Manatee & Marmot Destroy TV: The Blog

Trust Me (1.1)

2009-01-29T13:04:00.001-08:00

Monday, January 26, 2008 @ 10 PM
TNT
Trust Me - Season 1, Episode #1 - Pilot

http://www.tnt.tv/series/trustme/

Marmot: Much more engaging than the barely watchable Ocean's 11-lite Leverage, Trust Me doesn't seem to know what it's about. It's less a friendship drama set in the exciting world of advertising than it is a procedural for getting "the big account". It's somewhat ironic that the show about advertising seems to be based on advertiser's versions of the working world that are sold to us every year in Super Bowl commercials. It's yet another regurgitation of the Office Space formula, except not funny. However, the leads (Tom Cavanaugh and Eric McCormack) are very likeable, and I can't help that feel that the show would be much better if they were given more interesting things to say. Instead, the dialogue is mired in ad-world lingo that only serves to alienate the viewer. I don't know what the hierarchy is in an ad agency, I don't want to know. Just make me laugh.

Manatee: Trust Me did not keep my attention. I was more interested in my knitting project than this show. I was unable to separate Eric McCormack from his character on Will & Grace (Kind of annoying as you can imagine). When a competing cable station has the highly acclaimed television series, Mad Men, which revolves around ad agencies in the 60s, I'm not sure you should go up against it. TNT was probably hoping that while Mad Men was on break, their audience would tune into Trust Me. Skip it (coming from a Mad Men fan). I'd rather wait till Mad Men season 3 comes back to get my ad fill. Trust Me is not funny, the characters are rather obnoxious, and it does not look very good (looks low budget to me). I have no interest in tuning in for episode two unless someone promises me it gets a million times better.

Gossip Girl (2.16)

2009-01-21T10:25:00.000-08:00

Monday, January 19th, 2009 @ 8 PM
CW
Gossip Girl - Season 2 - Episode #16 - "You've Got Yale!"

http://cwtv.com/shows/gossip-girl/episodes

Hey Gossip Girl fans!

Marmot and Manatee Here.

Marmot: HEARD: Line of the year - Lost Josh Hartnett asks Jon Mayer if he's going to the opera. Jon Mayer says he is. Lost Josh Hartnett: "Yeah, I might go too." Not a pep rally, or someone's house party. The opera. Hilarious.

Manatee: CALLING IT NOW: Jon Mayer (aka Dan) is going to hook up with that thirteen year old English teacher. You could tell the second she appeared on the scene.
Maybe they could go to the opera together.

Marmot: GUESSING: The actress that plays the new English teacher is younger than the actors who play her students

Manatee: OMG, we need to research that stat. I think you are right. Research is in: We're wrong - Serena - 8/25/87; Blair - 4/9/86; Dan - 11/1/86; Nate - 7/18/85; Little J - 7/26/93 (Do you feel old yet?)

Marmot: Yes. Very

Manatee: Chuck - 6/27/87; Teacher - 8/22/83

Marmot: So she's 3 years older than the students she's pretending to be the teacher of so if they're all 22 playing 17, that would mean she's 25 playing...20? A 20 year old high school teacher?

Manatee: Yup. OMG! You know what we are forgetting to discuss here? WORST IDEA EVER BY A STUDIO EXECUTIVE: Lily and Rufus: Flashback to the 80s.

Marmot: I can't believe they're giving Lily a flashback spinoff.

Manatee: Tell me about it. They must be desperate.

Marmot: Let's do the math here...how old are 29 Year Old Dad and the Hot Mom? 40?

Manatee: I think I guessed about 39 per the show math with the 19 year old adopted (fake dead) son.

Marmot: So the spinoff is going to be Lily as a teenager out on the Sunset Strip, so about 22 years ago, or 1987. This is going to be awesome.

Manatee: Why?! Who will want to watch this? If we were teenagers now watching GG, would we want to tune in to see the 80s Bret Easton Ellis style?

Marmot: That is true. But as, um, animals in our, uh...mid? 20s? Sure, mid 20s - I want to see Lily sleep her way through Guns N Roses, Motley Crue, Poison, Whitesnake, Def Leppard...you get the point.

Manatee: When will our TV viewing eyes be blessed with this little spinoff?

Marmot: Hopefully the fall...but there's a rumor going around that we're going to see a flashback episode this season.

Manatee: I can't wait.

Marmot: What I was really hoping for was a flashback with Rufus to his salad days of the early 90s. How awesome would a Buffalo Tom cameo be on GG? (ED Note - Buffalo Tom guest starred on My So-Called Life almost 15 years ago and it was amazing)

Manatee: My So Called Life was 15 years ago?

Marmot: (ED Note 2 - Buffalo Tom was a Boston-based alternative rock band that was around in the 90s. They had a moderate hit with "Sodajerk". Check it out, it's well worth it) August of 1994. Nearly 15 yea - OMG FIFTEEN YEARS?!?!?!

Manatee: I think M & M need to have a little party this August to celebrate the anniversary.

Stick with us here. Until next Monday!

XOXO,

Marmot & Manatee

Flight of the Conchords (2.1)

2009-01-19T15:42:00.000-08:00

Sunday, January 18th, 2009 @ 10 PM
HBO
Flight of the Conchords - Season 2 - Episode # 1 - "A Good Opportunity"
http://www.hbo.com/conchords/

Manatee: I think FotC Season 2 is off to a bad start.

Marmot: Really? Why is that?

Manatee: I didn't like the first episode as a season kick off. Plus, there weren't really any catchy tunes, and as much as I LOVE Murray, I wish the first episode wasn't so focused on him. He even had the first song of the new season.

Marmot: I thought his song was hilarious. I have to agree with you, song-wise, the episode was pretty weak. But they did have all of the Season 1 songs for years, and now they've had to write a bunch of new ones over a few months. I thought the episode was pretty funny, though.

Manatee: They had plenty of time to write new songs. There was a strike which delayed most HBO shows. Plus I know for a fact that Bret likes to spend his days lolly gagging around a certain coffee shop in LA. He could have been writing with his partner, instead he was gulping down espressos.

Marmot: He can't write and drink coffee at the same time?

Manatee: Not when Jemaine isn't there!!! Anyhow, I have hopes that it will get better, but I'm just saying, I was disappointed. I was glad to see Mel and Doug make an appearance.

Marmot: I think the music will get better. One major thing I noticed from Season 1 was the increased budget, most noticeably, the move to HD.

Manatee: Yes, I noticed it did appear to have a bigger budget as well. Let's hope that doesn't diminish the charm.

The Beast (1.1)

2009-01-19T15:23:00.000-08:00

Thursday, January 15th, 2009 @ 10 PM
A & E
The Beast– Season 1 – Episode #1 – Pilot

http://www.aetv.com/the-beast/index.jsp

I ask you, "Dirty Dancing or The Beast?"

