PTR Faves Attend Emmy Awards

Well, another Emmy show has come and gone. The statues have been handed out, the dresses have been fully analyzed and the all-important swag has been cleared out. But, who won TV's biggest awards? Here's a list of the winners (in the major categories) from The New York Daily News:

Drama Series: "Mad Men," AMC.
Comedy Series: "30 Rock," NBC.
Actor, Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad," AMC.
Actress, Drama Series: Glenn Close, "Damages," FX.
Actor, Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock," NBC.
Actress, Comedy Series: Tina Fey, "30 Rock," NBC.
Reality-Competition Program: "The Amazing Race."
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Zeljko Ivanek, "Damages," FX.
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment," HBO.
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Jeremy Piven, "Entourage," HBO.
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Jean Smart, "Samantha Who?," ABC.

For a full list of winners, click HERE.

Congrats to all of the winners, especially PTR faves Glenn Close and Zeljko Ivanek from Damages and to The Amazing Race.

And now, PTR continues the Emmy tradition of bringing you photos of some of our faves who attended the ceremony...

The Closer's Kyra Sedgwick

Best Actress in a Drama Winner Glenn Close

Dexter's Jennifer Carpenter

Damages' Rose Byrne

L&O: SVU's Mariska Hargitay

Lost's Evangeline Lilly

Dexter's Julie Benz

For more photos from last night's event, visit Getty Images.

PTR's Emmy Picks

This Sunday, we'll find out if our faves take home a statue on TV's biggest night. The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards will be handed out this weekend live on ABC. In the meantime, LillyKat and I thought it would be fun to make our picks on who/what we want to win in some of the biggest categories. Here's what we came up with...

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Tony Shalhoub - Monk
Steve Carell - The Office
Lee Pace - Pushing Daisies
Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock
Charlie Sheen - Two & a Half Men

TVFan's Pick: Tony Shalhoub. The Monk star makes the series with his hilarious OCD detective.
LillyKat's Pick: Anyone BUT Steve Carell will do. I know that's harsh, but I just don't like the guy whatsoever, and I've never taken to The Office given I prefer the o-rig-i-nal UK version.


Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy
Tiny Fey - 30 Rock
Christina Applegate - Samantha Who?
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures Of Old Christine
America Ferrera - Ugly Betty
Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds

TVFan's Pick: 30 Rock's Tina Fey. I'm not a regular viewer of any of these series, but Fey's delivery and timing make her a stand-out for me in this category.
LillyKat's Pick:Again, anyone BUT Julia Louis-Dreyfus. I actually DO like her, but she's already won for both Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine. I prefer when the Academy quits rewarding the same person. That said, I'm partial to America Ferrera or Mary-Louise Parker.


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
James Spader - Boston Legal
Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall - Dexter
Hugh Laurie - House
Gabriel Byrne - In Treatment
Jon Hamm - Mad Men

TVFan's Pick: Dexter's Michael C. Hall. Hall is Dexter and without him, this show just wouldn't be the same. He brings such conflicted complication to the role and has us feeling sorry for his serial killer character.
LillyKat's Pick: Definitely Michael C. Hall. I am just dying (no pun intended) to have him be recognized for bringing to life one of the most compelling characters on television. But I'm wondering if it's going to be a Mad Men evening, and thus, Jon Hamm could find himself with the Emmy hardware.


Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters
Glenn Close - Damages
Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Holly Hunter - Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

TVFan's Pick: Glenn Close. This is a difficult category given that it also includes the fabulous Kyra Sedgwick, but Close's portrayal of the uber-complicated Patty Hewes was, hands down, the best performance of last season in any category.
LillyKat's Pick:I cannot decide between Glenn Close and Kyra Sedwick. Purely on sentimental value, I want Kyra to win. She has delivered year-in, year-out yet has only ever been nominated, not won. I don't want her to turn into the Susan Lucci of the Primetime Emmys. On that fact alone, I'd like to see her finally get recognized. However, Glenn is just too darn good. There are hardly words to describe her captivating portrayal of Patty Hewes. So, if Kyra has to lose AGAIN, I'd want her to lose to Glenn.


Outstanding Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two & a Half Men

TVFan's Pick: The Office. This off-beat comedy never fails to make me laugh and marvel at its clever use of its faux-documentary style.
LillyKat's Pick:Hmm ... I don't watch much of any of these shows. I'll guess it'll be between The Office and 30 Rock (who surprised everyone last year, remember?)


Outstanding Drama Series
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

TVFan's Pick: Damages. This is the toughest category for me with Dexter and Lost keeping Damages company, but the FX freshman series absolutely blew me away. This first season was the finest season of any show I've ever seen. If Damages doesn't win, I might have to re-think lifting my Emmy ban.
LillyKat's Pick:I'd be happy with Dexter or Damages, with Damages possibly getting the edge given the intricacies of the show were just so captivating, and the entire ensemble cast turned in amazing performances tall the way around. But again, I'm wondering if we might see a Mad Men sweep. The good news is that sometimes the shows with the MOST noms go home with the LEAST awards. So here's to some of PTR Faves giving them a run for their money.


You can find out if these nominees and your faves take home the statues this Sunday evening on ABC (8 PM/7 PM).

Dog 'Bones'

I've decided to try a different approach with this week's Bones write-up. You know, give it a little extra something to separate these postings from the rest of the pack. So, let's take a look at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from last night's dog-fighting episode "The Finger in the Nest."

THE GOOD
Lots of funny moments and lines this week (as always). The banter between Booth and Bones is second to none. It was nice to see some scenes with Booth and Parker and then later, with Sweets. At the end when Brennan told him that he was a good father, I had to agree. He went out of his way to make sure that finding that finger wasn't going to traumatize Parker (I'm not what he had to worry about, though. After all, Bones stumbled upon a dead woman when she was a kid and look how she turned out). And speaking of that little scene at the end -- it was so tragic to learn that they euthanized the dog and then to watch Brennan's reaction to the news just broke my heart. She had a friggin' collar! As usual, Booth was there helping her work through it. And, I was happy to finally see someone, in this case Hodgins, reacting to Zach's revelation last season.

