So last week, I was watching "Lost", and they kept showing ads for a new show on ABC called "Castle". Noting that the lead female part is played by an attractive person, and that the lead male part is played by the great Nathan Fillion, I figured I'd tune in and give it a chance.
Having seen the results ... I encourage you to do the same.
Yes, its basically a cheap copycat of "The Mentalist", another show I love. Nathan Fillion plays Rick Castle, a crime novelist who gets drug into a police investigation when someone is staging murders based on his novels. Stana Katic plays Detective Kate Beckett, who's basically a ripoff of Olivia Benson from "SVU". She even kind of looks like Mariska Hargitay. Which is a good thing, by the way.
But despite stealing liberally from two established procedural dramas (two that I love by the way, I watch both every Tuesday night) ... it didn't feel like either one of those shows.
For one thing, Fillion and this Katic chick, have a really good chemistry together. It doesn't feel forced, like on "The Mentalist". They play off each other very well. I love sarcastic people, and Castle is as sarcastic and free flowing as they come. I also love girls who can dish it out as well as they take it, and Beckett is definitely solid in that regard.
For another, I liked how they played out the first "case" as if it was a novel. It seemed to wrap up too easily. Which was, of course, the point -- things are never as easy as they appear. I won't ruin the "who dun it" part in case you want to go to abc.com and watch the episode (or you TiVo'd it and haven't gotten around to watching it), but there's a couple key elements involving one of the victims family that you never see coming and made for a damned good storyline.
Another thing I liked, and considering its my favorite show of all time, it was nice to see ... the resurrected NYPD Blue precinct!!! OK, ok, its not quite the return of the "rogue 15th precinct", but I swear the exterior shots, and the interior, of the squad certainly brought back memories. Definitely looked like they resurrected the set of the greatest show ever.
I loved the card game with "Rick Castle", and the actual James Patterson ... and the greatness that is Stephen J. Cannell. I actually had to set the glass of shiraz down when that scene came on. I noticed in the opening credits that Cannell was listed as a "special guest star", but man, the scene with the three of them just rocked.
I liked Castle's family situation. You begin by meeting his ex-wife / still publisher, who's the b*tchy blonde stereotype you'd expect. But then, you meet his mother, played by the awesome Susan Sullivan, and his daughter, played by someone I've never seen before. Neither character plays to form. The daughter is the grown-up of the group. I loved the mom's "graydar" comment when she was "looking to score" at the book party, that was just hysterical. She delivered the one liners at just the right time throughout the episode.
All in all, appointment television. I'd give it 1 3/4 thumbs up. The only thing I didn't like was the very ending, the writers took the easy way out in getting Castle to stick around. (Its not hard to figure out, you'll see it coming from 26.2 miles away). I would have liked to have seen something more creative. But still, if you're holding my attention at 9:50pm CT on a Monday night after a really long but great weekend, and a really long and not so great day of working in the office and at home, you've done something right.
Give "Castle" a chance. You won't regret it. Unless you're not a fan of entertaining television ...
Showing posts with label steve's tv picks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label steve's tv picks. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Friday, December 5, 2008
luckily there's a family guy ...
Since this started as a work thread, I'm taking it to the blog. My 5 favorite Family Guy episodes (so far).
I'm just going to post what I loved about the episodes. I'm sure I'll miss stuff, but so be it.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas? There's a comments section for a reason. Or my email and IM is on the profile, drop me a line ...
5. "McBurgertown". The mustache thing is just great. "Look at those men. What style, what grace, what class!" "My mustache says that there is a 90% chance that I am poorly educated, that I keep upscale porn magazines in my coffee table" "Yes Chris, its a mustache kind of morning. In my jean jacket, my blue jeans ... I tell you what, after breakfast, I'm gonna take you down to the whorehouse, where you can lose your virginity. Would you like that? / Would I! That's a way better gift than that buff hamster you gave me last Christmas!"
The Freddie Mercury line. "Gay / My mustache does not make me gay! / Gay / Fine Brian. If my mustache makes me gay, then Freddie Mercury was gay / Freddie Mercury? The lead singer of Queen? He was incredibly gay!"
The opening to the episode, where Peter gets Cleveland's mail. "Grape Soda Quarterly. Orange Soda Daily. Mustache Aficionado".
Tying up Brian to replace his mustache. "Mustache fart".
And of course, gorging on the free burgers from McBurgertown and suffering the stroke. "Oh my God, Peter. How are you feeling? / Uuh, I've had better days Lois. I've had better days". "Lois, what the hell are you doing? You gave me my beer on my stroky side!" Driving the car into a tree as the kayakers float by "Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! / Stop Mocking Me!"
Then stumbling into the stem cell research facility, emerging perfectly healthy, "How long was I in there? 5 minutes. Why are we not funding this?!?!"
And capped off by the first appearance of Peter's lawyer, Mousy McDermott! "You've got to be kitten me!"