Marmot: Kinda “meh” about The Beast. I feel like all the best stuff was going to be in the pilot

Manatee: I hated the ending! Why does everyone think they need some sort of twist these days? What happened to good old-fashioned storytelling

Marmot: It became stale and boring, so then the twist became something shiny and new, and ultimately, cliche. At least for horror movies. This is a rare example of a twist in a pilot . I feel like it could have been better executed, though. Perhaps if we had seen the FBI folks in an earlier scene? It just kind of felt tacked on otherwise.

Manatee: I just felt like I had seen it before and it was a very weak ending.

Marmot: Its straight out of the movie Breach.

Manatee: They whole premise and storytelling was pretty weak and tired. The only good thing about the pilot was the way it looked, other than that, I'm not really looking forward to the season.

Marmot: Yes. The cinematography was amazing. I also liked that Patrick Swayze shot a missile launcher. I'm pretty sure he never did that in Dirty Dancing.

Manatee: Is Patrick Swayze marketable anymore? Who is tuning in to see him? And did CBS ask themselves a similar question when Caruso thought about signing on for CSI Miami?

Marmot: EVERYONE is watching Caruso on CSI Miami. It's unbelievable. Maybe that was their thinking with Swayze. Or maybe A&E figured people would watch the first episode out of shear curiosity and get hooked.

Manatee: Are you hooked?

Marmot: Not so much hooked as mildly interested. I'm mostly interested in why Patrick Swayze made his brother-in-law shoot himself. Also something that never happened in Dirty Dancing.

Manatee: That personal story felt unnecessary. It seems like that scene and the later one with his sister set up the FBI agents trying to convince the young partner that his older, harder partner is dirty. Each week we should compare and contrast The Beast and Dirty Dancing

Marmot: Similarities to Dirty Dancing? Nobody put baby in a corner.

The United States of Tara (1.1)

2009-01-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

Sunday, January 18th, 2009 @ 10 PM
Showtime Network
The United States of Tara - Season 1, Episode #1 - Pilot
Available now at: sho.com

Welcome Back to Manatee & Marmot Destroy TV: The Blog. It's a New Year with new shows out there on the waves. For our 2009 resolutions we promise to be more consistent with our posting on the latest but not always greatest TV series. Oh yeah, we also promise to cut back on the booze. So enjoy!

Marmot: I think I liked The United States of Tara.

Manatee: I did like it. I'd like to see where it is going. Though it's a half hour, I didn't feel like it was a traditional sitcom. And I like the idea of multiple personalities... it's a different take on the typical dysfunctional family

Marmot: This is a family with a real dysfunction and a real situation, unlike most shows where they just make fun of each other. But I wonder how interesting it will be 5 episodes from now. Why are we being introduced to this family and their world at this point? They've lived with this long enough to all be comfortable with it, except for the kids. Who even are okay with it. It's just ruining their social lives, but they're kids, so who cares? Kids are idiots.

Manatee: I felt like that was a question still to be answered. It may tie into my first thought about the episode, why was Tara talking to a video camera in the first scene? Is that part of her therapy? I'm not partial to tricks like that just to get some narration or background going. I wonder if that style will ever be seen again in the series.

Marmot: I had completely forgotten about it by the end of the episode.

Manatee: I thought it was a stupid way to intro the character, unless it has something to do with her therapy but it wasn't addressed again last night. Is it a way for her to 'communicate' with her alters? That was a technique that was used in My Own Worst Enemy.

Marmot: They don't seem to communicate based on this first episode.

Manatee: Well, T did know that Tara had found the morning after pill.

Marmot: I wonder if the "alters" share common knowledge. Does "T" know the same things Tara does? Buck did know how to bowl left handed, which was odd. Odd that it was referenced by the characters. It didn't seem that important.

Manatee: After I watched the show, it did prompt me to Wiki DID (Dissociative identity disorder) - it was a lot to go through. I was under the impression that your alters did not know things about your life, you don't share memories. But I don't know what the left handed importance is. I think what is interesting about DID is not just dealing with it, but what causes it in the first place. And we, the viewers, are being introduced like you said mid stream here.

Marmot: There was an offhand reference to stress inducing an "attack". One of the first questions I had that wasn't addressed was wouldn't she be on medication? I know there are drugs that combat this.

Manatee: Yes, I did catch that too. But the daughter did mention something about being happy her mom was off the meds.

Marmot: Oh, nevermind. I guess I missed that.

Manatee: Even after reading the Wiki, I'm not sure what causes the attacks, but what causes DID is interesting. It's really only common in the US and it's usually a condition started after major trauma or abuse. There is a lot of controversy over whether it's really a medical condition. Enter Tara's sister.

Marmot: It looks like the writer read the Wikipedia page, too. Which brings us to my biggest gripe...

Manatee: I know. I was waiting for this

Marmot: F Diablo Cody. She sucks. Sucks sucks sucks sucks sucks.

Manatee: Tell me how you really feel

Marmot: Nobody talks like she writes. It's so infuriating.

Marmot: Especially in this show. Every character was played fairly straight, as if there were normal people, and then here comes these oh-so-clever witticisms...I hate it. I think that's how I really feel.

Manatee: I didn't think this show was as bad as Juno with that 'clever,' wacky dialogue.

Marmot: That is true. I'm sure Showtime or someone made her tone it down. Maybe it was Spielbergo.

Manatee: Talk about an unlikely duo. Do you think Spielberg will ask Cody to write the 5th Indiana Jones?

Marmot: Oh god. I don't know what's worse, a Diablo Cody scripted Indiana Jones or the idea of another Indiana Jones movie.

Manatee: How involved is Cody with the series?

Marmot: She's already put her name on it. In my opinion - too much.

Manatee: I'm just wondering if someone else is showrunning, maybe the series won't be as wacky as she is.

Marmot: Alexa Junge is ths showrunner.

Marmot: She was a producer on The West Wing, Big Love, Sex & The City and Friends. Quite a pedigree.

Manatee: I don't get Showtime, so I probably won't have the pleasure of seeing this series through, but I must say Showtime is stepping it up. It is almost better than HBO at this point.

Marmot: I have to admit, this does make me slightly more interested in getting Showtime. Still not enough to pay for it, though. I'll probably NetFlix this show once it's on DVD.

Manatee: I may have to join you when you get the NetFlix in. If the show were on ABC I'd definitely watch it. Actually, why isn't it on ABC or NBC? There wasn't much nudity or bad language.

Marmot: It was also edited down, according to the disclaimer right before it started. I wonder what we missed out on.

Manatee: We may never know.

CW Sunday Night

2008-10-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday Night 8-10 PM
CW
Valentine & Easy Money

Manatee here! The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Media Rights Capital's Sunday night CW programming has come to a halt. That means Valentine and Easy Money have been 'shut down' so that writers can 'catch up' on scripts.

Valentine looked cheesy and came across as a mediocre version of the show Charmed. Don't use visual effects if you don't have the proper budget. If MRC was trying to make smaller budgeted shows for the CW, then stick with simple stories and good drama. If hip effects and explosions are what the audience wants, then come up with the cash. But based on the success of CW's Gossip Girl, a great costume designer and some hot 20 somethings a show does make.

