Canterbury's Law (1.3)

Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 9 PM

FOX

Canterbury's Law, Season 1 - Episode 3 - "What Goes Around"

"A vindictive Deputy Attorney General Williams builds a case against Elizabeth, impaneling a Grand Jury and executing search warrants in his effort to prove that she broke the law while defending accused child murderer Ethan Foster. Elizabeth is in the dark at first, but when Russell and Chester get wind of Williams' vendetta, they refuse to let her shutter Canterbury & Associates. Meanwhile, a terrified and unprepared Molly mounts her first defense; and after an important university faculty event, the gulf between Matt and Elizabeth becomes heartbreakingly apparent." (Fox.com)

From zero to divorce in under three episodes. (FOX )

Marmot: Canterbury's Law? Can't Watch anymore is more like it

Manatee: I know. That show is so all over the place.

Marmot: What a mess. Why have her flunkies' suddenly been given their own storylines? And why is Keith David doing this show?

Manatee: I was wondering the same thing. If you are going to give the underlings their own stories, their characters should have been a little more developed in previous episodes. The episode would have been more effective if we knew something about these characters. They've said about 10 words in the last 2 episodes. They have no personality and now the writers are trying to throw them into random scenes. Also interesting, I think Russell is a "partner" not just an underling. Though he has acted like an employee the whole time. Plus, who the heck was Martin? That random assistant who showed up once in the office!!!

Marmot: What was the deal with Russell? He was disbarred? I felt like I missed 2 or 3 episodes.

Manatee: Did we? I was thinking #3 was early for her to be in such hot water!

Marmot: It feels like it should come during sweeps. I don't know how much these episodes were affected by the strike. If they were written in anticipation of it, I can understand the jumping right into it. But if they weren't I'm really curious to see how the rest of the show would play out, if the story is this frenetic and fast-paced 3 episodes in. Even so, I don't feel anything for these other 2 characters. Well, I don't feel anything for any of them, but that's beside the point. A little back-story would have been nice.

Manatee: Agreed on the back-story. I feel no connection to any of them. Except Canterbury and maybe her husband and the PI.

Marmot: And the "my father is a Senator, but I'm taking my own path" story? There's only 100 Senators in the country and this has become cliché.

Manatee: That was not the only cliché scene. How about the drunken "affair/missing kid" fight? I feel like that fight scene has been played out too, almost word for word.

Marmot: I was actually hoping they would get into a fistfight during that scene. One of those long drawn-out ones, like they do on Family Guy with Peter and the Chicken.

Manatee: haha. That would have been a great improvement! It's such a dumb dynamic between Canterbury and her husband. At the start of the episode, they are happy in bed together, and at the end they are at each other's throats. Granted they are both having affairs... and have a missing kid... why are they still together?

Marmot: I agree. There's plenty of conflict in her life already. The decay - nay, demolition - of her marriage is just too much.

Manatee: How much longer before Fox pulls the plug?

Marmot: I think they'll play out the last 3 and kill it. Of course, that depends on how their pilot season plays out. I think there might be a show worth watching in there, but it's going to take a lot of refinement before it gets to that point.

Manatee: I'm really looking forward to Fox canceling this show. I LOVE law shows, but this one rubs me the wrong way. It's not unwatchable (see: Return of Jezebel James) but it is an unnecessary hour of TV watching.

Marmot: It would need a major overhaul before I would want to watch again. Especially in the directing. There's too much handheld, odd angles, fast zooms. It only detracts from the intense scenes instead of enhancing them.

Manatee: I suppose they are trying to be different? But I know what you mean.

Miss/Guided 1.4 & 1.5

Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 8pm

Miss/Guided, Season 1, Episode 4 - "Rebel Yell" & Episode 5 - "Pool Party"

ABC

She's doing exactly what it looks like she's doing. (ABC)

Marmot: I like Miss/Guided

Manatee: I really Like Miss/Guided

Marmot: It's a pretty good show. A little cutesy, but it has a lot of charm. And it's funny.