4. "Life of Brian". Brian wins the Rising Writers Contest and he, Peter and Lois head off to Cape Cod to get his award. "Peter! You're an hour late and you're stinking drunk! You know, Lois (hiccup), every time ... every time we come to (hiccup) one of these ... things ... you hide the key ... to the mini bar from me. (hiccup) But I found it. I found it!"
The next morning in Lois and Peter's hotel room. "Damn Nature! You Scary!"
And the best part, the kids get left with Herbert. "No offense Mr. Herbert, but I'm a 16 year old girl, and I don't need you / well no offense Meg, but you're a 16 year old girl, and I don't need you!" "Mr. Herbert, are you a pedophile?" "Rats! You mean I missed Boy Meets World for this?" "Ok, kids, its bath time! / Oh, I don't wanna take a bath / Not for you silly, for me! I need a strong young boy with good strong hands to rub me down, mmm hmm ..."
And Peter marrying Nathan Lane. "But the joke's on him Lois! Two men can't marry! / They can in this state Peter! / Oh. Well, in that case, we're registered at Target and Linens n Things".
Plus Brian finally giving in and trying to nail Lois. "Brian tried to have sex with me! / Oh. He bigger than me?"
"The Spirit of Massachusetts is the Spirit of America! The spirit of what's old and what's new! The Spirit of Massachusetts is the Spirit of America! The spirit of the red, white and blue!"
3. "I Dream of Jesus". "You know, these 50s diners used to be really popular in the 80s". "Oh look, Cleveland's here! (cue the dogs and firehoses) Oh, that takes me back." "Look at this menu kids. Burgers, fries, coke. You kids have no idea what I'm talking about".
"Oh yeah, Chris, polio used to be as big as AIDS. Only people with polio got to go to heaven".
"Well everyone's heard, about the word, because the bird, bird, bird, the bird is the word!"
"I'll let you have sex with my daughter / Which one is she / She's right ... there / OK, I'll do her. But you have to get her to scream and act like she doesn't want it / I think that can be arranged ..."
"Have the boys in the lab run tests on that / Sir, our tests confirm that the bird is equal to or greater than the word / Do it again!"
The Office Space beatdown of the "Surfin Bird" record, just awesome.
And then, of course, "Hi, I'm looking for "Surfin Bird" by the Trashmen / Sorry, a dog and a baby bought all 63 copies we had / Dammit, this is the 3rd used record store with that same excuse. Hey, don't I know you from somewhere? Did you go to North Providence High? Are you friends with Gary who owns the dry cleaners? Are you Jesus Christ?"
"OK, that's a nutty story, but I can top it. So me, Cleveland and Joe are just wrecked on Southern Comfort ..."
"I love you Jesus! / I love you too fella"
"I know the American people have turned on me and on this war, but I don't care. I don't answer to them. I answer to a higher power, the power of Jesus Christ / Oh really, because it just so happens that I have Jesus right here / I've heard what you said. How you ever got to be in charge of anything, I will never understand ..."
"Hey can you pick me up a Cracked Magazine? / Cracked Magazine? Really? Jesus Christ, unbelievable"
"I'd like to thank our guest Dave Coulier, season three of Full House now out on DVD. OK, our next guest died for our sins and now he's back on the scene ..."
The "O Little Town of Bethlehem" lounge version of the song as Jesus walks out, hysterical.
"To think that I, Peter Griffin, a man who just last week drew a picture of a smiley face on his testicles to make his son laugh ... well, I forget where I was going with this but yay, that's my buddy Jesus!"
"I don't know Lois, but I do know one thing -- none of this would have happened if someone hadn't stolen my mother f*cking Surfin Bird record!!!"
2. "PTV". The opening, with Peter laying down the red carpet for the Emmy's, Lois getting hacked and throwing down with him. "You like eating red carpet! Admit it, you like eating red carpet / I like eating red carpet! / say it again! / I like eating red carpet!" as Quagmire is listening outside the window, then he passes out and lets out a "giggity".
The "David Hyde Pierce trowser malfunction".
Stewie and Brian's sitcom, "Cheeky Bastard".
Quagmire's Ladies Man type call in show.
And of course, "Hi, I'm Peter Griffin. Tonight we're going to look back at all the partial nudity prime time TV used to offer. Remember this side boob? Check out this side boob. How about that side boob? That turn you on? Well it shouldn't. Because that's my side boob. Good night everyone!" Which leads into the greatest moment in Family Guy history:
(lois) the side boob hour?!?!
(peter) oh yes Lois. its the anchor of our Tuesday night prime time lineup.
(lois) Peter, you've left me no choice. I called the FCC.
(peter) oh yeah, I know all about the FCC ...
(cue the music! and yes, I am singing along ...)
They will clean up all your talking in a manner such as this
They will make you take a tinkle when you wanna take a piss
And they'll make you call fellatio a trowser friendly kiss
Here's the plain situation
There's no negotiation
With the fellas at the freaking FCC!
They're as stuffy as the stuffiest of special interest groups
Make a joke about your bowels and they order in the troops
When any baby with a brain could tell them everybody poops
Take a tip, take a lesson
You'll never win by messin
With the fellas at the freaking FCC!