I can't comment on Easy Money too much since I deleted the recording after 6 minutes. There was nothing compelling about this series at all. It looked cheap and the actors are terrible. Don't even bother wasting your time on these shows. Production is stopping and though MRC claims they will finish the 13 episodes of each show, you can bet there will not be Season #2's in either's future.

MRC would have done better to produce another teen soap opera or better yet - have picked up MOONLIGHT! Yeah, that's right, you should have picked up CBS's vampire series and you would have hit it big on Sunday nights.

Kath & Kim (1.1)

2008-10-15T18:51:00.000-07:00

Thursday, October 9th @ 8:30 PM

NBC
Kath & Kim - Season 1, Episode #1 - Pilot

Recap: http://www.nbc.com/Kath_and_Kim/

Manatee: So Kath and Kim, lamest comedy of the season!

Marmot: You think so? What about Gary Unmarried and Worst Week? And, um...uh...what happened to comedy?

Marmot: There used to be tons of them on.

Manatee: Let's put it this way, I got through2 episodes of Gary Unmarried before I canceled the DVR and 1 episode of Worst Week. I deleted Kath & Kim after 10 minutes. I didn't laugh once.

Marmot: You should have kept watching. The guy from the David Blaine Street Magic You Tube Edition is her husband.

Manatee: I saw him. He was probably the hightlight. But that's exactly the problem with this show. What actor gets a network comedy off a YouTube project? Granted the Blaine series is hilarious, it's much funnier than Kath & Kim. Molly Shannon and Selma Blair had NO chemistry as mother and daughter. Putting aside that they are actually 8 years apart, I felt they were pretty boring and lame on screen.

Marmot: That was a big problem I had as well, the age difference. I don't buy them as mother and daughter, it just looked like them trying to play younger and older. Honestly, I think I wanted to like this show more than I actually did. I'm going to give it another episode, but not much after that.

Manatee: I also did not like the comedic style. Was it going for an arrested development feel, an office feel, a sitcom feel? I'm not sure what it wanted to be.

Marmot: It was kind of a mess. There was a running joke - serious and combative dialogue between the two that is suddenly interrupted by observation of something completely unrelated - ie, "oh look at this shirt". It was funny once. By the third time, not charming anymore. I can only hope this was a pilot-only thing.

Marmot: But what I'm really wondering is where is this show going to go? Kath gets married, Kim gets back with her husband, then what? That's maybe a season's worth of storyline. How long did the original run?

Manatee: I often wonder about the story line of most comedies. One could ask where are you going when you spend all 1/2 hour in an office? But at least you're laughing! I can't see myself watching this show ever again, I hope it gets canceled tomorrow.

Life on Mars (1.1)

2008-10-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

Thursday, October 9th, 2008 @ 10 PM

ABC

"Life on Mars" - Season 1, Episode #1 - Pilot

Recap: http://abc.go.com/primetime/lifeonmars/index?pn=recaps#t=120560&d=126808

"Can you find Michael Imperioli in this photo? We can't."

Marmot: As David Bowie once sang, "Is there life on Maaaaaaaaaaars?" That being said, I kind of like Life on Mars. And kind of don't.

Manatee: I enjoyed it as well to a certain extent. At the end of the day I have a few issues, one being that is is just 'another cop' show... and two if the series ends with him waking up out of a coma, then come on ABC. You need a better development team, because there has got to be something more creative than a coma!

Marmot: I'm resisting temptation to see how the original ended. All in all, this show is just The Singing Detective, but there were some really enjoyable parts, namely the conflict with Harvey Keitel and Michael Imperioli's mustache. Even if Harvey is phoning it in.

Manatee: I loved the mustache! I totally forgot it was / is a BBC series. If we watch that version, that would open up our Thursday night viewing...

Marmot: To watch the final season of ER? No thanks. I've never seen an episode and I'm not about to start now. How will I ever catch up to find out how Dr. Clooney's hair became Dr. Stamos' hair?"

Manatee: Good point. No need to start watching that show now. Did you have any thoughts on Life on Mars compared to CBS's Swingtown? Seeing that they were both set in the 70s.

Marmot: I would have liked Swingtown a lot better if Bruce had been hit by a car and magically transported to 2008. But both series use too much music.

Manatee: I do like the way that Life on Mars was shot. I think it almost has that 70s grainy look as opposed to the bright and cheery Swingtown look.

Marmot: Swingtown, in terms of photography, was terrible. This pilot looked fantastic.

Manatee: I liked the design more too. Though I was not alive in the 70s, I thought LoM looked more natural. Help Manatee out here Marmot.

Marmot: I was only alive for 7 months in the 70s, Manatee. I wasn't paying much attention to the decor.

Manatee: Anyhow, what do you think of the cast? Sort of unusual for a series huh?

Marmot: Yeah, it's pretty high end. I dig it, even though I think Gretchen Mol is a terrible actress.

Manatee: She sort of does suck.

Marmot: Never been a fan of hers. My biggest problem with the pilot is that it sort of glossed over the more interesting aspects, like trying to reconcile life in this era and focused more on the cop stuff, which was pretty standard.

Manatee: Well, what else are you going to do as a cop stuck in the 70s? Work stuff. I think Mol has the potential to be more that a coworker. Maybe they will go on a date to the disco, and then become swingers

Marmot: I just want to see him trying to order Chicken BBQ pizza and trying to watch Sportscenter.

Gary Unmarried (1.1)

2008-09-25T17:24:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 @ 8:30 PM
CBS
Gary Unmarried - Season 1, Episode #1 - Pilot

Recap: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/project_gary/recaps/

Manatee: Gary Unmarried

Marmot: Is terrible.

Manatee: I was going to say harmless.

Marmot: That's true. It was halfway tolerable through most of it...but then Ed Begley, Jr. showed up.

Manatee: But it's Jay Mohr, how bad can it be?

Marmot: Did you see Jerry Maguire? It can be bad. Of course, Action! makes up for that.

Manatee: Did you not like the marriage therapist turned fiance story line, or you didn't like Ed Begley Jr. ie: you hate the environment?

Marmot: I just don't like Ed Begley, Jr. If not liking him makes me a hater of the environment, then so be it. I just thought the impromptu therapy session was so ridiculous. Especially after watching weeks and weeks of the brilliance that is In Treatment.

Manatee: Agreed on the therapy session. I'm not sure it's the best way to spend 30 minutes of my life, but I don't see it causing too much harm either. This is probably a show my mom watches.

Marmot: My mom likes Two and a Half Men, so I'm sure she'll like this. I actually kind of fell asleep during this. Why was the girl hiding under the boy's bed?

Manatee: I guess because they were probably kissing and the mom knocked on the locked door

Marmot: I don't like the mom. She's mean.

Manatee: True, but what about that daughter? Pretty realistic teenager huh?

Marmot: Don't all 12 year olds worship Al Gore?

Manatee: No.

Marmot: I did when I was that age.

Manatee: I liked NKotB.

Marmot: They're like Al Gore.

