009

They're Back, Baby!

When Bones ended its fourth season, it left many of us feeling... well... duped. But it also left us confused and very unsure about where the show was going to go from there (some were even screaming "Jump the shark!," although, I never went that far). Booth was suffering amnesia from emergency brain surgery, and apparently experienced a coma-induced dream where he and Dr. Brennan were married and expecting a baby. Huh? Thankfully, last night's season premiere clarified the confusion and put the show back on track (albeit, a completely different track, but we'll get to that in a minute).

Booth, under the influence of his coma, had created an alternate life where he and Bones were married and expecting a child. BUT, he got the idea from Dr. Brennan's novel (which, as we saw, she promptly erased). What we don't know is how much was the influence of Dr. Brennan's novel and how much was Booth's imagination running wild. This, of course, is very important for these two going forward. Six weeks had passed between the finale and this week's premiere and in those six weeks, Booth healed and underwent counseling with Sweets where he learned to view his dream as just that -- a dream. Bones was on assignment in Guatemala and hadn't had contact with him (Was she trying to forget what happened? Was she distancing herself from Booth?). They finally reunited (after Angela's psychic gave Brennan some interesting insight) and that reunion seemed to re-trigger all of the feelings Booth had in that coma-induced sequence.

For the rest of the hour, Booth wrestled with his new-found feelings. Sweets convinced him that they would disappear as he continued to recover from the coma. After all, he had forgotten about his crazy socks and he laughed at a clown. A clown, for crying out loud! So clearly, Booth was not "110%" Booth (as he had insisted). But, does this mean that his feelings aren't real? Even if his coma dream was completely induced by Brennan's novel, why did he picture himself with her? Did the coma invent feelings or did it bring them to the surface? It's an interesting plot line that the show can play with this season. It certainly takes the show in a completely different direction and that gave the entire episode a different feel (and quite frankly, I loved it).

This was an episode filled with key moments and important exchanges, but the one on the street with the clown was the biggest. Booth had wanted to tell Brennan how he feels the entire hour. He tried in the cavern under the fountain, he tried outside the diner went he sent Angela away, and he tried in the street with the clown. Each time, he chickened-out. But the last time, he succeeded -- sort of. He got the words out ("I love you"), but he took them back ("You know, in a partner kind of way"). Why? Did he realize how big the moment was and determine that it was too big for him? Or, did he gauge her (unexpected) reaction (she seemed caught in the moment and almost accepting of it -- not against it) and Cam's cautionary words suddenly flooded back to him? She had warned him that if he cracked Brennan's shell, then he better be sure because if he isn't, he'll hurt her so badly that she'll never be able to trust or love again. I think the bottom line is, he just isn't "110%" sure that what he feels for Brennan is his real feelings or if they are coma-induced and thus, fleeting. Why risk everything if they're the latter? Why hurt Brennan irreparably if they're the latter? It seems that Booth needs some time to sort it out first. Something tells me Brennan will still be there when he does.

I have to say, I absolutely ADORED this episode. It erased any doubts I had about the show and made up for last season's ender. While I'm not a huge fan of the coma-induced love tactic, I think the results are, so far, very good. I'm looking forward to where the show goes from here now that it is on a different, more interesting track. Kudos to Hart Hanson and co. for giving us a fantastic start to the season!

Monday, September 14, 2009

'Psych' On Speed

Whenever you get Shawn, Gus and lots of Lassie, you get a winning episode! I just love the dynamic between Shawn and Lassie and the larger overarching dynamic between Shawn, Gus, Lassie, Jules and the Chief. Funny stuff. Here's a look at the rest of the best in this week's edition of "The Funny, The Funnier and OK, For Real, My Side Just Split."

THE FUNNY
There are few things better than Shawn proving Lassie wrong, but this week's process to come to that conclusion was one of them. In order to prove Lassie wrong, Shawn had to "recreate" the crime scene at the cop bar. One wouldn't exactly call him an expert in this sort of thing, so he improvised. He knew that he had to set the stage using stand-ins for all of the players involved in the shoot out. There were no people handy, so he used found objects. Gus was the pepper, Shawn the salt, Jules the sugar and Lassie the lemon. Hahahaha! I LOVED it. Of course, he felt compelled to also include the ladies from the local hair salon (who had just whooped their butts at softball) by representing them with scoops of mashed potatoes. Once he had the scene set right, he realized that the shooter was targeting Lassie and this realization led him to call Lassie and in doing so, he not only proved he was right but also saved Lassie's life (he reached for his phone on the floor of his car just as the shooter took another shot at his head).