And when you find yourself with some young sexy thing
You're gonna have to do her with your ding-a-ling
Cause you can't say penis
So they sent this little warning, they're prepared to do their worst
And they stuck it in your mailbox hoping you could be coerced
I can think of quite another place they should have stuck it first
They may just be neurotic!
Or possibly psychotic!
They're the fellas at the freaking FCC!!!
The FCC censorship of everything, from Peter's chin, to Lois getting angry, to Lois and Peter's most intimate moment. "No hip movement, no thrusting, no heavy breathing / How can anyone get off / done! Good night Lois".
And the finale, when Peter marches on the Capital and points out how all the monuments can be misconstrued. "The Washington Monument. Looks an awful lot like a penis, doesn't it? The Lincoln Memorial. You tell me he isn't taking a dump".
But my favorite episode ever ...
1. "No Meals on Wheels". You open with Mort borrowing a crucifix for some school project for his kid, and Peter getting angry because "Mort's always borrowing our stuff", so he creates a Scarejew. "Oh! Oh, its Hitler! Oh my God, protect Jon Stewart, he's our most precious natural resource!"
The trip to the 2nd chance store to find Peter a new suit. Stewie playing with the Raggedy Ann doll. "I'm not your whore! Its excess water weight you bastard! I'm sorry, I was only kidding! / Well, I guess I can play with it 3 weeks out of the month ..." When Peter comes upon the piece de resistance, the flannel pajamas with a flap in the back. "Good Lord! You mean I can be pooping and warm? No longer will I have to make a choice!"
The Yahtzee game. "You roll the dice, then flap your arms like this and yell Yahtzee! / And you'll do it? / Of course / Yahtzee! / Gay"
Then Peter discovers his magical powers by dragging his flannel pj's across the carpet. "Oh my God. I'm Jesus. Lois, I don't mean to sound the alarm but, I think I might be Jesus / Peter, that's a static shock caused by OW! / Kneel before Christ!"
Lois gets sick of it so she has Quagmire come over to rip up the carpeting. "Well I gotta be honest with you Lois, when you said you wanted your carpet ripped up I thought ... never mind, never mind, its fine, its fine. Hey, you want me to leave a little landing strip? / No, I want it all gone! / Alright! Goin Brazilian!"
Opening the restaurant with the coin they found that was worth $50,000. "Hey, do you take Discover? / Do we take Discover? Hey Lois, this guy wants to know if we take Discover card / Ha ha ha / Sir, your Discover card is of no value here. A Discover card says I cannot get a real credit card, because they approve anyone ... / You don't have to insult me, you can just decline to take the / I will insult you! And you will stand there and take it!"
Then the cripples roll in, as Joe and his buddies decide to make Big Pete's House of Munch their new hangout. "Oh, oh God, you know there's gonna be a disgrunted Vietnam Vet in there ... oh, there he is / I've seen some things man. Things."
So Peter is hacked that his "dream restaurant" has turned into a "cripple hangout", so he changes the rules to "no shoes, no shirt, no legs, no service". Joe and his fellow cripples gang up to attack, via the Crippletron 3000. After the ensuing battle and destruction ends, with an appearance by Ben Stiller's ears, Peter is confined to a wheelchair.
"No. Because I will be a dignified cripple!" And with those words, my favorite scene in Family Guy history unfolds to the music of Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues", as Peter is carted around Quahog on the back of the wagon, pushed down the steps, chases his daughter but can't reach her because of his limitations, and ends with Peter bawling in frustration, and wheeling his way over to Joe's house to apologize. "Joe, until my accident I had no idea how hard you cripples had it. I've been in a wheelchair for 45 minutes ..."
Episode ends with two good friends making up, and an invite from Joe. "Hey, Bonnie and I are getting ready to watch Grey's Anatomy, if you'd like to join us / Gosh Joe that ... that sounds awful".
Man I love this show ...
I'm just going to post what I loved about the episodes. I'm sure I'll miss stuff, but so be it.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas? There's a comments section for a reason. Or my email and IM is on the profile, drop me a line ...
5. "McBurgertown". The mustache thing is just great. "Look at those men. What style, what grace, what class!" "My mustache says that there is a 90% chance that I am poorly educated, that I keep upscale porn magazines in my coffee table" "Yes Chris, its a mustache kind of morning. In my jean jacket, my blue jeans ... I tell you what, after breakfast, I'm gonna take you down to the whorehouse, where you can lose your virginity. Would you like that? / Would I! That's a way better gift than that buff hamster you gave me last Christmas!"
The Freddie Mercury line. "Gay / My mustache does not make me gay! / Gay / Fine Brian. If my mustache makes me gay, then Freddie Mercury was gay / Freddie Mercury? The lead singer of Queen? He was incredibly gay!"
The opening to the episode, where Peter gets Cleveland's mail. "Grape Soda Quarterly. Orange Soda Daily. Mustache Aficionado".
Tying up Brian to replace his mustache. "Mustache fart".