THE (Kinda) BAD
While it was great to finally see one of the team members suffering the effects of Zach's surprising confession and abrupt departure, it just wasn't enough. I don't expect Brennan to be boo-hooing in her Cornflakes, but I did expect some sort of emotional fallout reaction. She was close with Zach and he looked up to her. Maybe it just hasn't hit her yet. I'm also not liking this revolving door Zach replacement story they have going on this season. None of the replacements (save for week one) has made any sort of lasting impact or contribution. If we can't have Zach, then I'm ready to just find his replacement and move on. Finally, the Dog Whisperer cameo was a bit contrived. Why was he helping Booth and Bones exactly? I know, I know -- it was a stunt to draw in viewers, but my problem with it was that it came across as such. Bones works just fine without the stunt casting.

THE UGLY
Those horrible dog fighting photos! Like Angela and Brennan, I found them hard to look at even if they were fakes for the show. They did, however, continue to raise awareness about the atrocities of dog fighting, and that's always a good thing.

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

'Fringe' Aging

I have heard the comparisons to another Fox series that found two FBI agents investigating a series of unexplained incidents, but despite the obviously very similar description, I didn't feel like Fringe was that akin to The X-Files (which I LOVED, btw) when I watched last week's series premiere. There were parallels, but overall, I felt that they were fundamentally dissimilar. And then last night's episode aired and I began to feel a little differently. The rapid aging incident (that had a woman get pregnant and deliver a full term baby who went from infant to old man to corpse all in matter of minutes) was very X-Files-esque, and I LOVED it! Fringe seems to be carrying on the tradition started by the sci-fi series back in the late 90s. Having seen the most recent X-Files movie this summer, I was missing the original Fox intrigue show so having this new one is beginning to fill that void nicely. Of course, Olivia and Peter are certainly no Scully and Mulder (and their obvious attraction seems to be heading somewhere more sooner than later), but they'll do.

This rapid aging incident was another product of Dr. Bishop's fringe research. Apparently, the U.S. government had requested a corp of soldiers that would be born and aged to 21 years in a matter of minutes, but Dr. Bishop and his team were never able to slow the aging process at 21 years old, thus, the subject would continue to age and die. A colleague, however, continued the research and found that stealing the pituitary glands of others slowed the process. He employed the theory to a test subject that he had grown quite fond of and didn't want to see aged to death. It was another part of what's known as "The Pattern." But, who is behind all of the unexplained phenomenon? Right now, it feels a lot like its Massive Dynamics, which just so happens to be headed by Bishop's former partner who has a very suspicious (and slightly creepy) secretary Nina. Notice that we never seem to meet the supposed CEO and instead, deal directly with Nina. And speaking of Nina, her job offer to Olivia was a clear sign that she's getting worried about Olivia's involvement in investigating The Pattern. Perhaps, she's concerned that Olivia may stumble upon the truth and wants to keep her close so she can control her better. It looks like Olivia may have a very tough road in front of her.

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

Something Anew on 'Chronicles'

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

There’s a new girl on the block.

And it isn’t Shirley Manson.

For the first time, John Connor brought a girl home from school.

Awww.

Seriously, it’s cute and funny to have John so clueless, Sarah so irked (no surprise there), and Cameron assessing new girl’s (Reilly) “threat” level (as only Cam can do).

Can’t fault ol’ John for wanting to live a little. I mean, what’s the future leader of mankind to do, eh? He even gave Reilly his cell number. Go, John.

On the save the world front this week on Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, the team had to stop a power plant from falling into the hands of the machines. Unfortunately, I’m not really feeling like the team succeeded. Sure, they averted a Three Mile Island-esque meltdown, but now six power plants are going to go online to be monitored by … wait for it … a computer thanks to the human error(s) perceived to be the source of this "failure."

Not.

More like machine manipulation.

See, in the future, this particular power plant is being used as a major strategic source of power by the machines. Right now, it just seems to be trying to get itself back online thanks to one Carl Greenway who, naturally, finds himself terminated. Too bad, too, ‘cause he seemed like a nice guy who was trying to do the right thing in not putting a nuclear reactor online when it had safety issues (generally a good call).

Except that’s what the machines want.

They’re all for faulty power plants nearly melting down so as to point out just how error-prone human monitoring of these systems can be, and thus, prove why they should all be linked up and/or online together.

Argh.

And isn’t it convenient that our Three Mile Island incident of this week just so happens to have a company waiting in the wings to instantly take care of putting six power plants online at once.

Run by Shirley’s evil T-1000 self.

Double argh.

Their efficiency is just so irritatingly amazing.

(And for the record … I know I shouldn’t be calling Shirley Manson's character “Shirley,” since that is her real name, not her character name. But it’s just more fun this way. And besides, we’ve only heard her character name once, and she T-1000’s herself into various different persona, so it’s just easier to call her Shirley because we at least know who we’re talking about.)

Classic Cam Moment of the Week: doing her best impression of a pool shark, with the whole “Gee, I’m a girl, I don’t know how to play this game” routine. She raked in the cash, eh? Seemed kinda proud of herself, too. I think I’m going to call her Pool Shark Cindy from now on (okay, not really, but that was a funny sequence)

Concerning Cam Moment of the Week: She just seems off, doesn’t she? Like, delayed reaction, sort of processing things slower … I don’t know. As Sarah said, she seems to now be a guard dog that can’t be trusted. Why oh why did she have to have her chip tweaked?!?!?!?!? Well, I still trust her. What can I say: I LOVE CAMERON!!!

Anyhoooo … have some serious concerns for Charley next week. He’s now going to have do the live-on-the-run thing. Bummer. And if his wife keeps smacking him around for trying to be a good, there’s a cold case homicide detective in Philadelphia who could use a decent bloke for a change.

The fight to save the world continues.

New episodes of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles air Mondays at 8 p.m. on FOX. You can also watch full episodes online. Visit the Official Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Web site to catch up (or re-watch!)

Da' 'Closer' is Da' Bomb

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

Holy. Freakin’. Cow.

Do the folks over at The Closer know how to do their season finales or what?

Four seasons in, and they have never disappointed me. But last night’s “Time Bomb” episode has left me breathless.

Just. Plain. Breathless.

I’m still sort of stumbling over myself today after the shoot - out - at - the - OK - Corral - Mall. I don’t think I blinked for the last five to seven minutes of the episode – rivaling my stare-at-the-TV-screen-mouth-agape for 15 minutes after last season’s Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles finale.

Who’da thunk it could happen twice in the same calendar year?

And a writer’s strike year at that.