THE FUNNIER
Later in the episode, it was Lassie who thought he had gotten it all right (wrong!), but his interview with a local TV station on his big collar was another chance for Shawn to get the better of him. Throughout the entire interview, Shawn and Gus tried to get on camera in the background (they were having a contest to see who could get the most face time). They started doing ridiculous stunts and strutting through the back of the shot all while Lassie was trying to boast about his accomplishment. Finally, Lassie had enough and interrupted his moment in the spotlight to tell both of them to cut it out. Of course, this only served to make the camera antics more discreet, but equally as funny. When the pair watched their handy work on the news later, Shawn won. Gus wanted a re-time.

OK, FOR REAL, MY SIDE JUST SPLIT
This week's funnier-than-funny moment is not only the funniest of the episode, but one of the most hilarious of the series. After Chief Vick realized that the shooter was targeting anyone who had worked on the case, she noticed that Shawn and Gus's names were on the report. Jules called Gus -- he was safe. But, they weren't sure about Shawn. Gus found him on the elliptical machine at the Psych office. He had found a a blinking/beeping light under the ellipical and a message on his water bottle that told him that if his heart rate dropped below 150, he DIES!! Suddenly, he was propelled into "the elliptical version of Speed." He was growing more and more tired by the minute and the bomb squad hadn't arrived. Juliet rushed in and quickly became confused by Shawn's decision to exercise. Gus showed her the water bottle with the note. She read it and then, "Oh my God! I wrote that." Apparently, her trainer uses the technique to motivate her. But what about the blinking/beeping light under the elliptical? It was the missing cordless phone the boys had been searching for all episode. So unbelievably funny! I love this show.

Psych airs Friday nights on USA Network. Catch up on this episode ("Shawn Gets the Yips") and others at hulu.com. And learn more about the awesome-ness that is Shawn and Gus at USA's official site or friend them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Friday, September 11, 2009

PTR Reveals the Best Episode of the Season!


Well, we have made it through the summer-long countdown, which means that it is time to reveal the #1 Best Episode of the Season. For the final time, here's a look at the rules for this year's winners. LillyKat and I ended up with 33 incredible episodes that demonstrate the diversity and quality of the current television state. The shows and their episodes are from both NETWORK and CABLE television. All episodes aired between June 2008 and June 2009. Each episode that made the final list moved us in some way; either by making us laugh out loud, cry our eyes out or just left us with that "wow" feeling that stays with you for a few days. So basically, it's completely subjective! Since this was a summer-long countdown to the number 1 episode, we revealed a few each week all summer. Before we get to numbers 3-1, here's a quick review of #33-4:

33. “Friends With Benefits” – My Name is Earl
32. “Gus Walks into a Bank” – Psych
31. “Chuck Versus the Colonel” – Chuck
30. “Private Eyes” – My Boys
29. “Apocalypse… Now?” – Medium
28. “Intervention” – How I Met Your Mother
27. “Tuesday the 17th” – Psych
26. “Officer Down” – Cold Case
25. "A Pretty Girl in a Leotard" – Damages
24. “Inside Probe” – My Name is Earl
23. "Mr. Ferguson is Ill Today" – Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
22. “New York, New York” – Friday Night Lights
21. "Hey! Mr Pibb." – Damages
20. “The Deadliest Ice Road” – Ice Road Truckers
19. "I Lied, Too" - Damages
18. "The Final Hour" – Deadliest Catch
17. “Zebras” – Law & Order: SVU
16. “Tomorrow Blues” – Friday Night Lights
15. "Mortal Men" – Deadliest Catch
14. “Unleashed” – Fringe
13. "Heart of a Cop" – Saving Grace
12. “Yanks in the UK” – Bones
11. "I Believe In Angels" - Saving Grace
10. “The Incident” – Lost
9. “The Double Death of the Dearly Departed” – Bones
8. "Cherry Bomb" – The Closer
7. “The Long Blue Line/Into the Blue” – Cold Case
6. "Allison From Palmdale" – Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
5. “My Finale” – Scrubs
4. “Right Time, Right Place” – How I Met Your Mother

And now, the Top 3 episodes of the season...