Knight Rider (1.1)

2008-09-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 @ 8 PM
NBC
Knight Rider - Season 1, Episode #1 - "A Knight in Shining Armor"

Recap:http://www.nbc.com/Knight_Rider/recaps/#cat=1&mea=101&ima=51190

From the Live Feed: "KITT ran a sluggish first lap in the ratings race as NBC's series premiere of "Knight Rider" had starter problems Wednesday night. Despite having the highest level of viewer awareness of NBC's new fall shows, "Rider" (7.3 million viewers, 2.4 preliminary adults 18-49 rating and a 7 share) opened in third place in the 8 p.m. hour, slightly less than how game show "Deal or No Deal" performed in the slot last year. Its rating is also less than half what the "Rider" movie (5.0) pulled last February." http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/09/knight-rider-ra.html

Manatee here.

Did you see Knight Rider last night? I'm one of the guilty 7.3 million viewers. Let me tell you, watching this show was purely for M & M research, not entertainment. If entertainment was what I was looking for, I would have stared at a blank wall. The show lacks any and all production value, story development, and acting talent - three very integral parts of a television series. Fast car chases, poorly shot and edited, a series does not make. GivingKITT and Knight Industries lab a make over isn't fooling anyone. The cast is an ensemble of fairly unrecognizable names and faces, and with good reason. The story jumps all over the place, is lacks all intrigue and thrill.

I cannot believe that NBC puts product such as this on the air. That's why I barely watch any of their shows. They have been a struggling network for many years now after having been top dog. With the departure of shows like Friends and Will & Grace, NBC went down the tubes. BenSilverman , current co-chairman, seems very committed to NBC and to reviving NBC glory day series, but I'm not sure that method is going to work. Fox's is hitting the ratings big with Fringe, a new (though slightly recycled theme) show from solid performing producers who are hot. ABC has hits from a solid production company,Berlanti TV, in Eli Stone, Brothers and Sisters, and Dirty Sexy Money. CW is trying to resuscitate the old zip code but with similar results: terrible production value, dull cast, and lame story lines. I'm not sure NBC is on the right track following last winter'sWGA strike.

What else do we have to look forward to from NBC? Crusoe, based on the novel, Robinson Crusoe. My Own Worst Enemy, Christian Slater? Hello! Kings, an inspiring exploration of the timeless David vs. Goliath struggle. Kath and Kim, maybe will be funny, but considering how many directors andreshoots they've gone through... Heroes, personally I don't watch this show, but I hear the third season is boring. Life, where insiders say the writers and stories are struggling. ER is on it's last season. But there is always the Law & Orderfranchise. NBC seems to be adhering to a "blow things up" kind of fall season. If they don't watch out, they might explode themselves.

Marmot did not watch this show, but predicts that NBC will cancel the show after episode #6 (which should be roughly end of October or beginning of November). What do you think? Post below!

90210 (1.5)

2008-09-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 @ 8 PM

CW
90210 - Season 1, Episode #5 - "Wide Awake & Dreaming"

Recap: http://cwtv.com/shows/90210/episodes/105

Marmot: Dunnun nun nun nun nun nun nun CLAP CLAP

Manatee: Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll

Marmot: And nebisshy parents. WHERE IS BRANDON WALSH?!?! This show is unbearable...I don't know who anyone is except for Kelly and Brenda and they're not doing anything except running a play.

Manatee: They are boring. No one wants to see 2 old farts (aka people their teachers' age) dating. Kids these days want fresh faces.

Marmot: I want Steve Sanders, not Ethan...whatever his name is.

Manatee: I like Ty. I wish he was a cast regular.

Marmot: This is definitely not the 90210 of old. Remember towards the end of senior year when Dylan's dad was blown up in a car explosion by the mafia?

Manatee: Yeah, that rocked.

Marmot: I don't see anything like that happening on this show.

Manatee: No, this version is not as dark. But if the upcoming episodes are more like last nights, it might not be that bad. I think the back stabbing picked up last night. That's a good start

Marmot: I just don't know if I have the patience to wait for Ethan's dad to get blown up. That's a lot of show to get through. And when is Brenda going to talk about her family? Where are Jim and Cindy Walsh?

Manatee: China.

Marmot: Really? Why did they go there?

Manatee: Business.

Marmot: I forget what business they were in. The problem with this 90210 is the characters. I really couldn't care less about any of them, save for Annie and Dixon. Maybe Silver. But that's only IF they did something interesting.

Manatee: The show might get better if they move back to Kansas.

Marmot: What if that whole class moved to Kansas? The rich kids, too. That would be worth watching.

Manatee: It would be like 'Zip Code Swap.' - Fox's lately reality series!

Marmot: I know how to improve 90210. It came to me during last night's episode when Kelly said something to Brenda about remembering everything from high school. Get this - what if Kelly and Brenda were transported to an alternate dimension (ie, like they're in now), but in this dimension, they didn't exist as people, but characters on a TV show. And then you could have a scene with them watching the DVD's and remembering high school. How amazing would that be?

Manatee: I'm not sure I follow you.

Marmot: Like this show, 90210 takes place in an alternate reality, OUR reality. Where Kelly Taylor and Brenda Walsh were characters on a TV show, not real people. But Kelly and Brenda are magically transported to this reality from theirs, which exists are reality to them. Follow?

Manatee: Is this dimension scripted or reality? I have an idea. What if 90210 and Saved By the Bell merged?

Marmot: Are you kidding? I had this idea in 1991!

Manatee: I wish you had made it happen.

Marmot: I want there to be a Gossip Girl/90210 crossover event.

Manatee: They should consider that.

Marmot: It doesn't have to be the whole cast. Just send Chuck

Manatee: Stir up some trouble.

Marmot: Chuck should have his own show. Or better yet, just visit different shows. Like what if Chuck was behind everything on Fringe?

Manatee: That would be great. I also think he might be the son of "The Mentalist."

Worst Week (1.1)

2008-09-24T16:53:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 22nd, 2008 @ 9:30 PM
CBS
Worst Week - Season 1, Episode #1 - Pilot

Recap: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/worst_week/recaps/

Manatee here...

This show was some of the worst television I've seen in awhile. It was such a stupid 1/2 hour of TV, yet I laughed so hard I almost wet my pants. I'm not a fan of comedy series: Old Christine makes me want to poke out my eyes; 'Til Death makes me want to puke; How I Met Your Mother puts me to sleep; Big Bang causes gas pains; and Worst Week falls into all of these categories. Yet I still found myself laughing. Is it that I have a predisposition to hate anything that comes in a 1/2 hour format? Do I hate to laugh?

Watching this show does not challenge my brain, nor does it garner an emotional response. It doesn't aim to ponder deep life questions or world issues. I suppose there are a lot of people out there who just want to laugh at mindless television antics, but I'm not one of them. Worst Week is just a TV rehash of the film Meet the Parents. Tough dad hates daughter's boyfriend. Boyfriend keeps messing up; he can't do anything right. You could predict everything that was going to happen in the scenes. I'm not sure where the rest of the season will go, but I don't feel invested enough to find out. I think the pilot was good for an initial viewing (and good for a few laughs), but I don't think I'm going to bother with offering precious DVR space to Worst Week. It's just not a show worth watching each week.