And of course, gorging on the free burgers from McBurgertown and suffering the stroke. "Oh my God, Peter. How are you feeling? / Uuh, I've had better days Lois. I've had better days". "Lois, what the hell are you doing? You gave me my beer on my stroky side!" Driving the car into a tree as the kayakers float by "Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! / Stop Mocking Me!"
Then stumbling into the stem cell research facility, emerging perfectly healthy, "How long was I in there? 5 minutes. Why are we not funding this?!?!"
And capped off by the first appearance of Peter's lawyer, Mousy McDermott! "You've got to be kitten me!"
4. "Life of Brian". Brian wins the Rising Writers Contest and he, Peter and Lois head off to Cape Cod to get his award. "Peter! You're an hour late and you're stinking drunk! You know, Lois (hiccup), every time ... every time we come to (hiccup) one of these ... things ... you hide the key ... to the mini bar from me. (hiccup) But I found it. I found it!"
The next morning in Lois and Peter's hotel room. "Damn Nature! You Scary!"
And the best part, the kids get left with Herbert. "No offense Mr. Herbert, but I'm a 16 year old girl, and I don't need you / well no offense Meg, but you're a 16 year old girl, and I don't need you!" "Mr. Herbert, are you a pedophile?" "Rats! You mean I missed Boy Meets World for this?" "Ok, kids, its bath time! / Oh, I don't wanna take a bath / Not for you silly, for me! I need a strong young boy with good strong hands to rub me down, mmm hmm ..."
And Peter marrying Nathan Lane. "But the joke's on him Lois! Two men can't marry! / They can in this state Peter! / Oh. Well, in that case, we're registered at Target and Linens n Things".
Plus Brian finally giving in and trying to nail Lois. "Brian tried to have sex with me! / Oh. He bigger than me?"
"The Spirit of Massachusetts is the Spirit of America! The spirit of what's old and what's new! The Spirit of Massachusetts is the Spirit of America! The spirit of the red, white and blue!"
3. "I Dream of Jesus". "You know, these 50s diners used to be really popular in the 80s". "Oh look, Cleveland's here! (cue the dogs and firehoses) Oh, that takes me back." "Look at this menu kids. Burgers, fries, coke. You kids have no idea what I'm talking about".
"Oh yeah, Chris, polio used to be as big as AIDS. Only people with polio got to go to heaven".
"Well everyone's heard, about the word, because the bird, bird, bird, the bird is the word!"
"I'll let you have sex with my daughter / Which one is she / She's right ... there / OK, I'll do her. But you have to get her to scream and act like she doesn't want it / I think that can be arranged ..."
"Have the boys in the lab run tests on that / Sir, our tests confirm that the bird is equal to or greater than the word / Do it again!"
The Office Space beatdown of the "Surfin Bird" record, just awesome.
And then, of course, "Hi, I'm looking for "Surfin Bird" by the Trashmen / Sorry, a dog and a baby bought all 63 copies we had / Dammit, this is the 3rd used record store with that same excuse. Hey, don't I know you from somewhere? Did you go to North Providence High? Are you friends with Gary who owns the dry cleaners? Are you Jesus Christ?"
"OK, that's a nutty story, but I can top it. So me, Cleveland and Joe are just wrecked on Southern Comfort ..."
"I love you Jesus! / I love you too fella"
"I know the American people have turned on me and on this war, but I don't care. I don't answer to them. I answer to a higher power, the power of Jesus Christ / Oh really, because it just so happens that I have Jesus right here / I've heard what you said. How you ever got to be in charge of anything, I will never understand ..."
"Hey can you pick me up a Cracked Magazine? / Cracked Magazine? Really? Jesus Christ, unbelievable"
"I'd like to thank our guest Dave Coulier, season three of Full House now out on DVD. OK, our next guest died for our sins and now he's back on the scene ..."
The "O Little Town of Bethlehem" lounge version of the song as Jesus walks out, hysterical.
"To think that I, Peter Griffin, a man who just last week drew a picture of a smiley face on his testicles to make his son laugh ... well, I forget where I was going with this but yay, that's my buddy Jesus!"
"I don't know Lois, but I do know one thing -- none of this would have happened if someone hadn't stolen my mother f*cking Surfin Bird record!!!"
2. "PTV". The opening, with Peter laying down the red carpet for the Emmy's, Lois getting hacked and throwing down with him. "You like eating red carpet! Admit it, you like eating red carpet / I like eating red carpet! / say it again! / I like eating red carpet!" as Quagmire is listening outside the window, then he passes out and lets out a "giggity".
The "David Hyde Pierce trowser malfunction".
Stewie and Brian's sitcom, "Cheeky Bastard".
Quagmire's Ladies Man type call in show.
And of course, "Hi, I'm Peter Griffin. Tonight we're going to look back at all the partial nudity prime time TV used to offer. Remember this side boob? Check out this side boob. How about that side boob? That turn you on? Well it shouldn't. Because that's my side boob. Good night everyone!" Which leads into the greatest moment in Family Guy history:
(lois) the side boob hour?!?!
(peter) oh yes Lois. its the anchor of our Tuesday night prime time lineup.