As we just got done singing the praises of last season's amazing “Blindsided” ep (which ended up Numero Uno on our PTR Best Ep Countdown), last night’s summer finale is going to give us a lot to think about between now and January (when BJ and Co. will return with new eps).

And perhaps for much longer than that.

Seriously.


The Case

Silly me for thinking this ep was going to be funny.

It sure started out that way.

BJ seemed so antsy pantsy in having to adjust to now being “Major Crimes,” not “Priority Homicide.”

And the case seemed to just be about a teenage kid who ended up on the unlucky side of building himself some pipe bombs (read: blew himself up with one).

Comic relief came at the expense of BABS, a state-of-the-art UGV (unmanned ground vehicle) called into investigate what became an instant bomb threat once the victim was identified as having schrapnel in his stomach. And from there, I thought we were in for the ultimate of Keystone Cops routines – whether it was Brenda’s impatience with BABS; her seeming confusion of who was where, with what and how; being carried feet first over the shoulder of Detective Sanchez and a Bomb Squad Task Force member not once, but twice, in order to force her to stand clear of the danger bomb zone; Lieutenant Provenza and Lieutenant Flynn laughing at the rather … how should we say … expressive way the young teenage victim expressed his appreciation of his high school principal (let’s just say he used the desk as a toilet).

Then it changed.

Turns out three teens were in cahoots to plan a Columbine-esque massacre in the name of being Agents of Extension of the human race.

Evolution’s End.

As in, set off bombs inside a shopping mall so as to force everyone outside, then take high positions on the roof and pick them off with an array of semi-automatic weapons so as to get the maximum amount of carnage and make their point – as per the original Columbine plan, except the bombs inside the school failed to detonate. As Fritz said, "As bad as [Columbine] was, it could’ve actually been worse."

Any time the word "Columbine" enters into a sentence, nothing is funny anymore.

And when someone actually tries to duplicate the tragedy?

Yikes.


The Shootout

This was some sequence.

Wow.

Nerves, urgency, uncertainty, fear, wrapped up into a shootout of all shootouts.

Once BJ has tracked down the last surviving teen involved in the plot, it is somewhat too late.

And all hell breaks lose.

The sound of the gunfire is still ringing in my ears.

In saying that, I want to commend the sound techs (and the post production team) on this one - they left the gunfire very raw, sort of that pop-pop-pop that is real gun fire, not the Hollywood Buh-Bang-Boom version that gets overly done. And the rapid fire succession – that constant pop-pop-pop from anywhere and everywhere - made it feel as if you were in a war zone.

And when the squad wishes each other luck to stop Terminator Teen?

Yikes.


The Slow-Mo Sequences

As if the shootout wasn’t compelling enough, there were some absolutely breathtaking slow-mo isolation sequences that further reinforced the sheer horror of what was unfolding on screen.

I mean, serious s-l-o-w-m-o.

When you can see the bullet shell casings slowly dropping out as the weapon is fired, or each gun’s pullback/release upon being triggered … wow.

Victims of traumatic experiences sometimes say that it’s almost as if time stood still while they were going through it. True, they can often times block out the entire experience. But other times, they can actually remember very precise detail, very specific instances. The way this sequence was shot seemed to drive home that point.

As in, never forget.

Something tells me the entire squad is going to be in trauma therapy next season.

Let’s hope it isn’t the therapist from Cold Case ('cause we know how UNsuccessful that was, eh?)


The Shot

Detective Sanchez.

Not looking good.

How about the bullets actually hitting him in the back as he tackled Lieutenant Provenza to save him? True, from the special effects perspective, we know he was just being squibbed. But still, I can’t say I didn’t go “Ah!” when it seemed as if he was being used for target practice was Terminator Teen.

BJ and Co. could’ve used their own Terminator last night.

Where’s Cameron when you need her?



All in all, The Closer continues to deliver year in, year out – with compelling performances and moving storylines such as this one. Ones that make you think, ones that make you laugh, ones that make you uncomfortable, ones that make you appreciate the truly talented group of people that have entertained us thoroughly for four seasons.

This ep will no doubt find its way on to PTR’s Best Ep list next year.

See you in January.

New episodes of The Closer will return to TNT in January 2009. If you missed any episodes from the summer season, catch up on the show anytime over on the show’s official Web site.

The Bank Job

So, a man walks into a bank. He wanted his best friend/business partner to go with him, but that best friend/business partner chose to wait in the car because he's pissed at the bank for denying him a small business loan for a zip line that delivers food from the kitchen to the living room. While the first man is in the bank, a gunman holds everyone hostage and things begin to spiral out of control faster than you can say "where's the pineapple?" If the first man is Gus and the second is Shawn, then you know that Man #2 was winding up in that bank so he could quell some of that waited-in-the-car guilt. What I didn't expect was to see Shawn running the negotiation for the bank robber. Nor did I expect to see him sparring with someone more obnoxious than Lassie! In fact, Shawn and Lassie were on the same team this week because neither could stand to be around that arrogant SWAT idiot. Too bad Arrogant SWAT Idiot also happened to be dating Jules.

Once inside the bank, Shawn was able to ascertain the robber's motive, mess with SWAT and tease Jules. Funny lines aside, he got himself back out of the bank, saved the robber's wife and figured out who had been holding her hostage to arrange the heist in order to secure a client's rare diamonds. There was only one thing that Shawn wasn't able to accomplish in this mid-season finale -- he didn't successfully lure Jules away from Arrogant SWAT Idiot and into his arms. Looks like it's going to take some more psychic abilities and a few more seasons to pull that off.

Psych will return with all new episodes this January. Until then, you can catch up on this episode and others at hulu.com.

'Bones' Wades Through the Crap

I can watch an episode with a boneless victim or one in which the remains of a man are reduced to a yucky watery substance in a bathtub, but this week's outhouse outing was definitely grossing me out. Call it my aversion to poo, but I was wincing during those early scenes with the feces-covered remains and the squints sifting through piles of excrement. Perhaps, I should have started dinner a bit earlier Wednesday night. Let's just say that I have plenty of leftovers. As usual with Bones, the episode was less focused on the case (thankfully) and more concerned with the off-the-case antics. First, I'm so glad that new girl isn't sticking around. She was a whole new level of annoying and creepy. Her should-be-kept-to-herself love for Dr. Brennan was making everyone uncomfortable and weirding me out. So no, it wouldn't be so great if you stayed at the lab forever because this week's taste of you was beginning to feel like forever and it was only about 25 minutes.