Gossip Girl (2.4)

2008-09-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 22nd @ 8 PM
CW
Gossip Girl - Season 2, Episode #4 - "The Ex-Files"

Recap: http://cwtv.com/shows/gossip-girl/episodes/204

"Where Does He Get Those Wonderful Clothes?"

Manatee: You know what I liked about last night's GG? It was a pretty stinky ep overall, but I like that S is back on top. We never saw her as Queen first season but you got the impression that S's departure opened the doors for B's reign. I like this potential role reversal, and I want to see S squash Dan.

Marmot: ...These people go to high school?!?!

Manatee: I'm not sure about that actually.

Marmot: I think that's what was implied last night. So is Serena the Mayor now? Is that what happened?

Manatee: Yes. She somehow took over ruling the school again. You see early in ep 1.01 S returns to school after having been away for some time and Blair is not happy that she is back. But overall S seems like a nice girl. Now the bitch is back. All season S struggled with being a good girl... but now we question what was S really is? Is she the nice girl Dan fell in love with? Or the bitch everyone knows she may be deep down inside? The bigger question is, why does Chuck care? I think he just wants to take B down so she is so depressed she can't say no to his advances anymore.

Marmot: Do you think the other people in that school besides the 7 or so main characters even care about what goes on in their world?

Manatee: Did you see the stack of files B had? I'd say so. How many high schoolers care about academics? Be honest, they are there because they have to be so why not focus on the social aspect? Get an A or be top dog? What matters more when you are 16?

Marmot: I couldn't even distinguish what being top dog means to them. Its not the ability to get into a club and buy alcohol, because the whole school was at that bar. It's not money, because they all have more than god.

Manatee: It's about being feared, bowed down to, and having an entourage. Having POWER!

Marmot: Like the power to convince 2 British royals to go back to there country? I think Blair might be the most powerful person in the world.

Manatee: You haven't seen Serena in action yet.

Marmot: Best line of the night was Serena's mom: "I'm just trying to be a good mother" when she was questioned about the big breakfast on the table. Since when is being a good mother telling the help to make breakfast?

Manatee: She's trying. Cut her some slack. She just got back from a long and tiresome honeymoon to a millionaire who spent most of his time out of town on business.

Marmot: And now she has no friends except for 29 Year Old Dad and his new girlfriend.

Manatee: I'm surprise, Marmot, you have not commented yet on Chuck's wardrobe yet.

Marmot: I'm saving the best for last. All I have to say is, does The Joker know that Chuck is wearing his suit?

Fringe (1.1)

2008-09-23T16:57:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 @ 8 PM
FOX
Fringe - Season 1, Episode # 1 - Pilot
Recap: http://fox.com/fringe/recaps/s1_e1.htm

Manatee: So Marmot, do you have a favorite new show thus far this season?

Marmot: I do… It's 90210. Just kidding. It's Fringe.

Manatee: You gave me a heart attack for a sec there.

Marmot: What if the cast of Fringe and 90210 swapped places?

Manatee: In a weird way, I think it would work. I already have a hard time buying Pacy as the genius on Fringe.

Marmot: I like his dad, though. He's like the science fictional Kramer.

Manatee: I have to agree. The performance is great, and really convincing. I like the comedic play between him and Olivia's assistant.

Marmot: Do FBI agents typically have assistants?

Manatee: I'm not too clear on that. I suppose she's not a 'personal assistant' and is more of a 'junior agent' if you will.

Marmot: Do you think she still has to roll calls?

Manatee: Probably. What did you like about the pilot? I enjoyed it, and I'm not that huge a fan of 'sci-fi.'

Marmot: Well first, I thought it was shot beautifully. Some of the shots were breathtaking. Overall, I really liked it. A little bit of X-Files, a little LOST and a great cast.

Manatee: I like that there is going to be a new case each week, but there is an overall larger scheme here. I'm interested to learn more about that company. Though I am a little sick of the thread in series about a large corporation taking over and controlling America. Not that I know that's the direction they are headed. But it feels that way.

Marmot: I'm a little confused on what this company does. I think they're supposed to be Microsoft, but bigger.

Manatee: Did you see their office? It's huge and white and spacious. And the woman had a fake crazy computerized hand. It's biazzro-land.

Marmot: That was one thing that bothered me. The show is somewhat based in psuedo-science, but a super-advanced robotic hand? That's pretty much fiction.

Manatee: That we know of... 'find the pattern.'

Marmot: Oh yeah, the pattern. I've heard that the answer to the whole show is in those things in all the promotional material. So the answer is Frog, Leaf,Apple.

Marmot: That was easy. What happens when you solve the pattern?

Marmot: I just did. It's frog, leaf, apple.

Manatee: Is the earth going to explode now?

Marmot: um.....yes. I think maybe they have to merge. Like the frog has to eat the apple?

Manatee: How long do you see a show like this lasting for? If it was purely procedural, like a Law & Order case each week, maybe it could last 19 years too. But this pattern thing seems to imply a natural end (at some point).

Marmot: How long do frogs live for?

Manatee: Roughly 14 years. But then again, some are only 2-3 years. Really it varies.

Marmot: I think that's going to decide how long the show continues. Well, consider the X-Files. It lasted 9 seasons on a mixed serial/episodic format.

Manatee: The series definitely is inviting a lot of discussion. I'm very curious about what is going on.

Marmot: Do you think that the guy from L O S T is in on it?

Manatee: Ben?

Marmot: No, Lance Reddick. He plays Matthew Abaddon on L O S T and the FBI agent that hates her on Fringe.

Manatee: Oh yeah, that guy. I knew he looked familiar. Well it's hard to say too much since you have not watched episode #2.

Marmot: Is it bad that I've watched more episodes of 90210 than Fringe?

Manatee: YES! What are you thinking?!

Privileged (1.1, 1.2)

2008-09-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, September 9th & 16th, 2008 @ 9 PM
CW
"Privileged" - Season 1 - Pilot and Episode # 2 -"Pilot" & "All About Honesty"
http://cwtv.com/shows/privileged/episodes

Manatee here.

I thought I'd give you a few quick thoughts on CW's new series, 'Privileged.' This show was somewhat of a surprise to me... I wasn't even sure I was going to watch it. But if you are a 'Gossip Girl,' '90210,' or 'OC' fan, might I suggest a screening of this series. I saw some clips this summer that were pretty boring, but for the sake of this blog, I watched the first two hours. The show starts off in Manhattan following Megan and her terrible celebrity tabloid (TMZ-esque) job. Before the first commercial break, she is fired but simultaneously sent to McMansion, Florida for a nanny / tutor job. JoAnna Garcia as Megan is great. A real breath of fresh air, quirky yet charming. If you watch the episode, you'll find yourself really liking her character.

The show is not quite as entertaining as season one of 'Gossip Girl' which allowed viewers a great chance to escape reality and be immersed in the upper class socialites of Manhattan. You do get a peek at high society, Palm Beach style. Charity events, huge beach mansions, and ivy league aspiring
teens in a new zip code. It also gives us "20-somethings" a good look at a girl trying to make it in the wide world of 'entertainment.' Megan wants to write, but not trash - real hard hitting journalism for people that care. The drama she faces is keeping her wild and wacky charges in line, flirting with a cute and rich neighbor, finding time to write, dealing with family baggage, and standing up for herself to her strong-willed and successful (female) boss - some normal issues the working world faces.