(lois) Peter, you've left me no choice. I called the FCC.
(peter) oh yeah, I know all about the FCC ...
(cue the music! and yes, I am singing along ...)
They will clean up all your talking in a manner such as this
They will make you take a tinkle when you wanna take a piss
And they'll make you call fellatio a trowser friendly kiss
Here's the plain situation
There's no negotiation
With the fellas at the freaking FCC!
They're as stuffy as the stuffiest of special interest groups
Make a joke about your bowels and they order in the troops
When any baby with a brain could tell them everybody poops
Take a tip, take a lesson
You'll never win by messin
With the fellas at the freaking FCC!
And when you find yourself with some young sexy thing
You're gonna have to do her with your ding-a-ling
Cause you can't say penis
So they sent this little warning, they're prepared to do their worst
And they stuck it in your mailbox hoping you could be coerced
I can think of quite another place they should have stuck it first
They may just be neurotic!
Or possibly psychotic!
They're the fellas at the freaking FCC!!!
The FCC censorship of everything, from Peter's chin, to Lois getting angry, to Lois and Peter's most intimate moment. "No hip movement, no thrusting, no heavy breathing / How can anyone get off / done! Good night Lois".
And the finale, when Peter marches on the Capital and points out how all the monuments can be misconstrued. "The Washington Monument. Looks an awful lot like a penis, doesn't it? The Lincoln Memorial. You tell me he isn't taking a dump".
But my favorite episode ever ...
1. "No Meals on Wheels". You open with Mort borrowing a crucifix for some school project for his kid, and Peter getting angry because "Mort's always borrowing our stuff", so he creates a Scarejew. "Oh! Oh, its Hitler! Oh my God, protect Jon Stewart, he's our most precious natural resource!"
The trip to the 2nd chance store to find Peter a new suit. Stewie playing with the Raggedy Ann doll. "I'm not your whore! Its excess water weight you bastard! I'm sorry, I was only kidding! / Well, I guess I can play with it 3 weeks out of the month ..." When Peter comes upon the piece de resistance, the flannel pajamas with a flap in the back. "Good Lord! You mean I can be pooping and warm? No longer will I have to make a choice!"
The Yahtzee game. "You roll the dice, then flap your arms like this and yell Yahtzee! / And you'll do it? / Of course / Yahtzee! / Gay"
Then Peter discovers his magical powers by dragging his flannel pj's across the carpet. "Oh my God. I'm Jesus. Lois, I don't mean to sound the alarm but, I think I might be Jesus / Peter, that's a static shock caused by OW! / Kneel before Christ!"
Lois gets sick of it so she has Quagmire come over to rip up the carpeting. "Well I gotta be honest with you Lois, when you said you wanted your carpet ripped up I thought ... never mind, never mind, its fine, its fine. Hey, you want me to leave a little landing strip? / No, I want it all gone! / Alright! Goin Brazilian!"
Opening the restaurant with the coin they found that was worth $50,000. "Hey, do you take Discover? / Do we take Discover? Hey Lois, this guy wants to know if we take Discover card / Ha ha ha / Sir, your Discover card is of no value here. A Discover card says I cannot get a real credit card, because they approve anyone ... / You don't have to insult me, you can just decline to take the / I will insult you! And you will stand there and take it!"
Then the cripples roll in, as Joe and his buddies decide to make Big Pete's House of Munch their new hangout. "Oh, oh God, you know there's gonna be a disgrunted Vietnam Vet in there ... oh, there he is / I've seen some things man. Things."
So Peter is hacked that his "dream restaurant" has turned into a "cripple hangout", so he changes the rules to "no shoes, no shirt, no legs, no service". Joe and his fellow cripples gang up to attack, via the Crippletron 3000. After the ensuing battle and destruction ends, with an appearance by Ben Stiller's ears, Peter is confined to a wheelchair.
"No. Because I will be a dignified cripple!" And with those words, my favorite scene in Family Guy history unfolds to the music of Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues", as Peter is carted around Quahog on the back of the wagon, pushed down the steps, chases his daughter but can't reach her because of his limitations, and ends with Peter bawling in frustration, and wheeling his way over to Joe's house to apologize. "Joe, until my accident I had no idea how hard you cripples had it. I've been in a wheelchair for 45 minutes ..."
Episode ends with two good friends making up, and an invite from Joe. "Hey, Bonnie and I are getting ready to watch Grey's Anatomy, if you'd like to join us / Gosh Joe that ... that sounds awful".
Man I love this show ...
Thursday, September 25, 2008
since the rumors are flying its not coming back ...
update: full episodes are available for sale at ITunes. And the last two episodes, which I'd rank 2 and 4 respectively from this season, are still up at cbs.com as of 7:53pm on 9/25/08. Oh ... and yes, I bought the Pilot episode ...
Allow me to offer up a praise of what was unquestionably my favorite new show of last season. A well written, incredibly acted show that, if it only lasts for 13 epiosdes, still delivered every freaking week.
Hell, even the roommate was addicted to this show by the end.
I'm talking, of course, about "Swingtown".
