The Countdown Reveals this Year's Winner!

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 is a look at the rules I employed to compose the list of this year's winners. I ended up with 30 incredible episodes that demonstrate the diversity and quality of the current television state. All of the shows and their episodes are from NETWORK television only, meaning that I did not take any cable series into consideration (since I only watch a few and felt that it would be unfair). All episodes aired between September 2006 and June 2007. Each episode that made the final list moved me in some way; either by making me laugh out loud, cry my eyes out or just left me 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, I will reveal a few each week all summer. So, be sure to tune in on Thursdays to find out which episodes are on the countdown! Before we get to #3-1, here's a quick review of #30-4:

30. "All the Saints, Sinners" Without a Trace
29. "The Headless Witch in the Woods" Bones
28. "6 Months Ago" Heroes
27. "Postgame Mortem" Veronica Mars
26. "Fireflies" Cold Case
25. "Mother's Little Helper" Medium
24. "New York Fiction" Men in Trees
23. "Rampage" Cold Case
22. "Enter 77" Lost
21. "Kept a Guy Locked in a Truck" My Name is Earl
20. "Bang" Desperate Housewives
19. "Aliens in a Spaceship" Bones
18. "Our Cops is On" My Name is Earl
17. "Git 'Er Done" Friday Night Lights
16. "My Big Fat Greek Rush Week" Veronica Mars
15. "Collision" Heroes
14. "Fallout" Jericho
13. "Gilmore Girls Only" Gilmore Girls
12. "My Point of No Return" Scrubs
11. "South of the Border" My Name is Earl
10. "Forever Blue" Cold Case
9. "Responsible" Law & Order: SVU
8. "Expose" Lost
7. "Pilot" Friday Night Lights
6. "Deep Water" Without a Trace
5. "The Bitch is Back" Veronica Mars
4. "Stalker" Cold Case

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

3: "My Musical" - Scrubs
How can you not love an episode that sings about everything coming down to poo and "Guy Love" and every other funny thing imaginable?? Most episodes of this hilarious comedy are pretty genius, but this one was off the charts. Everything from the aforementioned "poo song" to Dr. Cox's song about why JD drives him crazy (LOVED Janitor's spotlighted solo!) to "Guy Love," Turk and Carla's tango and JD wanting to know which of them was the best singer in the patient's head was done so brilliantly that I forgot that I wasn't watching a real musical. It's no coincidence that the episode played out like a show on New York's famous theater street. The people behind Broadway's Avenue Q were also behind this stellar hour. These guys made the episode feel real, and not like a show that was trying to do a musical episode. After watching this, I can imagine a Scrubs: The Musical opening on Broadway in summer '08! I'd be there opening night. Written by Debra Fordham and Directed by Will MacKenzie.

2: "State" - Friday Night Lights
This episode was all set to be the number 1 best of the season until it was upstaged (only slightly, though). Seriously, it was that good and it easily could have shared the top spot had I allowed ties. I laughed, moved to the edge of my seat, cheered, and teared up as the Dillon Panthers attempted to put the crowning jewel on their rollercoaster season. BUT, some of the best moments happened off the field. Landry's roadtrip with Tyra's family, Matt's grandmother and Lyla Garrity was pure comic gold while Lyla's continued struggle to accept her parents' divorce (and her father's infidelities) was moving and tragic. But the best moment was saved for my two favorite characters -- Coach Taylor and his wife Tami. These two often share the best moments of the series, but watching Tami tell Eric that she's pregnant is my favorite scene from any show this season. I just loved his reaction, and Tami's huge sense of relief. It was a moving, funny, tearful scene that beautifully demonstrates everything that is so wonderful and perfect about this show. Written by Patrick Massett and directed by Jeffrey Reiner. (Photo courtesy of nbc.com)

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: "Through the Looking Glass" - Lost
Talk about your the jaw-dropping endings! This one revealed the eventual fate of the survivors of flight 815. You see, the flashbacks weren't flashbacks at all. They were flash-forwards into the future after Jack and co. get off the island (or was it the present - you can never be too sure with this show). And yes, it seems that they do indeed get off the island eventually. Throw in a mystery funeral and a sad exit for Charlie and you have the makings of this season's best episode. Just in case the Jack meeting Kate in the future scene wasn't quite shocking enough, there was also Charlie's final message. The ship and the parachuter are not working with Penelope. Was the seemingly evil Ben right all along?? Did Jack's satellite phone call set into motion a dangerous plan that will send everyone home, but destroy the island? Perhaps, Ben isn't as wrong as we think. Talk about chilling! Written by executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse and directed by Jack Bender. (Screencap courtesy of Lost-Media.com.)

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 me a comment with your thoughts on the final list. If you would like to take a closer look at numbers 30-4, click the "Best Episodes" link at the bottom of this post.

‘Damages’ is an Elevator Ride

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

An elevator ride of suspense.

Steven Spielberg once used this phrase to describe why he enjoys the film, The Shining. It’s the idea that every twist and turn takes you slowly, steadily, methodically to the next level of anticipation and expectation. You know something is going to happen, but it’s held back in such a way that you find yourself wanting to get to the next floor as quickly as possible.

Damages is proving to be its own compelling elevator ride.

Penthouse anyone?

On this week’s floor, we find Patty Hewes still trying to get Florida Fling Gregory Malina to testify against Corporate Corruption Poster Boy Arthur Frobisher. Greg is in the crosshairs of not only Patty, but also of Frobie’s Mob Police (which was finally determined this week – it’s Frobie who has Greg being followed everywhere … duh … I should’ve known that) given the entire case now seems to hinge on what he is – or is not – saying.

But wait … remember all that talk about that so-called broker that Frobie had dealings with in Florida, and of whom would have authorized his sell off of his stock before his company tanked?

Greg: “Forget about the broker. It’s not about the broker.”

Next floor?

Not yet.

Seems Frobie is just getting way too impatient with all of New York City (and the entire United States) hating his guts for royally screwing his employees, so he convinces Lawyer Ray to get him set up to write a memoir about the “real” Arthur Frobisher.

Frobisher: “I’m not a monster. I don’t want to be remembered as such.”

Um, too late for that one, Frobie.

The one stipulation the publisher demands?

He has to talk about the current litigation.

Suffice it to say things do no work out well with Frobie and young pup ghostwriter, who I think was fired before he even really began to write much of anything (Frobie’s drunken rage at midnight at ghostwriter’s house not withstanding). I have got to hand it to Ted Danson – he is tapped into the utter despciableness of a holier-than-thou CEO thinking he’s still a good guy after he’s ruined the lives of everyone who ever worked for him.

And then there’s poor Lawyer Ray, who is so likable that you almost wish he wasn’t representing Frobie given Ray seems too much of a gentleman at times. But it’s all finally getting to Ray, too. He’s having nightmares about the secret he’s keeping.

Between him and Gregory Malina.

Whaaaaat?!?!

Next floor?

Almost.

Ellen and fiancé doc David are on somewhat shaky ground at the moment, given David is still holding a pretty strong grudge against Patty for completely messing up sister Katie’s world.

David: “I get Patty’s your boss. That doesn’t mean I have to like her.”

And so we remember that young hot-to-trot granddaughter of one of David’s patients?