Lucy Kate Hale (from 'Bionic Woman') and Ashley Newbrough are cute as Megan's students and aspiring heirs. Their mischief, so far, is fun, light and good natured. No cocaine snorting, 911 calling parties here, yet I still find myself very interested in their lives as well as Megan's. I was disappointed in Lily (played by Kristina Apgar). I found her annoying and out of place, acting wise. She was not as strong as the other actors. I'm geared up for next week. I hope episode #3 stays on par with the first two. If you checked it out, comment below and tell us your thoughts.

Gossip Girl (2.3)

2008-09-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 15th, 2008 @ 8 PM

Gossip Girl - Season 2 - Episode #3 - "The Dark Night"

Serena (Blake Lively) and Dan (Penn Badgley) are forced to deal with
their unspoken problems while trapped in an elevator during a citywide
blackout. In a humorous twist, Blair (Leighton Meester) questions the
lack of passion in her relationship with Marcus (guest star Patrick
Heusinger), while at the same time Chuck (Ed Westwick) appears to have
lost his "passion" for any woman other than Blair. Meanwhile, Nate
(Chace Crawford) struggles between his feelings for Vanessa (Jessica
Szohr) and his more-complicated-by-the-day relationship with Catherine
(guest star Madchen Amick). Jenny (Taylor Momsen) risks losing her
internship when Eleanor (Margaret Colin) catches Jenny critiquing one
of the Eleanor Waldorf designs. Matthew Settle also stars. Janice Cooke
directed the episode written by John Stephens. (CWtv.com)

Hey Gossip Girl fans!

Manatee Here.

Over it: Dan and Serena! Last week I was excited that they were back together, now I don't care. Their drama is super silly even for high schoolers. Though I did like those 3 pre-teen girls in the park - they were scary looking! That's what happens when you're 8 and you dress like you are 28.

Are you kidding me: Blair mistaking Chuck for Marcus! When did she become a little vixon?! Why was Blair in such a rush to get into Marcus' pants? I know he's a lord and all, but give it a few weeks will you Blair.

Not interested: Jenny and her internship with Eleanor.

Noticed: Rufus' weird looking date! Is she going to be a regular? And when did Rufus have time to meet this chick?

Overall: I'm feeling a little 'over' this show. I need some more spice otherwise I'm out. My DVR could use the extra space.

XOXO,

Manatee

America's Funniest Home Videos

2008-09-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

What's happening to this world? RATINGS DATA:
Top 20 programs from 09/08/08 through 09/14/08 Rank Total # of
Viewers Total Viewer Rating 1 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL 17830 6.2 2
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK 13560 4.7 3 60 MINUTES 12540 4.4 4 SAT NIGHT
FOOTBALL 11940 4.2 5 AMERICA'S GOT TALENT-WED 11700 4.1 6 AMERICA'S GOT
TALENT 11610 4.1 7 FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 10850 3.8 8 AMERICA'S GOT
TALENT 9/11 9830 3.4 9 DEAL OR NO DEAL-MON 9650 3.4 10 TWO AND A HALF
MEN 9180 3.2 11 BONES 9150 3.2 12 FRINGE 9130 3.2 13 CSI 9040 3.2
14 FLASHPOINT 8680 3.0 15 CRIMINAL MINDS 8360 2.9 16 20/20-FRI 8070
2.8 17 SAT NIGHT FTBL PRE-GAME 7860 2.7 18 BIG BROTHER 10-THU 7820 2.7
19 LAW AND ORDER:SVU 7610 2.7 20 AMER FUNN HOME VIDEOS 7510 2.6

Gossip Girl (2.1 & 2.2)

2008-09-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 1st & 8th, 2008 @ 8 PM

Gossip Girl - Season 2 - Episodes #1 & #2

"Summer, Kind of Wonderful"

#1: As the summer draws to a close in the Hamptons, Serena (Blake Lively)and Nate (Chace Crawford) have everyone fooled into thinking they are a couple to cover up the fact that Nate has been hooking up with a married older woman (guest star Amick) and Serena has been secretly mourning her break-up with Dan (Penn Badgley). Blair (Leighton Meester) returns from abroad with a hot guy on her arm (guest star Patrick Heusinger), making a very jealous Chuck (Ed Westwick) question his decision to leave Blair stranded at the heliport. Dan has spent the summer assisting a famous author (guest star McInerney), but decides to head to the Hamptons to see how things stand with Serena after a summer spent apart. While interning for Eleanor Waldorf's company, Jenny (Taylor Momsen) sneaks an invite to a much-coveted Hamptons' White Party at which Eric (Connor Paolo) introduces her to socialite Tinsley Mortimer. Matthew Settle also stars. J. Miller Tobin directed the episode written by Joshua Safran. (CWtv.com)

"Never Been Marcused"

#2: Blair (Leighton Meester) is over the moon that she is dating royalty and has every intention of becoming a royal herself, but a scheming Chuck (Ed Westwick) has other plans for Blair and hew new love, Marcus (guest star Patrick Heusinger). Serena (Blake Lively) and Dan (Penn Badgley) agree to keep their recent hook-ups a secret from their friends and family until they figure out what all this means for their relationship. Meanwhile, Nate (Chace Crawford) learns the downside to having an affair with a hot older woman, Catherine (guest star Madchen Amick), who also happens to be married. Taylor Momsen, Jessica Szohr and Matthew Settle also star. Michael Fields directed the episode written by executive producer Stephanie Savage. (CWtv.com)

Hey Gossip Girl fans!

Marmot and Manatee Here.

Marmot: What a lame summer for television. There were almost no new shows worth watching. Swingtown was boring and the only new show I really liked was The Middleman. Which has been canceled.

Manatee: Agreed. In Plain Sight was disappointing.? It was a summer of crap. The question is will the fall be any better?

Marmot: YES. Because Gossip Girl is back!

Manatee: I'm not so sure Marmot. I'm feeling a little down on GG this season so far.

Marmot: For me, the more ridiculous the show is, the better. And this season is REE DICK YOU LUSS

Manatee: I find it just plain ol' annoying... A NNOY ING!

Marmot: For instance...SPOTTED: Chuck Bass in a Riddler costume. (see above)

Manatee: I'd have to admit, that probably was the highlight! WHO CARES MOMENT: Jenny and her fashion career. The drama does not seem like it's really gotten going yet this season.

Marmot: OVERHEARD: 29-Year-Old Dad name dropping Tanya Donnelly (formally of the band Belly). Does anyone who likes this show know who she is? Why not just make up a name?

Manatee: Maybe she needs the publicity?

Marmot: She should start composing music for TV shows like Liz Phair has.

Manatee: FOR REAL: Thoughts on S and Dan getting back together?