From the moment the show opens, with the stewardess who spilled coffee on Tom expressing concern that "your wife is going to hate me" and Tom replying "no. My wife is going to love you", to the closing moments, when Susan shows up at Roger's hotel room, this show had it all.
The music. Good Lord. What a flashback. This is what I was raised on. Fleetwood Mac. Three Dog Night. The incredible Johnny Bristol. The music on this show just fueled the awesomeness of it. Rita Coolidge's "Higher and Higher" playing as the opening scene threesome unfolded, leading into Trina's first glimpse at Bruce and Susan, just the best 90 seconds aired on television this summer.
And for the ultra-sensitive among my readership ... CBS showed nothing. You saw clothes on the floor. You saw Trina get up, pop open a Tab, and head to the window with her robe on. Yet another reason why this show ruled: it delivered without having to go to the lowest common denominator. It trusted its audience to tune in for the drama, not the soft core porn.
Sure, there were plots and moments that bombed. I thought they had Laurie and her stoner boyfriend break up way too soon ... and way too easily. But even that had its moments, the beach scene as Laurie realizes she wants, she needs something more than someone in a VW van getting her high every night, and she runs to the lakefront as "Go Your Own Way" blares (again, the soundtrack kicked serious ass ...), who among us hasn't wanted to say "screw you" to the way our lives are, and just for one freaking moment, live like we don't have a care in the world?
But most of the storylines, the plots, were just incredible. The opening party at Tom and Trina's, that in theory set the story in motion. You had the swingers (Tom and Trina), the hard core conservatives (Roger and Janet), and the at-the-crossroads couple willing to experiment, but still having their doubts (Bruce and Susan).
A lesser show, plays that storyline out to an unsatisfying, boring, predictable conclusion.
"Swingtown" didn't. Over the next 12 episodes, the evolution of the characters was just remarkable. The writers chose to take the audiences built in expectations, based on the pilot ... and flip them again and again.
I thought the best episode of the run was the first lakehouse episode. Janet convinces Roger to blow off a weekend at Bruce and Susan's lakehouse, because she's upset about a number of things her best friend has done. (The primary one being that Bruce and Susan moved to a better neighborhood "a couple miles away"). So Bruce and Susan wind up inviting Tom and Trina to tag along for a couples retreat. Only, predictably, Roger convinces Janet to change her mind, and they show up just as Tom, Trina, Bruce and Susan are about to swap off.
And there, the predictability ends. Trina laces Janet's special brownies with a special ingredient of her own. After an incredibly awkward dinner ... the secrets start to spill out. And after a pot-fueled game of Twister, and some female bonding overnight ... the dynamics of the show have changed. Janet, the straight laced conservative, the straight and narrow, black and white girl ... is friends with Trina, for whom anything goes.
And that for me was one of the two defining moments of the show. (Both involved Trina and Janet). This was the first "game changer". Trina and Janet realizing that, save for their sexual appetite, they were the same person. Each clinging to the one "true" friend they had (Susan). Each living a life that was largely empty, devoid of meaning, devoid of value. In each other, they had a soulmate. Awesome, awesome moment.
I loved the house warming party episode. Susan couldn't figure out what wallpaper she wanted, but she knew she didn't want what was there. So ... down it came. And up went everyone writing what they wanted to say.
But the next to last episode ... I thought the series most emotional, high point moment, the second defining moment of the show, was Trina confiding in Janet that she was pregnant. Janet had taken a job at the Tribune once Roger was laid off. She was so solid with advice, that she was filling in as the writer of the Dear Trudy column (a "Dear Abby" ripoff). And now, in this one scene, the evolution complete. From socially repressed ... to going gung-ho to win the Secrets scavenger hunt, only to have her world ripped apart because of the "secret" Roger had ... to the go-to person for the most socially evolved person on the show.
There were so many other moments that rocked. The hilarious episode when Susan and Bruce bring home Tom and Trina's friends for a night of fun ... only Laurie and her teacher boyfriend had planned on a night of fun. The shout-out to Reagan in that episode was so true. "Thank God they picked Ford. Reagan would have won".
And that scavenger hunt episode. I thought the pairing of Tom and Janet was beyond perfect. Tom, Mr. Laid back. Janet, Ms. Have to be the Best at Everything. This was kind of set up in the first lakehouse episode I referenced earlier, but man, did this pay off. You can judge Tom and Trina's lifestyle as morally bankrupt, fine ... but it doesn't mean the people themselves are devoid of the values that count in life. The key to the swinging lifestyle, we're told, is trust. Which is all well and good. But the key to life, the thing that gives this life meaning, other than religious aspects of course ... is loyalty. To have that one person, or if you're lucky more, that doesn't judge you, but loves you. That doesn't point fingers against you, but throws punches for you. What I loved about this pairing ... is that Tom found his rock in Janet. Not the other way around.