Seems she’s got a serious stalker syndrome going on – faking her grandfather’s death to trick David into coming over to assess the medical equipment that would need to be sold on Craig’s List now that granddad is gone whilst conveniently stealing keys to David’s apartment all the while apologizing for “acting inappropriately” during their first meeting.

David is a bit gullible, and his eye does seems to wander a bit (seeing as this girl is offering it up to him on a platter), but he remains loyal to Ellen – something Patty tries to prod into controlling by placing seeds of doubt in Ellen’s mind:

Patty: "Most men can’t handle an ambitious woman. It may take a few tries, but make sure you find one who can."

Needless to say, stalker Lila shows up unannounced at David and Ellen’s apartment to watch both of them in a romantic bathtub make-up session …

Can we say Fatal Attraction?

I love this show.

Next floor, please.

New episodes air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on FX. You can also have fun visiting the Hewes and Associates Official Web Site.

Something’s Amiss on ‘The Closer’

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

Got confession?

Yes.

Er, wait.

No.

Sort of.

Well …let’s see … I think so.

Normally, this is a definite “Yes” as it pertains to Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson and her murder investigations.

Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Closed.

But not this week.

The Closer threw us a brilliant left curve in Part 1 of the third season finale (“’Til Death Do Us Part”). But it isn’t just the lack of confession that has Brenda thrown for a loop. It’s also the lack of physical evidence on a cocky ophthalmologist who looks to have murdered his wife’s high-powered, celebrity-client-prone divorce lawyer even though doc’s wife (played by Sarah Brown, who Cold Case viewers will recognize as Detective Josie Sutton from season three) has agreed to give the marriage another go.

Hmmm ….

What evidence Brenda and the team were able to discover (mainly dog hair from the victim’s two dogs found inside the doc’s car) turns out to be inadmissible given the search warrant obtained to search doc’s car didn’t specifically pertain to said dog hair.

Oops.

And did we mention doc seems to have an invisible alibi? Something about a fishing buddy named Topper and boat named Sugar Plum that seem to a) not exist, and/or b) can’t even be verified or checked out to confirm in fact that they don’t exist.

We have rarely come to doubt Brenda on any investigation. And we don’t really doubt her, now. We know doc is the guy. He. Is. Just. Too. Darn. Cocky. In fact, we’re just as irked as Brenda that doc seems to have gotten away with murder.

That is not allowed to happen on ol’ BJ’s watch.

Ever.

This episode was an interesting change of pace given it was presented in a past/present format – that is, Brenda’s tireless investigation of just about every dead end and/or phantom alibi intermixed with the present-day trial (and that darn lack of confession and physical evidence rearing its ugly head). The trial is on the high-powered, high-profile, press-obsessed side (ven noted writer, investigative journalist and high-profile trial coverer Dominick Dunne has a cameo as himself). And though the District Attorney is going to bat for Brenda and the team on this case, it ends up in serious jeopardy when phantom alibi Topper shows up for testimony.

Cue Southwest Airlines commerical.

Wanna get away?

But never let it be said that we didn’t get the perfect dose of personal sprinkled amongst the case particulars (something this show does so well and of which other shows .. ahem, Cold Case … should take note).

It seems Brenda and Fritzy are trying to combine a couple of their finances – notably car insurance (yet another priceless moment as BJ waits on hold to talk to the insurance company whilst interviewing victim’s soon-to-be-ex-wife … “Please continue to hold … your call is important to us …”). Seems BJ isn’t getting the deal she thought she would, so Chief Pope offers to help her out. He, of course, “knows a guy” (don’t they all?)

Turns out Fritzy’s got two DUIs on his record from a few years ago.

Even though he doesn’t drink.

Uh-oh.

Somebody isn’t telling BJ everything.

And that’s never a good thing.

Whether you’re Fritz.

Or a murder suspect.

Will BJ get doc convicted of murder in the first degree?

Will she and Fritz hit a serious snag in their relationship?

Stay tuned. This finale is shaping up to be a darn goon one.

The Closer’s third season finale airs next Monday at 9 p.m. on TNT.

Redundant ‘Grace’

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

So, I asked the question last week: what’s it going to take for Grace to get her act together?

I guess three more episodes?

Oy vey. Let this first season be over and done with.

I guess I should’ve been suspect from Day 1 when Holly Hunter confessed to not watching any television prior to signing on to do Grace. She didn’t even know of some of the more popular shows on cable (Rescue Me, The Closer, etc ... name your show, guaranteed Hunter knows nothing about it). And she was actually proud about that fact.

Compare that to someone like Kathryn Morris, who whilst as the lead of her own show, can speak intelligently about the genre, can talk about shows she enjoys and admires, and can even suggest she wouldn’t mind seeing certain elements of other shows adapted to Cold Case (even if those are a bit of a long shot).

And Morris isn’t even a producer of Cold Case (though I wouldn’t mind seeing her earn that title like Kyra Sedgwick did this year with The Closer, and Hunter undeservingly is granted on Grace).

Having said all that, it is obvious to me that Hunter and the show’s creators have their heads in the proverbial sand. That is, they have no clue as to what they are doing. Perhaps they should’ve watched some quality television dramas before selling this show as the greatest humdinger of all time (not). I mean, hello … research anyone? And shame on TNT for buying into the hype and selling the store to Hunter and her co-horts. Re-runs of Law and Order and Cold Case are more interesting at this point.

It’s inconceivable to me that this show still cannot get past the single Grace-is-out-of-control-needs-help premise (which continues to be drilled into our heads by TNT as they still run the original promo over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and … well, you get the idea). We are presented with the same spiel each week, the same plot set-ups, the same failed efforts of Grace. In the words of PTR’s Editor TV Fan:

Boring. Redundant.

Did I mention I feel sorry for Angel Earl? I’m sure I did … several posts back.

This week, we find Grace being hounded by her nerdy, detail obsessed sister (Paige) about getting the whole family together for a cruise all the while trying to deal with her favorite grandfather (Geepaw) being in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. So, of course, Grace thinks she can volunteer the family to keep watch of Geepaw as opposed to placing him in managed care (which he really needs). Grace proceeds to allow him to still be … well, his freewheeling self until their out-n-about horse ride turns sour as Geepaw gets bucked from his horse and knocked out.

Grace: “This is my fault.”

Um, ya’ think? So, is almost killing a guy, screwing your married partner, screwing anything that moves, drinking yourself to death, caring about no one other than yourself, blah, blah, blah ...

Once would think the Geepaw incident would actually mean more considering it is Grace's favorite grandfather.

But alas, no change. Same ol’, same ol’. One moment of revelation, then back to the same behavior.

This week’s case involved the death of a young Iraq War vet (Ryan), who was found burned and buried in a shallow grave, face down, with an owl feather – a bad sign per Native American custom (which Geepaw, being part Native American himself, helped determine because of course, who wouldn’t ask an Alzheimer’s patient for help on a murder investigation? That would be Grace). Turns out one of Ryan’s friends was part of his squad over in Iraq and of whom was killed in a roadside attack.

His friend's Dad never forgave Ryan for living.

And so Ryan paid the ultimate price with a dad hell bent on brutal revenge: “My boy died because of him.”

I give this episode a couple of points for creating a pretty good dynamic between Grace and her sister – as in, her sister can grill Grace and put her in her place pretty darn good. Of course, does Grace care? No.