Marmot: Who cares? Serena looks like she was supposed to be on 90210. The original 90210. And Dan looks like Jon Mayer, which makes me hate him.

Manatee: I think this will become a Ross - Rachel thing. Together, not together, supposed to be together, just hooking up, pregnant, not together, together, and so forth.

Marmot: Will Dan wear an armadillo costume?

Manatee: One can only hope. Then he will be a real rival to Chuck's attire

Marmot: I wish Chuck would start wearing more animal costumes.

Manatee: Such as?

Marmot: Giraffe.

Manatee: Hippo.

Marmot: Do you think that Nate's new milf-capade is actually a con artist, conspiring with Blair's new boyfriend? Because I do.

Manatee: I kind of had that notion at first as well. But she did give Nate a large stack of cash.? What would she get out of that?

Marmot: Nate didn't look at it. Maybe it's Monopoly money? Or, it takes money to make money.

Manatee: Interesting. But since the FBI seized Nate' s family's money, not sure where she is headed unless it's for Blair and Nate is a fun side trip. Also, what was up with Chuck's loan to Nate's mom? Can a 16 year old do that?

Marmot: Of course he can. He's Chuck Bass.

90210 (1.1, 1.2, 1.3)

2008-09-10T16:24:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, September 2nd & 9th, 2008 @ 8 PM

90210 - Season 1 - Pilot & Episodes #2-3

"We're Not In Kansas Anymore" & "Jet Set"

Harry Wilson (Rob Estes, "Women's Murder Club"), new principal of West Beverly Hills High School, returns from Kansas to his childhood home of Beverly Hills with his wife Debbie (Lori Loughlin, "In Case of Emergency"), their daughter Annie (Shenae Grimes, "Degrassi: The Next Generation") and adopted son Dixon, (Tristan Wilds, "The Wire") to care for Harry's mother, former television star Tabitha Wilson (Jessica Walter, "Arrested Development"). On their first day at West Bev, Annie and Dixon encounter Ethan (Dustin Milligan, "Runaway"), the star lacrosse player she met a few summers ago; Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord, "Nip/Tuck"), the spoiled rich girl whose sole focus is her Sweet Sixteen party; Silver (Jessica Stroup, "Prom Night"), the free-spirited girl who later gossips about Annie on her blog, and Navid (Michael Steger, "Criminal Minds"), editor of Blaze News. When Naomi fails to complete an assignment, English teacher Ryan Matthews (Ryan Eggold, "Dirt") and guidance counselor Kelly Taylor (special guest star Jennie Garth, "Beverly Hills, 90210"), bring the problem to Harry, who quickly realizes that keeping secrets about his past is going to be impossible. Dixon impresses his peers when he tries out for the lacrosse team, but has to deal with jealous teammates who will stop at nothing to sabotage him. Annie misses the deadline to audition for the spring musical but sparks fly when she meets the leading actor Ty (guest star Adam Gregory), one of
the most popular students on campus. Ty impresses Annie by flying her to San Francisco for dinner in his private jet, but Annie fails to mention her plans to her parents. Special guest star Shannen Doherty reprises her role as Brenda Walsh. Mark Piznarski directed the first episode, written by Rob Thomas and Gabe Sachs & Jeff Judah (#101). Wendey Stanzler directed the second episode, written by Gabe Sachs & Jeff Judah (#102). (Cwtv.com)

"Lucky Strike"

Annie (Shenae Grimes) and Dixon's (Tristan Wilds) Friday night plans come to a screeching halt when they learn that Harry (Rob Estes) and Debbie (Lori Loughlin) have planned a family bowling night. When Ethan (Dustin Milligan), Navid (Michael Steger) and Silver (Jessica Stroup) show up at the bowling alley, Harry and Debbie realize they have lost control of their family outing but encourage their kids to spend time with their friends. Ty (guest star Adam Gregory) shows up at the bowling alley, causing Annie to choose between spending time with him or Ethan. Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord) deals with a disappointing evening with her father and destroys a gift from him in a violent rage. Dixon discovers Silver asleep in her car, prompting Kelly (guest star Jennie Garth) to confront their mother Jackie (guest star Ann Gillespie, "Beverly Hills, 90210") about the repercussions of her alcoholic behavior. Jessica Walter also stars. Mark Piznarski directed the episode written by Jill Gordon. (Cwtv.com)

Hi 90210-ers!

Manatee here with some thoughts on the last 3 hours of the new '90210.'

First off, the acting on this new series, SUCKS! Whoever cast this show does not deserve to work in this town again. The girls are all anorexic looking, they make me want to eat 24/7 so I never look that bad. But not only is this a horribly unattractive cast, they cannot act well at all. Annie's excitement about her flight to San Fran was atrocious. I don't buy Rob Estes as the dad. He looks about 5 years older than his adopted son. And his struggle "dad vs. principal' is a lousy one. I also think that between the 3 hours already aired, there are no controversies worth watching. The writers introduce issues in the first 10 minutes that get resolved by minute number 58. Do the writers need a refresher course in drama and character arcs?

For example, in 'Lucky Strike," Silver has this whole dilemma with her 'abusive' mom. By the end, the problem seems to be fixed. Why wouldn't she hide her problem a little more from her friends. And why would that Women's Shelter turn away a minor that has an abusive mother. Sure Silver has a roof over her head to go back to, but I think a social worker should report something like that. Not to mention, as a principal, I think Harry needs to report the problem to a law official not just Silver's sister. Are the writer's writing like every episode is their last? I can't really blame them with TV's cancellation policy and track record, but come on, give us some time to get into the stories.

Additionally, Naomi learns her father is having an affair (duh! Saw that one coming...) and she is torn apart. When she works up the courage to tell her mother (about 3 minutes later, wow what a struggle!) her mom already knows and is okay with her husband's cheating ways! Oh Beverly Hills. I see where this is going. Naomi's mom will realize that not every husband cheats on his wife and will want to rekindle her love with Harry. Watch out lady from Full House, you're in for a cat fight.

The only semi-interesting mystery that arose was Kelly's 4 year old son. As a former 90210 fan, I knew that Kelly married Dylan but that was about circa 1999. She also dated Brandon, but the math doesn't quite work out. Everyone keeps referring to Sammy's father as 'him.' What's the big secret?! It's so obviously Steve. Kelly's clue gave that away (Note, she did date everyone on the show except David but that would have been a difficult sell - incest - in the 90's on Fox prime time). And then the kid has blond curly hair (like Steve's SOS pad)! Cat's out of the bag without you spelling it out, writers.

However, I can't help but feel this story is of little intrigue to anyone who is under the age of 25 right now. I know we discussed alittle bit about this spinoff concept vs. remake. I wish they left this as more of a straight remake and took out the Brenda, Kelly, etc. characters. I was young when the original came out, and perhaps seeing a revamped Peach Pit or Kelly in WBHS brings a little nostalgia ''round, but to a new generation of pre-teens yearning to stay up late to finish this 2 hour premiere, they couldn't care less about Kelly and her son or Brenda and her acting. They probably didn't go to CBS.com to catch up on the original series.