3: "Adam Raised a Cain" - Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Just when I thought T:SCC couldn't wow me anymore, couldn't leave me with goosebumps, couldn't get me to take back all of my WTF-is-wrong-with-this-show comments I had made during much of the middle of the second (and final) season (which bored most of us loyal viewers to death), the T:SCC folks delivered "Adam Raised A Cane." Though not the series finale (it was actually the second to last episode), it left me feeling fulfilled and proud to have been a T:SCC fan. Just when I thought they had forgotten how to create that sense of mystery, drama, sentimentality, excitement, action and suspense that made me love the show so much throughout the first season, "Adam Raised a Cain" did ALL this - and then some. Summer Glau's Cameron was kick arse, take charge and be definitive once again. The death of Brian Austin Green's Derek before I've even settled into the episode was just brilliant. No warning, no pomp and circumstance, no hoopla. It was so simply perfect and absolutely fitting to have this character go down doing exactly what he was sent here to do - protect John. Lena Headey's Sarah still did seem to have her own pair and was still willing to put the greater good of everyone above herself - no matter the weight of it, no matter its never-ending pursuit. Thomas Dekker finally owned up to having the true quiet leader strength of John Conner. The sacrifices he must make for that to happen weigh on him heavily, but no longer in such a dopey, emo, poor-me way. And no sacrifice is perhaps more poignant than with the death of yet another person close to him, or with the capture of his own mother - both of which he comes to terms. And little Mackenzie Brooke Smith's portryal Savannah Weaver stole the entire episode with an unbelievably brilliant, most amazingly nuanced performance that actors twice her age sometimes fail to do. The chemistry she shareed not only with Garret Dillahunt, but in character with John Henry, was just too.damn.good. Her duet with Garret that closed the episode haunted me for weeks. This episode did the one thing I had hoped the second half of the T:SCC season would do: give some closure, be complete, and send the show out with a wow and a bang. And it was this kind of episodes that reminded us all of what the show did when it was at its best. Written by Toni Graphia and directed by Charles Beeson. - LillyKat, PTR Senior Staff Writer

2: "Power of Attorney" - The Closer
This stellar hour of a PTR fave was so good, it was on both of our lists. So, we each wrote a few words about what made it so great.

LillyKat Says: The show delivered one of its legendary episodes with "Power of Attorney." We know the good folks at The Closer always manage to give us compelling cases each season, with a memorable bad guy (or two). Someone who gives Brenda Leigh Johnson a run for her money, someone who really gets to her and forces her hand. It can, at times, be a rarity given she is so good closing cases. But we crossed into legendary territory for the one she could NOT get in this ep. Billy Burke's portrayal of the sex offender defense attorney was just insanely-creepily-disturbingly-engrossingly good, second (or perhaps tied with) Jason O'Mara's Bill Croelick character. And given how long PTR has followed Cold Case, it's not a stretch to compare Burke to John Billingsley's portrayal of serial killer George Marks who was, essentially, Detective Lilly Rush's one true nemesis. Both detectives on both shows - so poised, in control and on their game in always getting their suspects - reduced to powerless bystanders. Both actresses on both shows - Kathryn Morris and Kyra Sedgwick - delivering one of their best performances. "Power of Attorney" left us waiting for the sequel - the rematch. When that happens, you know you're watching the best of the best.

TVFan Says:
You can always count on this show to turn out powerful, brilliant episodes, but this outing from last season might just be the series' most powerful to date. Brenda went head-to-head with a skilled attorney whose knowledge of criminal law allowed him to rape six women and murder a seventh and then walk right out of the police station without a charge against him. He used his own client as a scapegoat and Brenda's evidence against her and he did it in such a masterful and nefarious way that it had Major Crimes' and our heads spinning. Mostly, though, it has us still waiting for Brenda's next encounter with Stroh. Keep 'em wanting more -- that's good television. Written by Michael Alaimo and directed by Rick Wallace.

And now, after an entire summer of counting down episodes, we're finally up to the number one episode of the past season. Drum roll please....