The introduction of Geepaw. He was cute in his absent-minded way. Clearly, his free-wheeling, do-what-you-want-self endeared him to Grace from an early age. They had a couple of good heart-to-hearts. But Grace’s I-know-better-than-everyone mentality gets him injured and hurt, and yet does Grace seem to care?

For two seconds.

Then she’s back to screwing and drinking.

Gee, like we didn’t see that coming.

New episodes air Mondays at 10 p.m. on TNT.

Hot Spoilers on the 'Case'

We're less than a month away from the new season, so you know what that means... SPOILERS!!! And oh do I have some juicy Cold Case scoop courtesy of the wonderful folks at Look Again. I also have the first photos from the show's upcoming 5th season complete with Lilly's new look (left) courtesy of CBS and Warner Bros. You know the rules, if you don't want to know what's coming up this season, read no further. BEGIN SPOILER DISCUSSION NOW... So, remember how Lil was left shot and bleeding on a hospital bed? Remember how we were slightly worried that she wouldn't live to see another season (like that was going to happen), well I can 100% guarantee that she'll be back, but she won't be the same ole Lil. She'll try to convince her boss that all is well, but between her mother's death and her own ordeal, Lil will be hurtin'. In the season opener, she manages to make Stillman believe she's well enough to tackle the next case. From the CBS press release:

Several weeks after being shot, Lilly returns to work and tries to convince Stillman and herself that she's emotionally ready to spearhead the re-opening of the 1994 case of three slain boys for which two teens may have been wrongfully convicted.

The episode will feature the music of Nirvana. Also, look for Scotty to be under investigation for shooting Ed (a.k.a. "Romeo") in the season finale. The 5th season premiere ("Thrill Kill") airs September 23rd on CBS. Here's a rundown of some of the other episodes scheduled for this first part of the season (NOTE: Subject to change):

"That Woman" (scheduled as the 2nd episode) - The team reopens the 1998 case of a murdered 15-year old with a bad reputation. Meanwhile, Scotty's troubles continue and Stillman begins to worry about Lilly.

"Running Around" (scheduled as the 3rd episode) - The team reopens the 2006 case of a 16 year old found stabbed to death in a warehouse. It takes place in the Amish community. Also, Vera notices Lilly looking tired and begins to worry. The most interesting part, though, Lil attends a counseling session (please don't get cut!).

"Devil Music" (scheduled as the 4th episode) - The teams reopens the 1953 case of a singer found shot through the heart in a parking lot. Word is, this is another racial tension type of episode that CC does so well.

"Wunderkind" (scheduled as the 5th episode) - The team reopens the 2002 case of a murdered 14-year old from a rough neighborhood in North Philly who was a whiz kid at numbers, particularly counting cards. Jeffries feels an emotional connection with the victim.

"Thick as Thieves" (scheduled as the 6th episode) - The team reopens the 1989 case of a wealthy beauty found murdered. This one is supposed to have a lot of personal stuff in it. Lilly begins having nightmares about the shooting while Scotty goes toe to toe with ADA Thomas (who makes her first appearance of the season).

"World's End" (100th Episode!!) - The team reopens the 1938 case of a woman strangled to death and dumped in a well. The case revolves around the struggles of the Depression and Orson Welles' famous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast.

Those are just a few of this season's offerings. Also, look for Vera's ex, Toni, to show up (the one who broke his heart last season) and for Lilly to have to confront the brick wall she has built up for herself. Since September 23rd can't come soon enough, here are a few more pictures from the premiere (special thanks to RichE at Look Again):

In other Cold Case news, star Kathryn Morris graces the cover of the current issue of the trade publication Emmy magazine. In the 8-page article, she discusses her early years, her climb to the top, where she'd like to see the show head, and much more. She tells the magazine that she wouldn't trade any of her forgettable earlier roles. "If there's an alien and goo involved, and it's low budget, I've probably done it," she says. "I'd take jobs that other people wouldn't because I knew I'd learn something." Regarding her Cold Case character, Morris says, "I want to see Lilly live again. I want to see her heart rate go up. I want to see her not always know what to do. I want to see her laugh. I want to see her try stuff she's never tried before. She needs to not take herself so seriously," she tells the magazine. In her own life, she tries to keep things as normal as possible. "I try not to get controlled by things, although I'm so grateful that I can choose to have them. My friends tease me that I'm always trying to 'keep it real,' but I do think that you need to stay connected to knowing what it is to have little."
See more photos from Emmy magazine at Kathryn Morris Online. Cold Case kicks off its 5th season September 23rd on CBS.

The Countdown Breaks the Top 5!

With this year's countdown of the Best Episodes of the Season winding down, today's entries include some of the Top 5 of the season! Before we get to them, here's a look at the rules for this year's winners. I ended up with 30 incredible episodes that demonstrate the diversity and quality of the current television state. All of the shows and their episodes are from NETWORK television only, meaning that I did not take any cable series into consideration (since I only watch a few and felt that it would be unfair). All episodes aired between September 2006 and June 2007. Each episode that made the final list moved me in some way; either by making me laugh out loud, cry my eyes out or just left me 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, I will reveal a few each week all summer. So, be sure to tune in on Thursdays to find out which episodes are on the countdown! Today, we're going to take a look at numbers 6-4.

6: "Deep Water" - Without a Trace
A senator goes missing -- your typical political episode, right? Wrong! This outing was packed with twists and turns, drama, and intrigue. And it's all wrapped into a beautifully utilized change of format. Instead of spending the entire hour wondering whether Patricia Mills (powerfully portrayed by PTR fave Jacqueline McKenzie) is dead or alive, this one shows us her murder right off the top. We watch as she's brutally stabbed in the back (both literally and figuratively as it turns out) while she takes in the peaceful scenery outside her boat. Turns out there were a number of people who had a motive to kill her -- after all, politics is dirty, especially when you decide to vote against one of your biggest campaign supporters because you learn that their oil drilling is unsafe for the environment. If it isn't politics, then it must be love and this story blends a little bit of both. The only problem - Jack can't prove that Patty's husband killed her. In the episode's most moving scene, we watch as Jack whispers into Patty's father's ear at her funeral. It seems that Jack can't touch the husband, but that won't stop Patty's father. Written by series star Anthony LaPaglia and Directed by Paul McCrane. (Screencap courtesy Obsession: Jacqueline McKenzie)

5: "The Bitch is Back" - Veronica Mars
The final hour of this wonderful series was exactly what we've come to expect: well-written, Veronica back in her classic outcast position, Logan breaking my heart, Keith struggling to win the sheriff election, and nothing wrapped up into a nice, neat package. The series finale was designed to be a season finale, but it worked well both ways. It was extra special to see this series go out on a high note and leave our imaginations to fill in the blanks. Throw in a surprise appearance by Jake Kane, Veronica going all James Bond on us, and a poignant final scene where Veronica casts her vote for her father and you have another excellent hour of this deeply missed show. I only wish this hadn't been the end. Written by Diane Ruggiero and series creator Rob Thomas and directed by Michael Fields. (Screencap courtesy of vm-caps.com)

4: "Stalker" - Cold Case
OK, so we all knew that Lilly wasn't going to die, BUT it was intense watching the events unfold that led to her horrifying shooting. Throw in an excellent case that had me fully invested, an emotional scene between Lilly and Scotty as she deals with her mother's death, and a killer cliffhanger that kept fans talking all summer and you get one of this season's finest hours. After Lil got too close to the truth behind Kim's "Romeo," he showed up at police headquarters with Kim in toe. Things took a quick turn for the worse, and suddenly, Lil, Stillman, Vera, and Jeffries were trapped with a crazy gunman threatening to put a bullet through their skulls. After Stillman took a shot to the shoulder, Lil managed to think fast and separate the gunman from her injured boss, but she put herself in harms way. Enter a frantic Scotty, a hysterical gunman, and a blind shot through the mirror into the observation room and you end up with both Lil and the gunman lying on the floor bleeding. The disturbing ending montage had us watching as Lil was loaded on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital where doctors quickly got to work. This one made for a LONG summer. Written by Veena Sud and directed by Alex Zakrzewski.