Manatee: The characters are really growing on me except maybe Brooke Burns, she annoys me a bit. Judy Greer is awesome!

Marmot: She is a little one-dimensional. Although I think it's hilarious that she's an English teacher and her last name is Germain. And Judy Greer is awesome. I could watch a whole series based on her Arrested Development character.

Manatee: I was just thinking that! That was a great role. Perhaps Fox should think "spin-off." I loved the Breakfast Club scene. that brings the retro feel to the show again. I'm sure some of the younger audience members don't remember that movie, but I was so excited the sec it started!

Marmot: It took me a second before I caught the reference, since I haven't seen that movie in years. I think this is probably the best of the mid-seasons.

Manatee: I would agree with that. It's too bad they are burning the episodes up with back to back airings. I think next week is the last week.

Marmot: That's a shame. I really hope they bring it back. It would be a good partner to Samantha Who?

Manatee: That would be a nice pairing. It's hard to find decent comedies. I find the multi-camera sitcom to be too silly and over the top for my tastes.

Marmot: I would like to see ABC have a decent comedy night, like NBC, CBS and FOX do. Even though FOX's are all animated. Maybe those 2 with Pushing Daisies on Wednesday? Although rumor has it that Pushing Daisies is going darker next season.

Jericho (2.7)

Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 at 10 PM

CBS

Jericho, Season 2 - Episode 7 - "Patriots and Tyrants" (Series Finale)

"Boy, did he age?" (CBS Season 1)

Marmot: That's it?

Manatee: That is it my furry friend.

Marmot: What a disappointing ending. I can appreciate that it wasn't your typical "happily ever after" finale, but at least those are endings.

Manatee: I was also disappointed. I know the ratings have been poor, but I felt the show deserved a better finale.

Marmot: I know that they filmed 2 endings - one open, one closed - but with its cancellation, I'm not sure they aired the closed ending.

Manatee: I was surprised by the action. I feel like the pace was rushed at the start (Jake and Hawkins show up at the hotel in 2.5 sec) and then it got unusually slow. Maybe that was the effect of filming 2 different endings? I would like to see the alternative ending - just to see what we missed out on.

Marmot: I would too. Of course, we'll be able to if we buy the Season 2 DVD, with Never Before Seen Ending. I can't imagine how different it would have been, though. Obviously, the Civil War storyline was what they were heading towards.

Manatee: Sure, a Civil War makes sense 2 episodes after they hint at an American Revolution, which I didn't see happen... There was a threat of it, but there was not enough action this season. Oh how I wish they would have spent their VFX money differently, I did not need those fighter jet scenes.

Marmot: Where was Danger Zone? That's what I was most upset about.

Manatee: You know what I am most upset about? The conspiracy is not really solved! If you are going to shape a show around a government conspiracy, have a "mole," and cover ups, I NEED TO KNOW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE! Who is that bald guy? Who is the mysterious John Smith cell voice, the guy makes a 30 sec appearance and gets away! I knew the questions would not be answered when there was only 1 episode left, but that really irks me.

Marmot: Why even introduce someone in that episode? It seems like the guy behind it could have just been the bald guy, the storyline is wrapped up and you could continue on with Season 3 and the Civil War. It’s just kind of a mess.

Manatee: Exactly. And who was that Asian guy? He showed up last night for 10 minutes as an inside spy (which has never been mentioned before) and then dies, and no one blinks.

Marmot: That was so weird. The whole last episode was just weird.

Manatee: Did they even bother to give that guy a name?

Marmot: I don't think so. Okay, so awards for Jericho: “Best Performance:” Brad Beyer as Stanley; “Most Overused Character:” Jake; “Least Cared-About Storyline:” the virus.

Manatee: “Best Nuclear Bomb Villain”: The guy on the phone referred to as John Smith, who never actually has a name

Marmot: “Biggest Disappearance of a Regular Cast Member”: Dale

Manatee: and the Mom.