In the spirit of the departed annoying colleague, I'm going to spill the beans on my should-be-kept-to-yourself love affair. I LOVE (yes, it deserves all caps) this Bones /Booth /Sweets dynamic!! Their scenes are the funniest and the most interesting because in between all of those lightning fast quips, there are some heavy heart-to-heart moments and realizations that keep the idea of Booth and Brennan alive. I'm still laughing at the scene outside the elevator (Booth tries to persuade Bones not to date two men at the same time) and the one at the diner. Even though we had seen some of it during those summer promos, watching Booth and Sweets crash Brennan's date and insist that the Botanist is gay was just plain HILARIOUS! Their evidence: "the double kiss thing," never been married, Coldplay, the fact that he's OK with a non-sexual relationship, mint tea and a fruit tart. Oh, and there was that little mention from Sweets that Bones is "hot." Awkward! But the night's funniest exchange came in the beginning when Bones explained her relationship with the deep sea welder (guest star Brennan Elliott who has also romanced Lilly Rush on Cold Case and Diana Skouris on The 4400):

Bones: He can hold his breath for 3 minutes down there.
Booth: Underwater?

Oh yes, he went there! And Brennan gave him a parade of disapproving looks. You really can't beat stuff like this! Throw in the scene at the end in Sweets' office when Booth tells Brennan that there's a right guy out there for her and you have the very essence of what makes Bones so awesome and so far above the rest of the pack. Screencaps are courtesy Emily Deschanel Web.

In Bones-related news, the cast attended Fox's Fall Eco-Casino Party in West Hollywood Monday night. Here are a few pictures courtesy Emily Deschanel Web:




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

The Countdown Reveals 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 36 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 2007 and June 2008. 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 Thursday to find out which episodes are on the countdown! Before we get to numbers 3-1, here's a quick review of #36-4:

36. "Kiss and Don't Tell" - Men in Trees
35. "Chuck vs. The Truth" - Chuck
34. "Ruby" - The Closer
33. "The Dark Defender" - Dexter
32. "World's End" - Cold Case
31. "Let's Get it On" - Friday Night Lights
30. "Lights, Camera... Homicidio" - Psych
29. "Wicked Game (I & II)" - Medium
28. "It's Alive" - Dexter
27. "Spoiler Alert" - How I Met Your Mother
26. "Shrink Wrap" - Dexter
25. "The Verdict in the Story" - Bones
24. "Next of Kin (I & II)" - The Closer
23. "There's No Place Like Home (I & II)" - Lost
22. "Last Days of Summer" - Friday Night Lights
21. "Resistance is Futile" - Dexter
20. "The Mummy in the Maze" - Bones
19. "May the Best Man Win" - Friday Night Lights
18. "I Hate These People" - Damages
17. "The Constant" - Lost
16. "Shawn (and Gus) of the Dead" - Psych
15. "Boy Crazy" - Cold Case
14. "Authority" - L&O: Special Victims Unit
13. "There's No We Anymore" - Damages
12. "Vick's Chip"/"What He Beheld" - Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
11. "Til Death Do Us Part (I & II)" - The Closer
10. "Undercover" - L&O: Special Victims Unit
9. "Ten Sessions" - How I Met Your Mother
8. "Truth Be Told"/"Born Free" - Dexter
7. "Dexter" - Dexter
6. "The Santa in the Slush" - Bones
5. "The Road" - Cold Case
4. "Pilot" - Damages

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

3: "My Princess" - Scrubs
We know that Scrubs is good at blending the imaginary with reality, but this clever fairytale outing really drove the brilliance home. The entire fairytale backdrop was beyond incredible. It was funny, clever, original and well, simply hilarious! This is what would happen if somebody redid The Princess Bride, but made it into a comedy. Everything from the gang staying still so The Todd gets confused, Keith continuing to agonize over Elliot, JD's gloating, the Lost smoke monster making a cameo, "Turla" and their alternating words and shared female problems, "Sasha" the scooter playing the part of the donkey, Janitor as the giant, Village Idiot (JD) and Princess (Elliot) trying to kiss but not being able to reach because they're shackled to the dungeon wall, Laverne, and every single awesome detail of the fairytale story made me laugh. Luckily, this stellar hour was only the end of the season and not the series as the network had planned because episodes like this definitely leave you wanting more. Written by Mark Stegemann and directed by series star Zach Braff.

2: "Pilot" - Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
I've tried to come up with some whiz bang awesome way to describe just how freakin' brilliant the pilot of T:SCC was, but I can't. It speaks for itself. Taking the successful Terminator: Judgment Day (a.k.a. T2) film and turning it into a television series was no small task, yet creator (and fan of the film) Josh Friedman did so without even skipping a beat. The pilot presented the best elements of the film - including the score, the action, the special effects, the backstory and the awesome T on T sequences - whilst simultaneously expanding everything so as to set you up for the deeper, richer and more intricate series on the whole. It also presented some nice new twists not seen in the film – particularly when it came to the terminator sent back to protect young John Connor (portrayed brilliantly by Summer Glau who, I think, single-handedly redefined what it means to be a terminator). Lena Headey's portrayal of Sarah Connor gave us a tangible weariness to an already strong (and legendary) character. For the first time, we saw the exhaustion of maintaining years worth of rules to ensure her and son John’s survival whilst also reconfirming just how strong the mother in her is. And Thomas Dekker gave us a more mature and sensitive John, still trying to figure out how in the world he’s ever going to run the resistance whilst simultaneously trying to remember all of the rules to stay alive in our time today. All in all, I don't know how much better these guys could've done it - which is why it is Numero Two on this year's countdown. Written by Josh Friedman. Directed by David Nutter. - LillyKat, PTR Senior Staff Writer

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: "Blindsided" - The Closer
This stellar hour of a PTR fave was so good, it topped both of our lists. So, we each wrote a few words about what made it so great and this year's #1 Best Episode of the Season.