So, there's a look at episodes 6-4 on the countdown. What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Be sure to come back next week when the countdown finally reveals its #1 Best Episode of the Season!!

Hands Off the Feds on ‘The Closer’

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

What is it about Chief Will Pope and no-nonsense female criminal investigators who work for the federal government?

He really just can’t quite keep his hands off them.

Or at least stop himself from seducing them out to Los Angeles.

Enter this week’s episode of The Closer (“Lover’s Leap”), where Pope’s fondness for what he a) had back in the day, and b) now doesn’t, but c) still wishes he did (ol’ Brenda Leigh Johnson) finds him having yet another affair with a) a federal accountant working for the Department of Homeland Security, who was b) auditing the LAPD, and of whom c) ends up dead at the bottom of a cliff.

Brenda: "When were you going to tell me you were sleeping with my murder victim?"

That would probably have been never if it were up to Pope. But true to form, he gets caught red-handed.

Again.

And is sorry.

Again.

I have to hand it to this show.

Again.

It’s hard not to like Pope. He’s about the only one (other than Fritz) who can hold his own against ol’ Brenda – give her a run for her money, put her in her place and not feel a wee bit bad about doing so. Yet, hidden behind his no-nonsense superior veil is the false sense that his personal life is under control and/or that he is not incredibly wounded. You almost feel sorry for him whilst simultaneously wanting to slap him upside the head.

As it turns out, Federal Auditor Maggie (and Pope squeeze for the last year) was on to an embezzlement scheme orchestrated by a former LAPD officer who owned a company that sold radios to fire department and police personnel in the Southwestern part of U.S. Seems he got into the business of forging invoices whilst also adding a surcharge so as to pocket money in the hopes of getting his family out of some serious financial struggles. (You know … the whole Southern California housing market tanking, adjustable rate mortgages blowing payments through the roof, and … well, being completely in over their heads in house they can no longer afford). Seems Federal Auditor Maggie wasn’t too sympathetic to the cause and was going to bust them anyways. The wife of the former LAPD officer didn’t take lightly to her lack of sympathy.

And, as we know, what are the two main requirements for murder?

Motive and opportunity.

Which wifey had up on that ol’ hill.

Brenda: “Let’s just skip the part where you try to explain yourself; I just don’t have the stomach for it today.”

Aside from BJ recovering from her ovarian drilling (“abdominal surgery” to the rest of the world), suffering from some serious chocolate withdrawal (longing glances at the vending machines not withstanding), being a victim of poison oak (scratching and itching her way down every hallway and into every room), and playing a serious game of cat and mouse with the FBI (so as not to completely turn over her case to the Feds even though it was an issue of National Security), it was Brenda v. Pope that was the highlight of this episode.

Over the past couple of seasons, we’ve had bits and pieces of their former affair filled in for us. We even saw Brenda seriously consider not committing to Fritzy because she just could not quite straighten out her feelings for Pope (guy is somewhat of a serious ladies man, eh?).

And yet, last night’s ep laid it all out on the table even further without saying more than was needed.

A glance here, a long pause there.

Pope defiant that he had done nothing wrong, yet soft-spoken and humbled when trying to justify the awkwardness. Brenda’s uncomfortable and irritated revelation of knowing how it felt to be a federal criminal investigator under his spell – especially as he described the best traits about Maggie. She had been viewed as a pretty ruthless auditor, but it turns out, she was as close to Brenda as Pope could find.

Brenda: “It all just sounds so familiar.”
Pope: “I’m sorry.”
Brenda: “Again … you’re sorry again.”

Brilliant characters on display.

Again.

We’re down to the final two episodes of the season – which will essentially be a two-part finale starting next Monday, September 3rd and concluding Monday, September 10th. So be sure to tune in next Monday at 9 p.m. on TNT.

Not Much Truth to ‘Grace’

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

So, what’s it going to take for Grace?

Does stabbing her best friend in the back qualify?

Someone other than Angel Earl held the ever self-absorbed and shameless Grace accountable this week.

Best friend Rhetta.

If only for one episode, though.

For me, one of the saving graces of Saving Grace has been Laura San Giacomo’s portrayal of Grace’s best friend (and medical examiner), Rhetta. From Day 1, she’s been a believer, a moral compass, a guide, cute in her interest about the scientific details of Angel Earl’s existence, and never wavering on letting Grace off the hook about what is really transpiring.

The whole Divine Intervention thing.

Not to mention she’s the owner of Holy Cow – the cow that Grace stole (or was that “freed”?) from Cattle Rancher of the Galaxy Alvin Green and of which just happens to have Jesus appear on the side of its black and white hide.

Yes, Rhetta has been one of the only reasons to continue watching this show.

So the fact that this week’s episode focused a bit on her was welcome relief (seeing as the ep opened yet again with Grace banging some stray trucker that comes around every two months or so … I guess partner Ham was busy being afraid of birds or checking his watch to pray at noon or some such thing).

Anyways, Angel Earl’s Truth-or-Dare dare to Grace to stop lying this week ends up in a lie being revealed to faithful and loyal friend Rhetta.

Which got us back to ironies.

And got Grace told off by her own buddy. (Go, Rhetta!)

I personally think Rhetta should’ve b*itchslapped Grace around a bit, but alas, that wouldn’t be Rhetta. But seeing as Grace screws Rhetta out of being flown to Los Angeles as a key witness on a serial rapist case (and getting $2000, too – helpful, seeing as Rhetta’s family is a bit strapped for cash at the moment) because Grace tampered with the evidence on which Rhetta was supposed to testify (and lied to Rhetta about said tampering) surely had me wishing Rhetta had driven Grace off the same cliff that this week’s The Closer’s victim found herself at the bottom of.

Honestly, is this woman every going to stop? Do we even care anymore? Can we really believe that after six episodes of Angel Earl proving his existence 18 billion times over that Grace isn’t getting the picture?

Own up. Deal. Or just plain drive yourself into a telephone pole and do the world a favor. It’s beyond tiresome and boring to continue to have this in-your-face-I’m-so-outta-control-watch-me-laugh-at-the-world mentality. It’s not even believable to me anymore that someone who almost killed a man, has been in two places at once, has wrestled an Angel at The Coliseum in Greece, gets beamed over the Grand Canyon at will and sends an Angel to Morocco for spices in less than the blink of an eye has not changed whatsoever since the Pilot episode.