New Amsterdam (1.5)

Monday, March 24th, 2008 at 9 PM

FOX

New Amsterdam, Season 1 - Episode 5 - "Keep the Change"

"Quick, must... add... name... into Google Search." (FOX)

Marmot: Blonde Doctor: What's your real name? / John Amsterdam: John Amsterdam / Blonde Doctor: That's made up. / John Amsterdam: ... / John Amsterdam: You are.

Manatee: Your script would have made for a more compelling hour of TV than the one that aired last night.

Marmot: What was that that we watched? What a garbled mess.

Manatee: I know. Now that the series is winding down, I feel like last night's episode asked too many more questions than it solved. But not good questions, messy logistical ones. Maybe they hope that's what will save them for a season 2. I hear the buzz is pretty good to consider it for a 2nd season.

Marmot: Question #1: If he fathered 63 children over the course of 400 years, that is one 6 years or so, if you assume they came at regular intervals. Which would mean that given the average life span of 75 years, he would have 12-13 living children. If that's the case, why does he only talk to Omar?

Manatee: That is a great question. I did not really do the math on that one. Someone in the writer's dept is dropping the ball on the bible. Shouldn't someone keep track of this info? I think next week, another son pops up. Though in the flashbacks, I got the sense that he sort of just leaves his families instead of telling them the truth, that's why there was that long drown out scene with Omar as a kid. Him facing his "Demons."

Marmot: So has he not fathered a child since Omar? I mean, if he has, this guy doesn't really learn his lessons. And here's another thing: if his current identity is only about 5 years old, who is doing the background checking at the NYPD?

Manatee: He fakes his own documents remember?! I don't know how great of an argument that was – a Google search. Sure we all do it to our dates, friends, family...but my name only comes up in a few databases. I think it was a bit of a leap that she freaks out about a Google search. If she went to the hall of public records, she'd see he's owned that loft for 300 years!

Marmot: A Google search? Don't they teach you to be a little more resourceful in med school? If I Google Marmot, all that comes up is camping gear and a Wikipedia page. Does that mean I don't exist?

Manatee: That's a deep question, one for another conversation, haha! But you're right, she is a doctor. Does she not have better resources? My big question from the night is this: how does this fate/destiny/true love thing work for John? They've already met, he's had a heart attack and lived, they've slept together, gone on a date... did I miss something in the pilot? When does he become mortal? Do they have to have some kind of "I love you" talk? It's definitely a cruel curse... how do we know that she will love him back? Or is that built into the definition of true love, that it's mutual? Could he miss his true love? I suppose anyone could be his true love, any of the mothers of his 63 kids, and then some. But the heart attack gave this one an edge. Should finding her be easy? Making her love you, should that be easy? Do you have to work so hard at true love? Generally you want true love to be happy, but you can live with or without it. You still die all the same. But he needs to find her to die. Or is it to be mortal? And when will that happen? When will we see him tempt fate, get hit by a train, and actually die?

Marmot: That's something I've been wondering about, too. The logic doesn't really work here. If they have to be joined or whatever for him to become mortal, why does he have a heart attack when he passes her in the subway, but gets a grey hair when they are at their most intimate? True love is such a vague idea anyway. What makes Blonde Doctor more special than Omar's mother or the 15 year old girl from last week? And of course, in fairy tale world, true love comes easy, but in real life, it's the hardest thing you're going to do, relating to someone for the long-term. So what if he marries Blonde Doctor and then makes an off-hand comment about her mother, or consistently leaves the toilet seat up. Is that a deal breaker? Does he go back to being immortal?

Manatee: I don't get their "relationship." In bed, he says “trust me” to her, just because the douche bag you were about to bone tells you to trust him, you should?! Obviously she thinks better of it. And the end is weird... he has told other people in his life that he is 400, with 63 kids, etc. Like Omar's mom (right?) and maybe a few other women? Why is the doctor giving him such a hard time! She made some dumb comment about needing hard evidence or proof since she is a woman of science.

Marmot: Blonde Doctor is kind of a ridiculous character. She sleeps with a complete stranger while separated from her husband with no problem. Then she gets a little weary about it, and decides to Google his name, gets upset that he isn't on the web, and takes that at face value. But when he opens up and tells her something that frankly, given everything she knows about him is completely plausible, she doesn't believe him. Why is Google more reliable than the source? She also needs another name than Blonde Doctor, but until I think of one, that's what she's being called. Thanks, Scrubs.