LillyKat Says:
There is only one way to describe this episode: Wow. Just, wow. It's not often we see Brenda Leigh Johnson at her breaking point, but she was all that and then some in this episode. She had already had an encounter with a serial killer the week prior (and thus was being evaluated by a psychiatrist), still at odds with her favorite Sergeant Gabriel over his actions on a previous case, and entertaining the ol' parents. That would've been plenty. But when her ride along with a news reporter and cameraman completely gets ambushed by gunfire whilst driving through an intersection suggesting someone is out to take her life, that's enough to even push her over the edge. The car looked like it had been in a war zone. The shot (in silence) of it just rolling down the street to a dead stop as everyone lie crouched down inside … intense. Shot from low and high angles … doubly intense. And yet, the intensity was coupled with perfectly – if not brilliantly – balanced humor and light-hearted moments once again (something this show does so well without taking the focus off Brenda or her work). Whether it was the fact we got to see her dad for the first time, or her dealings with the shrink, or The Abbott and Costello-esque SWAT guys assigned to protect shadow Brenda’s every move – both in her own house and at the station - this episode was The Closer at its finest. Intense. Shocking. Tender. Funny. Powerful. Written by John Coveny and Hunt Baldwin and directed by Kevin Bacon. - LillyKat, PTR Senior Staff Writer


TVFan Says:
You'd think that after so many years on the force, Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson would be immune to death. But this episode proved that she isn't and that's what made it stand out and land the coveted number one spot on our list this year. For the first time, Brenda was the witness and about this close to being another victim. She and Sgt. Gabriel were taking a reporter and photographer for a ride along. Everything was honkeydorey until ear piercing shots rang out -- too many and too fast to count accurately. One minute the reporter is asking pointed questions, the next he's splayed out in a pool of his own blood in the backseat of the police cruiser. Brenda runs through a gamut of emotions as she comes to terms with what happened to her, in front of her and on her watch. It all culminates in an elevator in one of the most emotional, intense scenes of the series as Brenda faces the man who violently shattered the sanctity of her world. Not to mention the life he took in front of her eyes. This was The Closer at its best and when it's at its best, it's hard to beat which is why it tops this year's summer-long countdown of The Best Episodes of the Season. Written by John Coveny and Hunt Baldwin and directed by Kevin Bacon.

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 36-4, click the "Best Episodes" link at the bottom of this post.

'Fringe' Benefits

In TV Guide's Fall Preview issue, Fringe's executive producer J.J. Abrams (he of Lost and Alias fame) promises that his newest series will not require the "insane dedication" of his earlier intricately involved series. As an avid Lost fan (and occasional Alias viewer) all I can say is, "Thank god!" Still, I was a bit apprehensive about delving into Fox's new intrigue series. Sure, the promos looked good, the premise (an elite group of FBI agents investigate a pattern of strange events centering around fringe science) interesting, and the buzz was strong, but I was concerned that I would get sucked into a vortex of Lost proportions. I would never be able to claw my way out and I'd be reduced to writing about how confused I was and how much I longed for answers to the point where the smallest morsel would be enough to tied me over (Lost, I do love thee despite these issues). Luckily, last night's series premiere relieved some of these fears. While very engaging, this show seems to be less involved and more importantly, less caught up in its own mythology. Hopefully, this trend will hold because I seriously can't take on another Lost. My plate is too full already.

We're only one episode in, and Fringe has already managed to surprise me. I didn't see the big twist coming with the rogue agent. And once the murdering twin dropped the "FBI is involved" bombshell, I went straight to the top, as in, the guy running this elite group of FBI agents (whom Lost fans may recognize as the Oceanic Airlines representative who visited Hurley in the psych ward in the future or present or whatever those flashforwards are supposed to be). I realize that they needed to eliminate Mark Valley as a love interest for Olivia because: a) having your lead in a stable, committed relationship is boring, and b) there was no way they were going to waste the Joshua Jackson as the love interest opportunity. BUT, I figured they were going to kill him off. First I thought it was the explosion, then the chemical reaction that allowed us to see through his skin (yuck!), and then the car accident. Apparently, this dude is hard to kill. Even at the end, we saw the woman from the company with the bionic arm prepping him for memory sharing. And this is only the beginning! Better buckle up 'cause I think we're in for a good ride with this one.

Fringe airs Tuesday nights on Fox. If you missed last night's series premiere, watch it for free at Fox.com.

It's Good to Be Bad on 'Chronicles'

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

It’s a bad day in the fight to save the world when:

a) Cameron – the awesomenest of awesome protective terminators ever – goes over to the dark side (NOOOOO!!!!!!)

b) Sarah, John and Co. have their house blow up and get beaten to a pulp by those out to get any trace of anything that will lead them to the TURK (a.k.a. the earliest incarnation of the out-to-destroy-mankind computer, a.k.a. Skynet)

c) FBI pecial Agent Ellison – who at the end of last season realized the machines are already here – gets put on medical leave and is now stalked by evil yet suddenly rather mellow terminator Cromartie

d) Shirley “I’m Only Happy When It Rains” Manson is an even more evil version of Robert Patrick’s T-1000, and out to really make Skynet happen

And we love every single minute of it.

Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles premiered its second season last night, and It. Just. Rocked.

Worth every bit of the wait.

Has me wanting more.

Is the show I cannot live without.

I could go on about the minor stuff – like Shirley’s brilliant addition to the cast, and her colder-than-ice portrayal of this new CEO (Catherine Weaver), who is going to be the subtle yet unrelentless menace to John and Co. from a rather high-powered position within a high-tech company.

Or the fact that Sarah’s former hottie paramedic Charley Dixon is still around, wanting to help out the team.

Or that Agent Ellison may just wish Cromartie had killed him at the site of the FBI massacre when their storm of Cromartie's apartment went ... uh, bad.

But forget all that.

John v. Cam?

Cam going bad?

Ahhhhhh!

And yet what an awesome twist to begin the second season.

Can I just say my heart was racing for … oh … a good 45 minutes until John finally fixed her - defying everyone in doing so.

Go John!

That scene where she pleads for her life whilst John was trying to remove her chip, swearing she didn’t want to go, telling him she loved him … wow. Okay, so maybe the love thing was a little corny, and I know it was a ploy by her evil twin self, but that didn’t stop me from yelling, “NOOOO! John don’t kill Cam!!!!”

What can I say … I love the both of them. They just have “it” together, y’know? I don’t care that she’s a machine. And neither does John. As he says, he needs her.

Yes!

Not to mention it just reconfirms my love of Summer Glau. She can be a goodie and baddie.

And yet, I’m nervous.