There was a case this week (as there usually is, but always seems to take a back seat to the sex, drugs and rock and roll). Something about a hard core investigative journalist who gets herself personally involved in her stories (e.g., becomes a prostitute to write about some seedy underhanded father-son pimps running shady underhanded casinos and re-writing the book on incest). What she discovered and wrote up for her article gets her killed, and it all does eventually tie back to the Deliverance-esque father and son, where the father thinks nothing of feeling up all the little girls in their family and murdering two of them if they protest.

Creepy. Yuck. Gross.

Would’ve loved to have seen Brenda Leigh Johnson or Lilly Rush go after these two pieces of work.

But with Grace … eh, I just don’t care.

In the end, she and Rhetta do make up (seeing as Grace did mope around after knowing she royally messed up Rhetta’s world), and Rhetta does have the power to forgive.

But does Grace stop lying?

Darlene (Ham's wife): “Are you sleeping with my husband?”
Grace: “No.”

Typical.

New episodes air Mondays at 10 p.m. on TNT.

Trouble Lies Ahead for 'The 4400'

Is it just me, or has The 4400 really upped its game these last few weeks?? I just sit back and marvel at its awesome-ness for an hour each week. Not-Tom, Bad Future (or is that No Future considering this week's revelation?), Isabelle The Almighty (pt. 2), and now Diana and Meghan hot on the dangerous trail of Not-Tom. I knew I was right to worry about Diana's safety. There's no way that Not-Tom doesn't know that she and Meghan know the truth about him. He killed an old man on life support just to prevent this ghost in the machine from destroying Emroth's software company (which just happens to be bank rolling Bad Future's end of the world plan), so I shiver at the thought of what he'll do to Diana given the chance. It's all a ploy to ensure that the 4400 and the promicin positives fail at their attempt to prevent the tragedy. According to what Tom told Isabelle, that tragedy sounds like it's the end of the world and Isabelle is charged with ensuring that it happens. But why? Why does Bad Future want the world to end? And why when I was just beginning to really like Isabelle do they go and turn her bad again (against her will, I should point out)? All I know is, if Bad Future is able to use Jordan Collier as their next host, interesting times are ahead.

Elsewhere, it was Maia's birthday and the writers had me all excited that Ben was going to make an appearance. I know, I know Diana told me not to get my hopes up because London is far away, but damn it, I can't help it! And unlike Maia, I'm not over "all that." It was nice to see Lindsay again, and her gift for Maia was pretty cool. BUT, I'm worried that this is leading somewhere not good. Remember how earlier this season I said that Jordan would love to get his hands on Maia? Well, I just hope he isn't in on Lindsay's gift. And speaking of gifts, we were totally robbed of seeing Maia's birthday dinner at the fancy restaurant with Diana. I was sooooo looking forward to that scene! So to recap, no Ben, no awesome birthday dinner scene, and yet somehow, this episode managed to rock my socks off anyway. All is forgiven (except the week off next Sunday for the US Open).

If you missed last night's episode, check out the 2-minute replay at the show's official site.

Premiering 'The Champ'

Well faithful PTR readers, it's finally here: The last day of hearing me go on and on about Kathryn Morris' upcoming film Resurrecting the Champ because it's in theaters today!!! The film, which also stars heavy-hitters Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Hartnett, tells the story of a down-on-his-luck sports reporter (Hartnett) who thinks he found the story that will launch his career when he meets a former heavyweight champ who's living on the streets (Jackson). Morris plays Hartnett's older, more accomplished wife and serves as the film's moral center. Last week, she told PTR staff writer LillyKat that she enjoyed that about her character. "I got to play a woman who was a true lady. She let her husband go on his own journey, and let the man become the man he needed to become,” Morris explained. The movie first premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival earlier this year (PTR coverage HERE). This week, though, the stars gathered for the film's premiere in Los Angeles. Here are some photos from the event Wednesday night:

Jackson and Morris

Morris and co-star Dakota Goyo

From L-R: Director Rod Lurie, Teri Hatcher, Morris and Jackson

The reviews on this one are solid, earning it a 62% freshness rating at Rotton Tomatoes. Our LillyKat saw the film last week at a screening and felt that it was one those rare gems. "It’s truly a quality piece of storytelling, with an excellent cast of actors and great filmmaking," she wrote in her review this week. Be sure to check out her full piece HERE.

Resurrecting the Champ is in theaters now. Before you head to the theater, check out this clip posted at You Tube courtesy of Yari Film Group:

For more clips, trailers, and behind-the-scenes footage, click on over to You Tube.

PHOTO SPECIAL THANKS: Kathryn Morris Online, Getty Images, Bruno Press, Yahoo! Movies, and all the wonderful folks at Look Again. For more photos from the premiere, visit Kathryn Morris Online's Resurrecting the Champ premiere page.

Morris Ups Her 'Case' Load

On the eve of the nation-wide premiere of her feature film Resurrecting the Champ, Cold Case star (and PTR fave) Kathryn Morris landed a salary bump, a production company, and a role in the new Bruce Willis film Sophomore. More from The Hollywood Reporter:

A Heavier 'Case' Load for Morris
By Nellie Andreeva
Aug. 23, 2007

"Cold Case" star Kathryn Morris is heading into the upcoming fifth season of the hit CBS crime drama with a salary bump and a production deal.

On the feature side, she has been cast in Yari Film Group's dark comedy "The Sophomore," starring Bruce Willis.

Morris' raise will bring her paycheck to $180,000-$190,000 in the next two seasons of "Cold Case," sources said. The series -- which stars Morris as Lilly Rush, a dedicated detective in the Philadelphia homicide squad working on crimes that have never been solved -- hails from Jerry Bruckheimer TV, Warner Bros. TV and CBS Paramount Network TV.

Morris is launching her own production company, which will have a first-look deal with WBTV. She is in the process of hiring a development executive.

It is common practice for the stars of successful series to get production deals with the studio behind the series. For instance, Anthony LaPaglia, the star of "Without a Trace" -- another CBS crime drama from the trio of Bruckheimer TV, WBTV and CBS Par TV -- launched his Last Straw Prods. two years ago. The company also is based at WBTV with a first-look deal.

Since its launch in 2003, "Cold Case" has been a solid ratings performer for CBS on Sundays. In 2004, the procedural drama fetched $1.4 million per episode in an off-net syndication deal with TNT. The cable network will begin running repeats in the fall.

In "Sophomore," which is set at a high school with Willis as the principal, Morris will play Nurse Platt, a vegan/hippie stoner high school nurse. She will shoot the film next month around her "Cold Cast" schedule.

On the big screen, Morris next co-stars opposite Josh Hartnett and Samuel L. Jackson in Rod Lurie's "Resurrecting the Champ," which opens Friday.



Be sure to tune in to PTR tomorrow for full coverage of Champ's premiere! And catch staff writer LillyKat's review HERE.