1: "Hello, Goodbye" - Friday Night Lights
I'm pretty sure that out of all of the story lines on Friday Night Lights, the Brian "Smash" Williams story was the best written, consistently most emotional and all-around champion of the series. So, it comes as no surprise that its conclusion would stand out as this season's best episode. There were two moments in this episode that proved that this series is network television's best and left me completely in awe of its brilliance. The first occurred when Coach Taylor walked across the Texas A&M field and convinced the coach to allow Smash to try out. It was one of those moments when you have to fight the urge to leap out of your seat and give the writers, actors and every other person who works on this show a HUGE standing ovation. The second scene came at the very end when Smash finally got the word from A&M. My eyes welled up with tears of joy as he told his mother that he was going to college. What a payoff for all of his hard work, determination and disappointments along the way. Everything that he had to overcome post-knee injury and knowing how much this opportunity meant to him made it that much sweeter and cemented this episode's place at the top of this year's list. Written by David Hudgins and directed by Michael Waxman

Well, there you have it -- the complete list of PTR's Best Episodes of the Season! Do you agree? Disagree? Are there episodes that PTR left off the list? Leave us a comment with your thoughts on the final list. If you would like to take a closer look at numbers 33-4, click the "Best Episodes" link at the bottom of this post.

Friday, September 04, 2009

The Countdown Eyes the Finish Line


The finish line is in sight this week as we wind down our summer-long countdown of the Best Episodes of the Season! Before we get to this week's entries, we have to go over the rules for the countdown. LillyKat and I ended up with 33 incredible episodes that demonstrate the diversity and quality of the current television state. The shows and their episodes are from both NETWORK and CABLE television. All episodes aired between June 2008 and June 2009. Each episode that made the final list moved us in some way; either by making us laugh out loud, cry our eyes out or just left us with that "wow" feeling that stays with you for a few days. So basically, it's completely subjective! Since this is a summer-long countdown to the number 1 episode, we will reveal a few each week all summer. So, be sure to tune in every Friday to find out which episodes are on the countdown! Today, we're going to take a look at numbers 6-4.

6: "Allison From Palmdale" - Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
There is no denying my love of Summer Glau. There is no denying my love of her Cameron terminator. So when the T:SCC folks gave us "Allison From Palmdale," I once again died and went to Terminator heaven. The ep explained how Cameron came to be – her human inspirational blueprint, a one awesome Allison Young, part of John Conner's inner-circle in the future, captured by the machines to be copied, emulated. I didn't care that her chip went on the fritz so that she remembered the actual girl she was based on – her history, her human tendencies. It gave us a truly rare human moment of Cameron being Allison, having fun playing foosball, calling the mom who hadn’t given birth to her yet a la John meeting his baby toddler of a father in the first season. There is no denying this series would not have been what it was without Summer Glau and without Cameron. She impressed with each successive performance – and particularly in THIS performance. A human performance. We often take for granted just how good she is at not being human. The precision and conscious awareness to subdue every tick and twitch that she has forced herself – as an actress – to adhere to so as to remove every human element from what we see as Cameron, yet still maintain a remarkable sensitivity and bring a sense of humanity to Cameron. So. Darn. Good. And yet, we were treated to the complete opposite mindset in this ep. A girl on the run, trying to survive capture, interrogation and torture by the machines, telling us the raw truth of her life post-judgment day. I just can’t say enough about this ep - except to say thank you, Summer (and to put this ep just outside our Top 5). Written by Toni Graphia and directed by Charles Beeson. - LillyKat, PTR Senior Staff Writer

5: "My Finale" - Scrubs
Saying goodbye is never easy, but this perfect little series finale made it a bit easier. Story lines were wrapped up and we even got a little peek into the future. Plus, JD finally got Dr. Cox to admit that he was going to miss him. The final episode wasn't just about saying goodbye to the show, though, it was about JD saying goodbye to Sacred Heart. As he walked through the halls of Sacred Heart for the last time, he saw so many of the faces who had shaped his experiences as an intern, resident and finally, staff doctor. When he finally reached the exit doors, he saw a movie playing and the movie showed is future. He was happy, with Elliot and they had a family of their own. Suddenly, his decision to leave the comfort of Sacred Heart, his friends, and his mentor didn't seem quite as scary. While some things change, others stay the same and JD knew the important things would never change. This was a brilliant finish to a brilliant show that gave us 8 glorious seasons. My only complaint is the network's decision to bring the show back next season (albeit, with some significant changes) when it ended so beautifully. Written and directed by series creator Bill Lawrence.