That infamous OMFG explosion in last season’s finale compromised the integrity of Cam’s chip. Something tells me a simple once over with a Q-Tip and some alcohol (thanks, John) isn’t a guarantee that it won’t happen again.

But I will live in denial for now.

And wait for next week.

My favorite show is back.

And the fight to save the world continues.

New episodes of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles air Mondays at 8 p.m. on FOX. You can also watch full episodes online. Visit the Official Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Web site to catch up (or re-watch!)

'Closer' Crosses Borders

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

Any time Silas Weir Mitchell (a.k.a. James Hogan, one of Detective Lilly Rush’s best good bad guys) shows up on a show as a guest star, I’m in.

When he shows up on The Closer, even better.

And when ol’ Prioirty Homicide looks to be on the ropes, dead in the water, BJ potentially out of job … whaaaat?


The Case

When the bodies of two Tijuana police officers are found in the back of a stolen pickup truck, it seems like an FBI informant is to blame (hence Fritzy’s joining of the case). But when it is revealed that the very drug cartel the FBI informant decided to fight against (and of whom puts a price on his head) sends its own “insider” Tijuana IA dude to do the dirty work, well … things get interesting - especially when BJ sends said Tijuana IA low-life to jail as the FBI informant given the actual informant turned out to be the good guy. It was the only way to insure he would be able to live in anonymity given the cartel had a $50,000 price tag on his head and would not rest until he was dead.


The Blurring of the Line

Brenda has often blurred the lines in the course of her investigations. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. I have to count this one in the “good” (or, perhaps I should say “acceptable”) column. Yes, she essentially sent IA dude to his death, but I can’t say it was undeserved. He brought it on himself, and it really did serve him right. Not to mention she saved the life of an innocent man in the process. I would have a far worse time accepting the fact that an innocent man would be wrongly murdered, whilst the corrupt IA agent got away with murder. OJ Simpson anyone?

Or, maybe it's just that I can more easily accept the eye-for-an-eye kinda justice that BJ sometimes dishes out.


The Roundabout Promotion

So, Chief Pope was just a little peeved at our not-so-favorite reporter’s story on Priority Homicide, eh? And BJ, too. Man, I thought she was going to be out of a job. But, after some quick department reshuffling (read: back pedaling PR management by Pope and Commander Taylor out of fear of Ricardo Ramos “part two” exposé on the LAPD’s Priority Homicide Division), looks like BJ is now going to be in charge of the aptly renamed Major Crimes Division – which includes not only homicides, but fraud, rapes, kidnapping.

With Taylor reporting directly to her.

Alas, her kingdom remains happily in tact.

Yay!


The CC Connection

If I had a dollar for every time there has been a Cold Case cross over connection, I’d have some serious lunch money by now.

Latest: Silas Weir Mitchell.

We here at PTR loved him as James Hogan of on CC. Cripes, now that I think about it, he’s still in prison over there. I think it’s time for Lil’ to re-visit him.

Anyhooo, seeing him as the protective priest, providing safe haven for the endangered FBI agent, was totally different.

And fun.

He’s really good no matter what role he’s in.



The summer season finale of The Closer airs next Monday at 9 p.m. on TNT. You can also watch full episodes of the show anytime over on the show’s official Web site.

Juliet Shows How She Rolls

Two weeks ago I was busy lamenting the recent trend to have Shawn and Gus working separating from Lassie and Jules, and bam! - I tune in this week to find that the problem has been fixed. Don't you wish more shows were this efficient at troubleshooting? In all seriousness, was I right or WAS I right? This episode was soooo much better with all four of them working together and playing off of each other. Everything from Shawn pretending to be a mannequin in front of Lassie to Lassie trying to discredit Shawn when the "body" was found at the marina just felt like old times. This is the Psych I had been missing of late. Now, let's just hope the theme continues with next week's summer finale so we can end things on a very high note (it should be noted, however, even if the theme does not continue next week, this show will still end on a high note due to its sheer brilliance).

Everybody was working together on a hilarious Roller Derby case that found Jules going undercover as one of the competitive rollerskaters and Shawn (and a very reluctant Gus) posing as her fan club president and vice president. It was all a means to an end as Shawn and Jules collectively discovered that her roller teammates were enthralled in an elaborate identity theft scheme that had them robbing (or is it burglarizing?) stores. And then there was the very helpful Gus who spent the episode with his nose in a study guide preparing for his pharmaceutical sales rep exam. It was all for not, however, as Shawn took it upon himself to take Gus's test for him. He passed, but that was no comfort for the very stressed Gus who had spent every waking moment studying for it (including using a book light in the car at night).

Last season, it was the "almost kiss" between Shawn and Jules. This season, it's the "almost hand holding" between the will they/won't they duo. If Shawn has it his way, they'll be a "will they" couple in no time, but Juliet seems pretty content to make sure that never happens. Unless, of course, she realizes how many crab cakes she's missing out on. Shawn may have to up that ante.

Psych airs Friday nights on USA Network. Catch up on this episode and others before next week's summer finale at hulu.com.

'Chronicles' Cometh Back

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

It's here.

Finally.

My absolute favorite new show of the weirded out, writers strike shortened season of yesteryear returns tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox. The second season premiere ep is titled "Samson and Delilah," and goes a little something like this:

Rocked by the Jeep explosion, John's 16th birthday forces him to confront the reality of his destiny alone. Meanwhile, Agent Ellison faces off with his faith and the Feds in the aftermath of Cromartie's massacre, and a new player is introduced, Catherine Weaver, who is the CEO of a high-tech corporation.

Kewl.

Fox has really spiffed up their Official T:SCC Site, so head on over for the latest scoop and sneak peeks!

And ... saving the best for last ... if you are in the Los Angeles area, you can meet the whole cast at the Golden Apple Comics Store on Saturday, September 13th at 5 p.m.

'Bones' In the U.K.