Manatee: How about Blonde Sargeant? OMG, she (Susan Misner) was so bad. I am not a fan of hers. She had a role on Gossip Girl this year, and I could not wait for her arc to be over! Are there only 40 actors in NYC to pick from? Stop recycling the same people! Put someone decent on a plan from LA to NY.

Marmot: Why is Blonde Sargeant spending most of her working day trying to talk to Johnny Bronx's partner? I appreciate that this isn't the typical gruff with a heart of gold police Sargeant, but she looks to be about 5 years younger than those working beneath her. At least you can believe Robin Weigert on Life. Mostly because she behaves as a cop.

Manatee: I know, I could not tell if she was joking with the partner, or trying to be serious. But I think we could do without her for sure.

Marmot: I think the NYPD could do without her as well.

Manatee: Which opens another question for me, why does this show need the NYPD at all? I know we have touched on this before, but the detective stories are so boring. They need more jazz, action, something. I like the character/personal stuff ok, but we don't need more cop shows. Why couldn't he be a street performer (a mime?) in Central Park? Or a nanny? Or a city council member? Something new that I have not seen before on TV in NYC.

Marmot: Or a hot dog vendor by day who solves crimes by night.

The Return of Jezebel James (Canceled)

Special report: The Return Demise of Jezebel James


Our Prayers have been answered! Hollywood Reporter is reporting:

"Fox drops 'Jezebel'"

Fox has pulled the low-rated sitcom The Return of Jezebel James from its schedule. The network yanked episodes off Friday nights, effective this week. Last Friday's 8:30 p.m. episode failed to improve on its time-period premiere, earning a 1.4 rating among adults 18 to 49. James was paired with repeats of " 'Til Death," which was also removed from the lineup. Instead, Fox will air repeats of Bones."

The Return of Jezebel James (1.3)

Friday, March 21st, 2008 at 8:30 PM

FOX

The Return of Jezebel James , Season 1 - Episode #3- "Needles and Schlag"

Marmot: The Return of Jezebel James is an abomination

Manatee: I'm going to be honest, I'm not sure I can watch it anymore.

Marmot: I don't think so either. It's too painful. I thought of all the other things I could have done with those 22 minutes - eat, read, stare into space

Manatee: I don't even laugh - not even smile. It's the most annoying show!

Marmot: I could have rearranged my cupboards, hit myself repeatedly with a soft but heavy object...anything would have been better. I don't understand how something can be that bad.

Manatee: How did an exec see that and say, “Yes I want that on my network!” Even Emily's Reasons Why Not got pulled after 1 episode. I mean, I know there was a strike and all, but repeats of New Amsterdam would have been better.

Marmot: Agreed. Why doesn't FOX just rerun another episode of House? They don't seem to have any problem doing it any other time.

Manatee: I suppose I could go into every single thing that was dumb, stupid, & unfunny about this show, but we'd be here all day. I might as well just attach the script for those who missed the airing, see for yourself how bad it is.

Marmot: Or you could tell people to beat themselves over the head with a frying pan repeatedly. You walk away with roughly the same effect.

Manatee: What do you think the chances are that it will get picked up for a 2nd season?

Marmot: About the same as an unpopular President getting voted in for a second term despite extreme suspicion surrounding the legitimacy of his first election. Good. It is FOX, after all. They gave Til Death a second season.

Manatee: I want to write Parker Posey a fan mail letter asking her, for the love of God, to quit the show, to use her talents for good not evil, to be in my little sister's high school play (since she will apparently sign up for anything; plus it would have to be better than this show).

Marmot: Ohh, what is Manatee High doing this year?

Manatee: Footloose

Marmot: That's exciting. Is she playing the Sarah Jessica Parker role? Or the Dianne Wiest role? Who is on Return of Jezebel James.

Manatee: Nah, I think we could just use her as an extra.