The Countdown Rolls On

We are in the home stretch of this year's countdown of the Best Episodes of the Season, which means we're getting even closer to the number one best episode! Before we get to this week's entries, here's a look at the rules for this year's winners. I ended up with 30 incredible episodes that demonstrate the diversity and quality of the current television state. All of the shows and their episodes are from NETWORK television only, meaning that I did not take any cable series into consideration (since I only watch a few and felt that it would be unfair). All episodes aired between September 2006 and June 2007. Each episode that made the final list moved me in some way; either by making me laugh out loud, cry my eyes out or just left me 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, I will reveal a few each week all summer. So, be sure to tune in on Thursdays to find out which episodes are on the countdown! Today, we're going to take a look at numbers 9-7.

9: "Responsible" - Law & Order: SVU
This episode was highly controversial, but addressed such an important topic that it didn't take much to make this my favorite episode of the season. Not many people realize that teen drinking and driving is a huge issue, but it is. First a girl dies from alcohol poisoning. Then, during the course of the trial, two more of her friends die in a drinking and driving accident. In the quest to discover who is supplying the alcohol, it is discovered that someone no one suspected is addicted. It is eventually discovered that a parent is supplying alcohol to the kids. Elliot's daughter, Kathleen, highlights how easy it is for kids to buy alcohol by ordering some in a restaurant without being carded, and she's 17! "Responsible" did an amazing job in highlighting the serious issue on our hands in today's society, and just some of the consequences of leaving it to grow. Written by Allison Intrieri and Directed by David Platt & Yelena Lanskaya (Photo courtesy nbc.com). - PTR Staff Writer Trublu

8: "Expose" - Lost
This episode was shear genius as only Lost can do. We finally got to meet Nikki and Paolo -- those two random survivors who suddenly appeared this season. And then, we said goodbye to them. Everything from the rest of the survivors not knowing Nikki and Paolo (along with all of us) to the breath taking ending (literally) that marked the end of these two insignificant character additions made this one pretty awesome. The two were so busy quarreling with each other over diamonds that they lost sight of what really matters. Nikki used a venomous medusa spider to temporarily paralyze Paolo, but she didn't count on getting bitten herself. With both of them paralyzed, the rest of the survivors thought they were dead, so in the ground they went. In the end, they were both buried alive (with the diamonds they were fighting over) because of the mix-up. And yes Alanis, it is ironic. I loved it! Written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and directed by Stephen Williams. (Screencap courtesy of Lost-Media.com.)

7: "Pilot" - Friday Night Lights
How can the episode that introduced us to some of the best written characters on television not make this list?? But, it wasn't just the introductions that landed this one the #7 spot this year. Imagine having the world at your feet -- a future filled with college football and NFL dreams and a present occupied by the starting QB position on one of the greatest high school football programs in the country. And now imagine all of that disappearing in the blink of an eye. Welcome to Jason Street's world, which feels a little like it's closing in on him by the end of this stellar episode. The star QB with the bright future goes down in the first big game of the season and winds up in a hospital bed paralyzed for the rest of his life. But it isn't just Jason's life that gets turned upside down. The entire town waits with baited breath to learn his fate - both because they're worried about their team and the well-being of one of their own. Lyla Garrity suddenly wonders what her future with Jason holds, and Coach Taylor tries to move on and refocus his team while he faces the shock of what just happened on the field. You see in Dillon Texas, it isn't just Jason paralyzed, but the entire town. And the complex emotional fallout from it all can only be explored this well by Friday Night Lights. Written and (exceptionally) directed by series creator Peter Berg. (Photo courtesy nbc.com)

So, there's a look at episodes 9-7 on the countdown. What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Be sure to come back next week when the countdown breaks the Top 5!!

PTR Exclusive: Reviewing the ‘Champ’ (Part 2)

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

What do you get when you cross a less-than-average sports writer desperately looking for his title shot at sports writing greatness with a homeless guy who happens to be a former heavyweight boxing champ?

A Pulitzer Prize winning story.

Or is it?

Welcome to Resurrecting the Champ.

As regular readers of this blog know, I had the opportunity to attend a screening of this film (followed thereafter with a Q&A with director Rod Lurie, actress and co-star Kathryn Morris, producer Mike Medavoy of Phoenix Pictures and Bob Yari of Yari Films). Part 1 of my report was an exclusive with Kathryn as to her role in the film (recapped here). This week, we get to reviewing the film.

Quite often, real life is more interesting than fiction. This proves true when watching a movie that is based on something that actually happened. (And, I’m not talking about the “Based on a True Story” marketing deception trick that some filmmakers use to fool the audience into thinking that what they are seeing on screen is a line by line account of something when, in actual fact, only one thing in the film is true and everything else is creative license. No, I’m talking about the real “Based on a True Story”-inspired films with no marketing deception trick needed). I tend to favor these stories because they bring a different level of believability to the characters – their struggles, their conflicts, their triumphs. It’s a testament to the human spirit (which sometimes one just cannot come up with on one’s own, no matter how good of a writer one is). There really is something to knowing the story happened to someone, somewhere, somehow.

Resurrecting the Champ (directed by Lurie from a screenplay by Michael Bortman and Allison Burnett) is based on the true life tale of Los Angeles Times writer J.R. Moehringer’s May 1997 story, “Resurrecting the Champ,” which focused on a former professional boxer left homeless and living on the street. Moehringer’s story also delved into his own personal relationship with the boxer, as well as his dealings with his father (who left his family when he was just a baby).

In the film, Josh Hartnett stars as Denver Times sports writer Erik Kernan. Living in the shadow of his famous sports writer father, Erik does not have quite the same writing chops as ol’ dad. Although he was good at one time, he’s lost a bit of his touch, run out of ideas and fallen out of favor with his editor (played by the always superb Alan Alda).

As Erik struggles to live up to his father’s reputation, he is also desperately trying to be a good father to his own young son, Teddy (played beautifully by young actor Dakota Goyo) whilst also trying to save his marriage to the more sophisticated, accomplished and well-respected journalist, Joyce (played by PTR favorite Kathryn Morris). It is something of a rarity in Hollywood to have the woman as the older, wiser and more accomplished partner – a refreshing reversal of fortune on the overdone older man/younger woman routine. As Morris told us here at PTR last week:

“There are so many movies out there where the wife is nagging, not supportive, and you don’t often see a story where one – she – is truly the better half trying to make the other half better. I liked that [Joyce was] not a paint by numbers wife .... [In this film], she let her husband go on his own journey, and let [him] become the man he needed to become.”

Just when things seem as if they are never going to turn around for Erik, he has an unexpected run-in with Champ, played by Samuel L. Jackson. Homeless, out on the street and not much left to his name, he clings to being known as Battlin’ Bob Satterfield – “Number 3 in the world!” back in the 1950s. By all accounts, Satterfield is supposedly dead, or at the very least, dropped off the face of the boxing landscape ages ago.

Enter Erik’s own title shot, as he calls it, to tell Champ’s story, resurrect him from oblivion, and grant Champ the opportunity to get part of his life back – not to mention his own. But all is not what it appears, and Erik soon finds himself in an even greater struggle than saving his career and his marriage: saving himself from himself.

“A writer, like a boxer, must stand alone.”

And get the right story for the right reasons.

This film is a gem. One of the increasing number of gems brought to us by the Yari Film Group, who have earned the reputation of being willing to make the quality independent films for which every other major studio says, “No, thanks.”

Their loss.

Crash anyone?