I expected to laugh my a$$ off at the season premiere of Bones, but I did not expect to be laughing so hard that I missed more of the funny because I was still laughing at the last several funnies. In fact, I had my DVR working overtime last night as I was constantly pausing to laugh, rewinding to catch the zinger that I had missed while laughing at the other, and then playing the episode. This little process repeated itself over and over again during the first of the two hours. And then, things slowed down and took a more serious tone for the last hour of the premiere. While I missed the non-stop laughs, the more somber feel did allow my poor abs to take a break. There were two times during the night, however, where I had tears of laughter rolling down my face. The first was when Booth was driving that ridiculously small rental car and he couldn't grasp the no right on red concept, which sent the little car right into head on traffic and sent Booth into a breakdown where he proclaimed, among other things, that he was glad the U.S. had a revolution with England. The second time I lost it came when Booth was trying to ease the rental back into "the flow of traffic." I'm not sure what's funnier during these types of scenes -- Booth's rising stress/agitation level, Brennan's rational/level-headedness, or the combination of the two. I think it's choice #3, which just happens to be this fun little show's bread and butter.

Amid all of this laughter, there was a lot of other stuff going on during this episode. Angela was briefly reunited with her ex-husband, they got divorced, and in the night's most shocking turn, she and Hodgins broke up! Noooooooooo!! First Zac is Gormogon and now this! Why must they shake-up the squints?! I liked them as they were. I'm so bummed about Angela and Hodgins, but I'm holding out hope that these two crazy kids can work out their trust issues and get back together.

Meanwhile, Brennan was busy thwarting the affections of her British cohort. The Oxford professor had quite the salacious resume and he was hoping to add Brennan as a reference much to Booth's chagrin. He wasn't successful. Bones lied to herself and everyone else said that she turned him down because Booth told her that she was worth more than a shag in the hay, but we all know that deep down inside, she said no because of her feelings for Booth (and on some level, she knew how much it would hurt him). In fact, the subtext of the entire outing was centered around whether or not these two should be more than just partners. They shared several intimate conversations and Booth, in a successful ploy to deter his partner from sleeping with England's very own Romeo, told her that she's "special" (aww!). The writers are such teases on this show, but I wouldn't want it any other way. They have managed to string this "Will they/Won't they" relationship along so successfully that I wish other shows would take notes. As far as the question of should they or shouldn't they cross the pond again in the future -- this outing certainly left me wanting more Booth and Bones on the loose in London. What a smashing good way to start off the season!

Photos are copyright Fox Broadcasting Co. If you missed last night's shagadellic season premiere ("Yanks in the U.K."), check it out for free at Hulu.com.

The Countdown Nears 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, here's a look at the rules for this year's winners. LillyKat and I ended up with 36 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 2007 and June 2008. 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 Thursday to find out which episodes are on the countdown! Today, we're going to take a closer look at numbers 6-4.

6: "The Santa in the Slush" - Bones
Traditionally, holiday-themed episodes are more jeer than cheer, but this hilarious Christmas outing was so good it's one of my all-time favorite episodes of Bones. Everything from the escalating Santa similarities to Bones and Booth's bantering to the rent-a-Santa who needed a hearing aid and the always hilarious counseling sessions with Sweets had me laughing so hard, I had tears in my eyes. Of course, the biggest moment lands squarely on the shoulders of THAT kiss. It was part mistletoe, part black mail and a whole lotta chewing gum, but it was still quite spectacular! LOVED the awkwardness between them and the way the prosecutor rubbed in the idea that they both went a little above and beyond those "steamboats." But, the most romantic and touching moment came at the very end when Booth gave Bones and her family their own Christmas tree. It's the little things that set this show apart and this episode was chock full of them and holiday cheer. Written by Elizabeth Benjamin and Scott Williams and directed by Jeff Woolnough.

5: "The Road" - Cold Case
This stellar hour of a PTR fave was so good, it made both of our lists. So, we decided to each write a few words about what made it so great and one of this season's Top 5.

LillyKat Says: Three seasons removed from Lilly Rush's epic confrontation with her serial killer nemesis, George Marks, Cold Case delivered a fifth season episode in "The Road" that I count as a worthy successor. But more than that, writer/co-executive producer Jennifer Johnson went back to what this show was originally always supposed to be about – Lilly’s life as seen through the eyes of the long forgotten victims for which she seeks justice. Remember the whole people shouldn’t be forgotten thing? Remember the front row seat to people’s lives thing? Remember the dealing with her own stuff in the face of bringing closure to everyone else? For me, this ep held all three of those key elements. I've lamented the fact here (and elsewhere) that the character of Lilly Rush has become that dreaded shell of herself in these last few seasons - a zombie, a mess, way too depressed. Call it a shift in priorities, one too many extra storylines, one too many extra characters, but it had been far too long since we had seen Lilly like this. And it was just so entertaining to see her "back." Her voice was back. Her aura was back. Her strength was back. Her chutzpah was back. She was strong and unsettled. Determined and unsure. At the point of cracking but held it together. She even seemed more mature. But nowhere in the process was she some sort of ridiculous mess. She was still herself, and there was plenty of original Lilly Rush on display - and that always makes for a fantastic episode in my book.

TVFan Says: When a formulaic procedural like Cold Case takes a step outside of the usual routine, it almost always leads to an excellent outing. So, this post-strike episode had everything going for it and easily became my favorite of the season. What happens when a football team begins to lose what made them champions? They go back to the basics, and that's exactly what CC did with this emotional story. The episode put Lilly back in the driver's seat (literally), gave us one hell of a psychological whodunit (what this series does best), had us on the edge of our seats, and threw in a bit of personal growth and revelation just to spice things up. It also managed to do something that most shows cannot -- it had me on the verge of tears more than once. I still can't get the image of the little girl watching a home video of her murdered mother out of my head. It was heart-wrenching, moving, and real just like any good episode of Cold Case. Written by Jennifer Johnson and directed by Holly Dale.