The producers promised that the ending would leave everyone in a satisfying place, in case there wasn't a second season. And they delivered. Roger got offered a new job ... in Cincinnati. He decides to take it, partly because he needs work, he needs to provide for his family, but also because he and Susan don't want to deal with their feelings for each other. Only, further completing her evolution, dutiful housewife Janet refuses to move. She's got her career now, and she'll be damned if she's giving it up for a man. Even if that man is her husband.
Bruce opts to pursue the fling with Melinda, the intern. Ensuring his marriage descends further into chaos.
Laurie's teacher boyfriend takes off for Guatamala, where his college roommate is missing and presumed dead after an earthquake. Leaving Laurie ditched yet again. Or you would think, only ... he left her the key to his apartment, to use for herself until he returned. As someone who's had someone they love, care deeply about, I don't know, let's just say, hypothetically, "travel down to TCU to spend a weekend with you, only she winds up hooking up with another buddy of yours who goes to Baylor while she's there, and eventually gets knocked up by him" ... yeah, I felt her pain. I spent a few nights crying in the pillow back in the day, just like Laurie.
Tom and Trina ... the pregnancy. Trina is publically, to Tom, willing to end it. She thinks its what he wants. Only ... Tom puts his foot down. Parenthood is what he wants. He wants a kid. Exactly the same as her. Sometimes, destiny hands you what you really want. (That, and the failure to wear a condom or take the pill. Whew, thank God we're more evolved and aware than our folks were ...)
But the best ending ... was how the "first season" ended. Susan, knowing her marriage to Bruce is in shambles, knowing that her best friend (Janet) will be crushed beyond belief ... decides "screw it", and put all the chips on the table, and takes off on a drive. Pulls into the hotel parking lot. Knocks on the door. And on the other side is ... Roger.
And ... end scene. Hopefully not end series.
If you didn't get into "Swingtown", I'm sorry. This show freaking rocked. There's still a couple full episodes up at cbs.com. I assume the full season will be out on DVD at some point. I'll be purchasing it. I'd also guess its available for purchase as a download out there somewhere, be it ITunes or wherever. Do yourself a favor and just buy the pilot episode. Give it a chance. It was that good. And as great as the pilot episode was ... it was maybe the 8th or 9th best episode of the season.
CBS, do the right thing. Even if its just a summer show like "Big Brother" or whatever other crappy game / reality shows you fill the lineup with, give it a season two. "Swingtown" f*cking rocked. Those of us who are addicted to this incredibly well written, well acted, well plotted show, deserve to know what happens in the morning after at that seedy hotel near O'Hare with Susan and Roger ...
Allow me to offer up a praise of what was unquestionably my favorite new show of last season. A well written, incredibly acted show that, if it only lasts for 13 epiosdes, still delivered every freaking week.
Hell, even the roommate was addicted to this show by the end.
I'm talking, of course, about "Swingtown".
From the moment the show opens, with the stewardess who spilled coffee on Tom expressing concern that "your wife is going to hate me" and Tom replying "no. My wife is going to love you", to the closing moments, when Susan shows up at Roger's hotel room, this show had it all.
The music. Good Lord. What a flashback. This is what I was raised on. Fleetwood Mac. Three Dog Night. The incredible Johnny Bristol. The music on this show just fueled the awesomeness of it. Rita Coolidge's "Higher and Higher" playing as the opening scene threesome unfolded, leading into Trina's first glimpse at Bruce and Susan, just the best 90 seconds aired on television this summer.
And for the ultra-sensitive among my readership ... CBS showed nothing. You saw clothes on the floor. You saw Trina get up, pop open a Tab, and head to the window with her robe on. Yet another reason why this show ruled: it delivered without having to go to the lowest common denominator. It trusted its audience to tune in for the drama, not the soft core porn.
Sure, there were plots and moments that bombed. I thought they had Laurie and her stoner boyfriend break up way too soon ... and way too easily. But even that had its moments, the beach scene as Laurie realizes she wants, she needs something more than someone in a VW van getting her high every night, and she runs to the lakefront as "Go Your Own Way" blares (again, the soundtrack kicked serious ass ...), who among us hasn't wanted to say "screw you" to the way our lives are, and just for one freaking moment, live like we don't have a care in the world?
But most of the storylines, the plots, were just incredible. The opening party at Tom and Trina's, that in theory set the story in motion. You had the swingers (Tom and Trina), the hard core conservatives (Roger and Janet), and the at-the-crossroads couple willing to experiment, but still having their doubts (Bruce and Susan).
A lesser show, plays that storyline out to an unsatisfying, boring, predictable conclusion.
"Swingtown" didn't. Over the next 12 episodes, the evolution of the characters was just remarkable. The writers chose to take the audiences built in expectations, based on the pilot ... and flip them again and again.
I thought the best episode of the run was the first lakehouse episode. Janet convinces Roger to blow off a weekend at Bruce and Susan's lakehouse, because she's upset about a number of things her best friend has done. (The primary one being that Bruce and Susan moved to a better neighborhood "a couple miles away"). So Bruce and Susan wind up inviting Tom and Trina to tag along for a couples retreat. Only, predictably, Roger convinces Janet to change her mind, and they show up just as Tom, Trina, Bruce and Susan are about to swap off.