Refreshingly, Champ doesn’t have the hoopla of summer blockbusterness nor the requirement to dumb oneself down to laugh at stupid teenage boys being stupid teenage-boys. It’s truly a quality piece of storytelling, with an excellent cast of actors and great filmmaking.

Jackson is almost unrecognizable as Champ. Snakes on a Plane and Pulp Fiction this is not. He portrays Champ with a range of subtle and tempered emotion that we do not often get to see in his films. Hartnett is equally as good as a young guy just trying to do the right thing – for his boss, for his wife, for his kid, for himself. Morris is quality through and through, and it’s a wonderful change of pace to see her step out of the confines of her role as Detective Lilly Rush on Cold Case. Even though the story really does focus on Jackson’s Champ and Hartnett’s Erik, Morris’ Joyce is key to the film as its moral center, its balance.

Alan Alda is … well, Alan Alda. Is there anyone better? A true actor’s actor, Alda is sharp, engaging, carries the role of a hardened newspaper editor with ease. I could watch him for hours saying one line over and over and never get bored. And Dakota Goyo is … Too. Darn. Cute. It’s been a while since I’ve been so impressed by a young child actor, but this little guy is a great find. His scenes with Hartnett are priceless, and he has a wholesomeness that is almost heartbreaking to watch once he realizes dad may not be all that he thinks he is.

In listening to the filmmakers discuss their roles in the process of getting this film made (which took almost 10 years to bring to the big screen), producer Mike Medavoy perhaps said it best: “It’s not our job to tell directors how to run a movie [or] cut a movie.”

As a result, you get the story told as the story should be told.

For the right reasons.

Resurrecting the Champ opens August 24th. Visit the official Web site.

It's Tom's World on ‘Damages’

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

It’s not easy getting out of Patty Hewes’ tangled Web.

Even if you’re offered a $950,000 base salary, a spectacular signing bonus and named full partner of a rival firm.

Poor Tom Shayes.

He just is always going to be the Number 2, isn’t he?

Not to mention he just likes Patty way too much.

This week was all about Tom – his irritation at being Patty’s slave, his annoyance at not having been made a partner after 10 years of servitude, and just his all around I’m-a-lawyer-not-a-private-investigator vibe we’ve be getting over the last couple of episodes.

When Patty doesn’t put up a fight to keep him, Tom starts to second guess … well, everything. (Don’t we know by now, Tom, that she’s too smart to do the obvious? Not going after you was her whole plan to keep you. Wink. Wink.)

But, Tom isn’t the only unhappy duckling over at Hewes and Associates this week.

The former employees of Arthur Frobisher are pretty irked as well.

Why?

He has pulled the $100 million settlement offer off the table – much to the dismay of his lawyer Fiske, who would prefer him to “[j]ust think of it as a small deductible on a $2 billion insurance policy.”

Only a small deductible, eh?

Oh, but Frobie wants more than that: “This is my legacy. I want my name back. I want redemption.”

Good luck with that.

Fed up with Patty’s refusal to accept the offer, and thus, now having lost it completely, the clients decide to hire Tom (even in his limbo I-still-work-for-Patty-but-am-leaving-maybe-sort-of state of mind). He even goes so far as to debate about whether he can step out on his own with the Frobie case, or just simply take the case with him to rival Martin Cutler and one-up Patty for all time.

Decisions, decisions.

But got to hand it to Tom.

Even in limbo, and as the “new” attorney on the case, he meets with Fiske – who thinks he can dumb down Tom and get him to take even less of a settlement for the clients than what Frobie just pulled of the table.

Tom: “I’m no Patty Hewes. But I did spend 10 years with her. There’s no [settlement] number … I want to put your multi-billion dollar poster boy for corporate corruption before a jury and watch you try to explain to them he’s not a crook.”

Score one for Tom!

On the Ellen front this week, seems she and fiancé doc David are in the middle of their first fight – still brewing over Katie blowing it big time at the deposition (screwing up the case for Ellen), then ditching town because she was so distraught (annoying bro’ David that sis’ Katie was put through the ringer in the first place).

David pays Katie a visit at their parent’s home and comes back to Ellen with “new info” that the case now hinges on Katie’s one-night-Florida-fling Greg (which, of course, Patty already knows). Seems Greg really did dump his own stock on the same day as Frobie. Bummer.

Mafia-esque guys are still keeping tabs on ol' Greg. Still don't know what the heck they are - or are not. Paying him some big bucks to keep him quiet, though.

Can we say new key witness for Patty's case? (Er, Tom's. Er, Patty and Tom's.)

Perhaps what proved most intriguing about the ep this week were the present day “flashback” sequences, whereby Ellen is in the police station, bloodied and bruised, claiming someone had tried to kill her. Instead, she confesses she ended up killing them.

In Patty Hewes’ apartment.

Ooooh.

Except there's no body.

Double ooooh.

Stay tuned.

New episodes air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on FX. You can also have fun visiting the Hewes and Associates Official Web Site.

**Special Programming Note: The show is off next week, but will return with its next new episode on September 4th. If you have missed any of the series thus far, you can catch up on Monday, September 3rd as FX will be airing a Damages marathon beginning at 3 p.m. EDT. Check your local listings to be sure of the time in your area.

Meet the Parents (The Sequel) on ‘The Closer’

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

Sound of Brenda Leigh Johnson’s biological clock ticking?

Or counting the moments until mom and dad head home?

After two weeks of humdingers, The Closer came back down to earth this week with another solid episode titled, “Culture Shock.” (But it was the last five minutes of this episode that I still am laughing about … more on that in a moment).

The case itself was a sad tale of poor Chinese immigrants getting tangled in the web of a smarmy entrepreneur. The victim (Ping-Meo) and her husband (Rem-Di) had come to the U.S. penniless, yet owed a “snakehead” upon arrival (one who helped make their arrangements to leave China in the first place). So, they make a deal with entrepreneur Christopher Conroy, who specializes in taking care of immigrants like Ping-Meo and Rem-Di. He pays off their the debt to the snakehead, gives them capital to start a business and brings other members of their family to the U.S. Of course, this is all in exchange for being able to have an affair with Ping-Meo, a cut of the business and … well, basically having the family be enslaved to him for life.

A dangerous liason.

When they wanted out, well … that didn’t really go over too well with Conroy. But as it turns out, it was all too much for Rem-Di’s wise old father. So he took matters into his own hands.

Even more dangerous - the honor of it not withstanding.

Now, all this transpires as Brenda enters the second week of visiting with mom and dad, though, by most accounts, it is Fritz who has been left in charge of the babysitting:

Fritz: “Are you feeling alright?”
Brenda: “Yes.”
Fritz: “Then stop leaving me alone with your parents.”

As Brenda fully returns to active duty, she’s tasked with being a tour guide herself whilst trying to work the case, secretly meeting up with members of her squad for updates. Hiding in the trees anyone? Or how about just in the lobby of the hotel where a) daddy is taking everyone for lunch; b) Conroy is staying. (To steal a line from the Pirates of the Caribbean series of films as to Captain Jack’s uncanny ability to perfectly time just about everything: “Do you think [she] plans it all out, or does [she] just make it up as [she] goes along?”)

Perhaps a bit of both.