4: "Pilot" - Damages
Extraordinary. Thrilling. Captivating. Engaging. Addicting. Clever. Unpredictable. Amazing. First rate. Before Damages even premiered, early reviews poured in with any one of aforementioned descriptors. Once I saw the pilot, I preferred to use just one: brilliant. With Glenn Close starring as Patty Hewes, known as the “nation’s most revered and reviled high stakes litigator" and of whom is currently in the middle of a class action lawsuit targeting one of the country’s most wealthy and allegedly corrupt CEO’s, it didn't take long to be gripped by both performer and show. And nothing about this show was been there, done that. Patty Hewes was made for Glenn Close. And vice versa. Beautifully subtle, unwaveringly powerful, wickedly smart and unbelievably manipulative: Patty Hewes gets what she wants, when she wants it, no matter what the cost. And yet, she’s also a wife and a mother – more confident in the former than the latter as she struggles to figure out her rebellious teenage son. She is cleverly balanced between the obsessive nature of her work, and the responsibilities of her home. Close was flawless in bringing this sophisticatedly layered character to life. The supporting cast - the likes of Rose Byrne, Ted Danson, Tate Donovan and Zeljko Ivanek - were equally as compelling. And the show’s flashback storytelling kept you guessing almost by the minute. It was impossible not to be gripped by what appears to be Rose Byrne's Ellen – bloodied, beaten, sitting in a police precinct exam room, being asked why she killed her fiancé while viewing flashes of her ransacked apartment, then cutting to six months prior, when she was the new up and comer alongside Patty, delving deep into the Arthur Frobisher case, trying to find the links between sister-in-law and smarmy CEO. From the get-go, it was an addicting slow burn. Written by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman. Directed by Allen Coulter. - LillyKat / PTR Senior Staff Writer


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 Thursday when we finally reveal our #1 Best Episode of the Season!!

'The Closer's' Irony Splits Its Ends

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

Irony.

That’s the word that keeps coming to mind in describing this week’s episode of The Closer (titled “Split Ends").

Like, when your favorite shows uses its own studio lot exteriors as the backdrop for an episode, which prompts one to recall a visit to said show’s set a few months back, which further prompts one to say (whilst watching the episode): “Hey, I was there. And I walked by that stage door, and those trailers, and that front gate.”

Or, when the opening sequence seems to suggest BJ and Fritzy are being invaded by a knife wielding intruder only to have it turn out to be Mama and Papa Johnson stopping by for a visit as they RV their way to Alaska.

Or, when one of your other fave show’s producers jumps ship for a moment to take a turn behind the camera in LAPD’s Priority Homicide as opposed to the box room in PPD in Philly (read: Cold Case’s Roxann Dawson).

Or, when you think the fact the case is set in Hollyweirdland will have it end up being comical only to have it turn out to be rather serious.

Like we said: irony.

Lots of it.



The Case

The brutal murder of a hair stylist on a hit television show, who had been abused by her own … how should be way … rage-driven, wanna be slug actor partner. She had found a way out of that nightmare, but met her end trying to protect a friend from an equally abusive boyfriend.

I swear, this episode could’ve been funny. We know how good The Closer folks are at making the Hollywood-esque murders silly. They could’ve played up the whole self-absorbed actor thing, the silly guest star thing, the space cadet hairstylist thing.

But instead, it was sobering reminder just how difficult it is for women to escape the grips of abusive boyfriends and husbands.

And how damaged they are in the aftermath.



The Director’s Touch (Redux)

Last week, I raved about KB: Kevin Bacon.

This week, it’s RD: Roxann Dawson.

She has directed some of my favorite Cold Case episodes (“Joseph” and “A Perfect Day”), so I was pleasantly surprised to see her come over to BJ & Co. Now, if only she could take some of The Closer goodness back to CC. Like … oh … I don’t know … cloning of Fritz? Pretty please? With a cherry on top?


The Shot Sequence

Brenda’s questioning of the friend of the murdered hairstylist (the one she was trying to help out of an abusive relationship ) on the porch. As the girl reveals her wounds to Brenda, and Brenda extends her hand to try and get her to leave - escape - was very, very powerful. The close-ups on each woman's face, the silence whilst the decision is pondered ... I once again hand it to Roxann Dawson - she struck an amazingly tender balance with that sequence. You held your breath whilst secretly cheered for the gal to leave with Brenda.

And when boyfriend snatches her at the last minute to force a showdown with the squad ... wowza.


The Personal

So where to begin … daddy wants to see the BJ/Fritzy happily-ever-after moment sooner rather than later. BJ cowers at the thought. Fritz is in the middle (though he does want the marriage ASAP, too). And mom seems to be the peacemaker. How funny was Papa Johnson getting every conceivable wedding chapel pamphlet this side of the Mississippi and placing it in ever nook and cranny location so BJ couldn’t escape the notion?

In our ongoing collection of can’t-love-Fritz enough moments, he does eventually get BJ to stand up to daddy and tell him to back off.

Only to have Fritz lay down the law himself.

Married.

By next February at the latest.

Oops.

I guess that backfired, eh BJ?


The What The ...?

WTF is with that frakingly annoying reporter Ricardo Ramos? I'm getting really annoyed with his out-to-get Priority Homicide routine. Now, he's writing an exposé on what some of you already discussed last week: what murders really qualify as "priority." So much so that next week's preview has Chief Pope shutting the the PH division down?

WTF?!?!

Go away, Ramos.

And we wonder why people do not like the media.


Only two episodes left until the end-of-summer finale. New episodes air Mondays at 9 p.m. on TNT. You can also watch full episodes of the show anytime over on the show’s official Web site.

Booth and Bones' Smashing Good Time in London

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve -- the anticipation of so many of my faves returning has me wanting to rip open their new seasons ahead of their scheduled premieres. Luckily, I don't have to wait much longer to unwrap my *Most Anticipated Premiere* because that honor goes to tonight's 2-hour Bones season opener. As if a special 2-hour outing wasn't enough, they went and took TV's best non-couple couple across the pond to London! Bones, Booth, small cars, roundabouts, driving on the left side of the road, stoic palace guards, tea, proper-ness, the Thames, Parliament -- it doesn't get any better than this and I. Can't. WAIT!! Cue the music (Dum, Dum, Dum-Dum). Here's the official episode description from Fox:

"Yanks in the U.K. (Parts 1 & 2)

Brennan and Booth travel from D.C. to London for Brennan to guest-lecture at Oxford University and for Booth to speak at Scotland Yard. They are asked by local officials to lend their expertise to a high-profile murder investigation involving a young British heiress and are paired up with their respective British counterparts, Dr. Ian Wexler (guest star Andrew Buchan) and Inspector Cate Pritchard (guest star Indira Varma). The duos venture through London to investigate the puzzling murder of the young and glamorous heiress, whose father is a wealthy American businessman.

And here's the uber-awesome, super-hilarious preview:


And just in case you needed more persuading to watch tonight's adventure across the Atlantic, here's star David Boreanaz's take on filming in London, the funny situations the characters get into in the episode, and the relationship between Booth and Bones:


Finally, here are a few photos (courtesy Fox):




The 2-hour fun kicks off tonight on Fox at 8 p.m.