4: "Right Place Right Time" - How I Met Your Mother
This clever episode told a story in a nonsensical order, and yet, made perfect sense and gave us a twist I didn't see coming. The entire outing posed the fateful question: What would have happened if Ted had gone a different way when he left his apartment? What wouldn't have happened was that he wouldn't have encountered the mystery woman with the umbrella. But before he got to her, he had to start out going the wrong direction only to realize his mistake (the bagel place he was going to eat at had made Robin sick earlier), stop at a newsstand (to see Barney's 200th conquest), and give a dollar to a homeless man (let's just say it had something to do with Marshall's new obsession with charts). There were so many precise actions that had to take place in order for THAT moment to happen -- the moment that put him on the course to meet his future wife -- it had to be fate. And after each action unfolded, Ted was standing there on the street corner waiting for the WALK sign as the rain began to fall. The woman with the umbrella walked up and tapped him on the shoulder. That woman was none other than Stella! As in, left-Ted-at-the-alter Stella! Suddenly, the implications hung in the air as the episode faded to black. Storytelling at its best! Written by Stephen Lloyd and directed by Pamela Fryman.

So, there's a look at the next set of episodes on the countdown. What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Leave us a comment with your thoughts. And be sure to tune in next Friday when we finally reveal our #1 Best Episode of the Season!!

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Remote Rewind: Great Expectations

After a long and winding journey, we finally got to Michaela and Sully's wedding last week. This week, we're going to skip ahead to the birth of their child a year later. After believing that she couldn't get pregnant, Michaela learned that she and Sully were expecting. She struggled with balancing her work as a doctor and her body's need to slow down throughout her pregnancy (even suffering a scare that brought good old Dr. Cassidy into town to make sure she and the baby were OK). Needless to say, after nine grueling months, Michaela was ready to have that baby. But, she wasn't exactly ready to have the baby when and where she did.

After the mean Sgt. O'Connor left Sully for dead in the woods, Cloud Dancing risked his own life to get Michaela. She rode off with him to find Sully. After he led her to the injured Sully, Cloud Dancing was dicovered and captured by the Army. Michaela got Sully's wounds patched up and the two prepared to ride back to town. Unfortunately, the baby had different plans. Michaela got her first contraction out there in the middle of nowhere. It passed and she began to think that it was a false alarm... that was until her water broke. Suddenly, Sully was thrust into the role of doctor without the formal training.

Michaela, through painful contractions and focusing on delivering the baby, walked Sully through the process and all seemed to go as planned -- at first. Then, a complication arose: the umbilical cord blocked the baby from coming out. Under Michaela's guidance, Sully cut the cord and the baby finally came. Michaela and Sully are the proud parents of a baby girl they name Katie Sully. I've seen a lot of TV/movie birth scenes, but this one instilled a fear of childbirth in me that still hasn't dissipated. I was exhausted just watching her deliver that baby! The acting, the emotions, the writing -- everything made this scene real, gritty, and unforgettable. It was so sweet to see Sully overcome his fear after losing his first wife and child in childbirth. Here he was delivering his own child and he was successful. It was a happy ending for all. And an emotional one for all of us who had followed their journey from the beginning.

Feeling nostalgic for Dr. Mike, Sully and the rest of the residents of Colorado Springs? Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Complete Series is now available on DVD

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Bell of the Big Screen

We here at PTR have a very narrow format: TV. And we don't deviate from that format except when something (or someone) from TV collides with another element. Such is the case next year when PTR fave Kristen Bell (star of one of TV's Best! Shows! EVAH! -- Veronica Mars) once again takes to the big screen in her new romantic comedy When In Rome. She plays an unlucky-in-love young woman whose luck changes when she takes some coins out of a fountain in Rome (where she is visiting for her sister's wedding). The film doesn't hit theaters until next year, but here is the official trailer for the comedy:




When in Rome is slated to land in theaters in January. For more info on the movie, visit Yahoo! Movies.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

New 'Bones' Photos

Bones returns in a couple of weeks, but we don't have to wait that long to get a sneak peek of our favorite crime fighting duo in action. Season 5 promo pictures have hit the net!!! My faves (courtesy of Emily Deschanel Fan/copyright Fox Broadcasting):


More HERE.

But wait! There's more! There are some awesome S5 posters! My fave (again, courtesy Emily Deschanel Fan/copyright Fox Broadcasting):

More HERE.

But wait! There's even more -- A recent photoshoot with star Emily Deschanel! Some of my faves (courtesy of Emily Deschanel Fan/copyright Getty Images):


More HERE.

Bones returns September 17th on Fox. For photos from the season opener, click on over to Emily Deschanel Fan.