Ne’er mind daddy’s toasting at lunch compares her to an old car (given her early onset menopause); or, that no one on the squad has known of her engagement until dad and mom come in for another bring-your-parents-to-work visit (complete with gifts of pictures and fudge); or that Chief Pope rips Brenda in front of her parents without having first been properly introduced.

But, it is the final five minutes (at a follow-up doctor’s appointment) that is Just. Too. Perfect.

The good news: Brenda is cancer free.

The bad news: looks as though in order to curb some of the symptoms of early onset menopause, Brenda is going to have to … wait for it …

Cut out sweets.

Oh. My. God.

Can BJ even survive on anything less than five Ding-Dongs a day? You swear she is going to have a nervous breakdown right there in the doctor’s office - twitches, short of breath.

It makes the ovarian drilling procedure seem like a breeze.

Whaaaaaat?

S-l-oooo-www … d-oooo-wwww-n … a-n-d … r-eeee-p-eeee-a-t … t-h-aaa-t?

Ovaaaariannnn Drillllinnnnngggg.

The slow-mo reiteration of what is the surgical alternative to helping Brenda reverse her menopause symptoms is a comedic scene for the ages.

You never saw it coming.

And you can’t stop laughing.

Genius.

Only two episode left until the season finale.

New episodes air Mondays at 9 p.m. on TNT.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back for ‘Grace’

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

I should have known it was too good to be true to have two weeks worth of pretty good Saving Grace episodes – as in, less wardrobe malfunctions, more ironies and some quality police work.

Alas, we’re back to square one.

More sex, drugs and rock and roll – and a lot of bull.

And again, I find myself asking, “And I should care because …?”

This week, we find Grace back to her old romps – as in, we’ve resumed the opening sequence of her banging her partner, except this time he’s handcuffed on the floor, writhing every which way, with body shots of Tequila flowing freely (among other things). I have to wonder: when Kenneth Johnson (Ham) went for this role, did he basically get told, “So, you get to kind of be a police detective, but you're pretty much a sex toy.” Oy vey. His Joseph never got this far with Lilly over on Cold Case – nor would we want him to as some things are better left to the imagination.

I confess I’m kind of getting irritated (or bored?) that Ham just seems to be able to be at Grace’s beck and call – whenever, wherever, however – yet, we have absolutely no repercussions coming back his way other than one wife-induced black eye in the Pilot episode. At least Grace is getting hounded by Angel Earl. In any event, it’s starting to bore me, and I’m over the whole this-is-the-edgiest-most-dangerous-in-your-face-aggressive-wow-woman-on-TV spiel (yawn).

Speaking of Angel Earl, he was remarkably absent this week. Kind of missed that.

Anyways, Grace and Ham’s usual three times a day (I’m guessing) routine was interrupted by Grace’s psychic aunt, Kathy – “The woman who taught me to smoke when I was 12.”

Ah, so it’s her fault, is it?

Seems Aunt Kathy (played by the still fabulous Frances Fisher) is in town because Grace’s father is getting a fire station named after him (personal family back story fact #1). She also messed with Grace a bit (in her own psychic way): “You have a new man … he’s going to be in your life forever … starts with an E … Earl.”

Thud.

As far as police work actually went this week, we remember the hot-to-trot-big-shot cattle farmer who Grace slugged in the Pilot episode and of whom is still pressing charges? That would be Alvin Green. Well, it seems his prized, 20-ton bronze bull statue was stolen. Apparently, this statue is some sort of good luck charm, responsible for all his good fortunes as Cattle Rancher of the Galaxy. Without it, all of his luck goes to pot, including his collection of price winning … um, let’s just call it bull reproductive juice, which is kept in some sort of Fort Knox type vault; also, his herd of cattle suddenly becomes infected by some sort of disabling reproductive organ disease that I cannot spell or pronounce (so fill in the blank with your own innuendo this week).

Turns out Alvin’s ex-wife, right hand cattle man and the artist who made the statue “hated” it a little too much, so they got together to mess with Alvin. Bummer. But alas, before the statue completely ended up in the scrap heap, Grace and Ham were able to return one portion of it. I’ll let you all guess as to what “part” got returned. Hint: it rhymes with “calls” and starts with a B.

Perhaps the most compelling part of this episode was Grace coming to find out Aunt Kathy had an affair with Grace’s dad (personal family back story fact #2) – cheating on her own sister, Grace’s mom (personal family back story fact #3). Grace gets pretty darn irked. Drinks herself into oblivion, shows up to work more than sauced – without her gun or badge – does some serious b*tchslapping of ol’ Aunt Kathy, not to mention comes to realize why her fireman brother, Leo (personal family back story fact #4), hates Aunt Kathy so much.

The usual graceless Grace.

On a side note, seems bro’ Leo is a bit disgruntled himself as he sits in his basement with all sorts of Oklahoma City bombing articles, pictures and models convinced Timothy McVeigh did not act alone.

This odd. Way odd. A little bit too much of a stretch for me. I know we don’t get over things like Oklahoma City or 9/11 – especially when we are touched by it personally. But making models? Coming up with conspiracy theories in your spare time? I’m not sure bro’ is right in the head and/or should even still be on the fire department if he is that obsessed. Even Grace had to ask, “How can you sit down here and look at all this?”

Then again, Grace isn't right in the head. Nor is her Aunt. So perhaps it all really does run in the family.

But alas, it seems the real reason Aunt Kathy blew into town is because she’s been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Thus, she’s decided to come clean and do right by herself, confessing to her sins and perhaps asking for forgiveness.

Much to Grace’s chagrin.

Perhaps Grace should follow Aunt Kathy’s lead?

Four episodes left until the season finale.

New episodes air Mondays at 10 p.m. on TNT.

'Heroes' Rings Bell

File this under BEST. NEWS. EVER!!! From Yahoo! News:

Kristen Bell to appear on NBC's 'Heroes'
By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER, Associated Press Writer
Mon Aug 20, 4:13 PM ET

DETROIT - Kristen Bell is going from solving mysteries to being a part of one. The 27-year-old actress, who starred for three seasons as teenage detective Veronica Mars on the now-canceled show of the same name, will appear in a multi-episode arc on NBC's "Heroes" this fall.

"This was not easy to pull off. But since we're an ensemble show, with many arcs playing out through the year, we found a way to jump into a small window in her schedule," Tim Kring, the show's executive producer and creator, said in a statement Monday.

Kring said Bell's character, Elle, will appear in October and will be "a sexy, intriguing, mysterious young lady" who will commit a terrible crime, but it won't be clear whose side she is really on.

"Heroes" won't be the Detroit-area native's only TV work this fall.

She's providing the voice of the narrator (something she also did on "Veronica Mars") for the CW's new "Gossip Girl."

Bell also has some big-screen projects in the works, including a turn as the title character in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," a comedy produced by Judd Apatow ("The 40 Year-Old Virgin," "Knocked Up").



Well Kristen fans, we may have missed out on seeing her on Lost, but seeing her on Heroes this fall is just as awesome!! (Photo courtesy Kristen Bell:: Online)

UPDATED: Read Kristen's exclusive interview on her new role (HINT: she has "a really awesome power," but she can't spill the beans and the best news -- she's committed to 13 episodes!!) , turning down Lost and the possibility of a Veronica Mars film with TVGuide's Mike Ausiello.