And there, the predictability ends. Trina laces Janet's special brownies with a special ingredient of her own. After an incredibly awkward dinner ... the secrets start to spill out. And after a pot-fueled game of Twister, and some female bonding overnight ... the dynamics of the show have changed. Janet, the straight laced conservative, the straight and narrow, black and white girl ... is friends with Trina, for whom anything goes.
And that for me was one of the two defining moments of the show. (Both involved Trina and Janet). This was the first "game changer". Trina and Janet realizing that, save for their sexual appetite, they were the same person. Each clinging to the one "true" friend they had (Susan). Each living a life that was largely empty, devoid of meaning, devoid of value. In each other, they had a soulmate. Awesome, awesome moment.
I loved the house warming party episode. Susan couldn't figure out what wallpaper she wanted, but she knew she didn't want what was there. So ... down it came. And up went everyone writing what they wanted to say.
But the next to last episode ... I thought the series most emotional, high point moment, the second defining moment of the show, was Trina confiding in Janet that she was pregnant. Janet had taken a job at the Tribune once Roger was laid off. She was so solid with advice, that she was filling in as the writer of the Dear Trudy column (a "Dear Abby" ripoff). And now, in this one scene, the evolution complete. From socially repressed ... to going gung-ho to win the Secrets scavenger hunt, only to have her world ripped apart because of the "secret" Roger had ... to the go-to person for the most socially evolved person on the show.
There were so many other moments that rocked. The hilarious episode when Susan and Bruce bring home Tom and Trina's friends for a night of fun ... only Laurie and her teacher boyfriend had planned on a night of fun. The shout-out to Reagan in that episode was so true. "Thank God they picked Ford. Reagan would have won".
And that scavenger hunt episode. I thought the pairing of Tom and Janet was beyond perfect. Tom, Mr. Laid back. Janet, Ms. Have to be the Best at Everything. This was kind of set up in the first lakehouse episode I referenced earlier, but man, did this pay off. You can judge Tom and Trina's lifestyle as morally bankrupt, fine ... but it doesn't mean the people themselves are devoid of the values that count in life. The key to the swinging lifestyle, we're told, is trust. Which is all well and good. But the key to life, the thing that gives this life meaning, other than religious aspects of course ... is loyalty. To have that one person, or if you're lucky more, that doesn't judge you, but loves you. That doesn't point fingers against you, but throws punches for you. What I loved about this pairing ... is that Tom found his rock in Janet. Not the other way around.
The producers promised that the ending would leave everyone in a satisfying place, in case there wasn't a second season. And they delivered. Roger got offered a new job ... in Cincinnati. He decides to take it, partly because he needs work, he needs to provide for his family, but also because he and Susan don't want to deal with their feelings for each other. Only, further completing her evolution, dutiful housewife Janet refuses to move. She's got her career now, and she'll be damned if she's giving it up for a man. Even if that man is her husband.
Bruce opts to pursue the fling with Melinda, the intern. Ensuring his marriage descends further into chaos.
Laurie's teacher boyfriend takes off for Guatamala, where his college roommate is missing and presumed dead after an earthquake. Leaving Laurie ditched yet again. Or you would think, only ... he left her the key to his apartment, to use for herself until he returned. As someone who's had someone they love, care deeply about, I don't know, let's just say, hypothetically, "travel down to TCU to spend a weekend with you, only she winds up hooking up with another buddy of yours who goes to Baylor while she's there, and eventually gets knocked up by him" ... yeah, I felt her pain. I spent a few nights crying in the pillow back in the day, just like Laurie.
Tom and Trina ... the pregnancy. Trina is publically, to Tom, willing to end it. She thinks its what he wants. Only ... Tom puts his foot down. Parenthood is what he wants. He wants a kid. Exactly the same as her. Sometimes, destiny hands you what you really want. (That, and the failure to wear a condom or take the pill. Whew, thank God we're more evolved and aware than our folks were ...)
But the best ending ... was how the "first season" ended. Susan, knowing her marriage to Bruce is in shambles, knowing that her best friend (Janet) will be crushed beyond belief ... decides "screw it", and put all the chips on the table, and takes off on a drive. Pulls into the hotel parking lot. Knocks on the door. And on the other side is ... Roger.
And ... end scene. Hopefully not end series.
If you didn't get into "Swingtown", I'm sorry. This show freaking rocked. There's still a couple full episodes up at cbs.com. I assume the full season will be out on DVD at some point. I'll be purchasing it. I'd also guess its available for purchase as a download out there somewhere, be it ITunes or wherever. Do yourself a favor and just buy the pilot episode. Give it a chance. It was that good. And as great as the pilot episode was ... it was maybe the 8th or 9th best episode of the season.
CBS, do the right thing. Even if its just a summer show like "Big Brother" or whatever other crappy game / reality shows you fill the lineup with, give it a season two. "Swingtown" f*cking rocked. Those of us who are addicted to this incredibly well written, well acted, well plotted show, deserve to know what happens in the morning after at that seedy hotel near O'Hare with Susan and Roger ...
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