That being said, is this new series as edgy as the original? Is it a product of me being older? It felt a little flat to me. The drama was very false and manufactured. The problems seem pretty unrealistic in a Gossip Girl way, but not as entertaining or enveloped in escapism as the aforementioned. This is a big mansion, huge private jet kind of show - an LA Gossip Girl, but just without all the fun and glamor of last year's hit.

Swingtown (1.10)

2008-08-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 8th @ 10 PM CBS Swingtown - Season 1, Episode #10 - "Running on Empty"

Bruce and Susan go to the cabin to reconnect with each other and their children, but their weekend ends with Laurie running away and Susan realizing that she has feelings for Roger. Janet and Roger see a therapist and Tom and Trina resume swinging. (CBS.com)

Marmot: Swingtown is lame.

Manatee: It's so ridiculous. I don't think any of the writers have families because they have no idea what it is like to be a part of family drama. It's so forced and completely absurd.

Marmot: Bruce and Susan are terrible, terrible parents. So are Roger and Janet, actually. I haven't seen them interact with their son since the pilot. Actually, when you think about it, the only people I would trust with a child are Tom and Trina, which is kind of ironic.

Manatee: That is funny. They might see an orgy or 2 but at least they'd have food and something of normal parental love. This show has become boring. Do you think CBS said,” tone it down,” or was it a flawed premise to begin with?

Marmot: I'm pretty sure it's the toning down. I think all the sponsors got scared away. There was an ad for Time Life Books or something similar during the last episode. In prime time television!

Manatee: I don't think there is anyway this show is coming back for a season 2, and frankly, I'm not that disappointed.

Marmot: Me either. The only thing I'm interested in is to see if Roger and Susan get together.

Manatee: Well, the previews for next Friday night show Roger kissing Susan! Whether they screw over their respective partners and get together, I'm not sure... but it looks like Roger is taking the plunge.

Marmot: Holy crap! It's only episode 10! Where is this show going?

Manatee: I think there are only 12 total anyhow, so they probably feel the pressure of wrapping it up. These days so many shows don't come back that you almost feel like every season finale needs to be a series finale.

Marmot: I think writings staffs need to plan on telling as complete a story as possible in their initial order. There's nothing worse than being a fan of a show and the proverbial rug gets pulled out from under you.

Manatee: Where would you like to see the next 2 episodes go?

Marmot: I'd like to see Roger and Susan hook up and live happily ever after, Bruce go back to Pirates of the Caribbean where he belongs, Janet go to live with Tom and Trina for the rest of their lives and the daughter given a nose.

Special Report: Flashpoint vs. Swingtown

2008-07-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

Special Report: How would win in a fight, Sgt. Gregory Parker or Trina Decker?
Someone at CBS has been reading Manatee & Marmot Destroy TV: The Blog. Check out Variety's article on the switch involving Swingtown and new comer Flashpoint. (We know a good show when we see it)

What do you think about the switch and what does it mean for the future of Swingtown? Comment below.

'Swingtown' swaps time slots; 'Flashpoint' takes over Thursday spot

Apparently flashing is in – and swinging is out – at CBS.

Eye net has swapped time periods for racy '70s drama “Swingtown” and more traditional cop drama “Flashpoint,” effective this week.

“Flashpoint,” a Canadian co-production, has been handed the more desirable post-“CSI” slot on Thursday nights at 10 p.m. “Swingtown,” meanwhile, will take over “Flashpoint’s” Friday 10 p.m. slot.

The Toronto-based “Flashpoint” has been a Friday ratings winner for both CBS abd CTV the past two weeks. Since its July 11 premiere, the show has averaged 7.6 million viewers on CBS. Its two telecasts have also averaged a 1.7 rating and 6 share.

North of the border, just over 900,000 Canadians tuned into episode 2 last Friday, more than double the next closest 10 p.m. competitor.

“Flashpoint,” from Pink Sky Entertainment and Avamar Entertainment in association with the CTV and CBS Paramount stars Enrico Colantoni and former Canuck rock star Hugh Dillon as members of an elite police squad and is the first Canuck series since “Due South” to air on “reverse” simulcast in the U.S.

“Swingtown,” meanwhile, has earned decent critical reviews but has struggled to find a ratings groove. Show has averaged 6.5 million viewers and a 2.2 rating/7 share among adults 18-49.

They've Cut out the Middleman

2008-07-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

Special Report: The Middleman

We brought it up awhile ago when ABC Family changed the time from 8 pm to 7 pm/10 pm showings of The Middleman. Then Brenda Hampton's series, Secret Life of the American Teenager, got an additional order, ie: more episodes. Now, you're hearing it here first: Middleman has been terminated. Instead of the original 12 episodes, they will produce just 11. You only have 6 more episodes in which to say goodbye. Goodbye Middleman. Goodbye Wendy. Farewell and so long.

Flashpoint (1.2)

2008-07-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 18th @ 10 PM CBS "Flashpoint" - Season 1, Episode #2 - "First in Line"
A desperate father turns a policeman's gun on a surgical team, demanding a heart transplant for his dying daughter.

Manatee: The Strategic Response Unit did not disappoint again this week (for the most part). I love how the episode opens into the action and then backs up. Though I'm sure there is a more creative way of telling the story, I enjoy the lack of a slow or boring teaser / set up. Show me the good stuff in the first 30 seconds. Again this week, the story was very emotional, and the performances were great. You really get a sense of what each character is going through. If you didn't feel for the father (Jack Swanson played by Henry Czerny) then you don't have a heart. The show deals with very intense situations in a very delicate and thoughtful way. The story makes you look inside - what would you do if you were in this position? Would you just say ok and go home with your dying kid? How hard would you fight? How unfair can life be? These are questions that, hopefully, you don't have to deal with now and never will. But it's a real test of character to think about yourself in these shoes and to answer honestly.

The fact that the drama revolves around this ensemble cast is also working for it. On a show like In Plain Sight, for example, each week's procedural story reflects Mary's personal issues, ie: her father's gambling issues, her love life, and so on. Here, with so many team members to choose from each week, we can relate personally to a different character. This week it was Elliot, ie: Sgt. Gregory Parker (Enrico Colantoni). His performance was excellent proving that just because you are a master hostage negotiator doesn't mean you lack feeling (though he did break the rule of not getting personal). The show is more believable with various characters to engage with each week.

My only concern with the episode was the ending where the patient (spoiler alert!) agreed to give the little girl (Phoebe Swanson played by Jordan Todosey) the heart at literally the last second. By giving up the heart in the last moments of the show it negates all the action preceding it. Why didn't he just give up the organ to the little girl in the first place? Wouldn't he want to keep the peace and the jeopardy that someone innocent in the hospital could die? Or was he just too selfish until he had an hour to think about it? Why not speak up sooner? There are two ways this would have worked better:

1- The little girl died while the team was still negotiating with the father. Tragic ending, I know, but at least the last 40 minutes of action aren't eliminated by one single sentence (which we don't even hear).

or 2- Keep the same ending but show the patient struggling with this negotiation as you do the other characters. If you were an older man, and people were arguing with guns over a heart for you or a young girl, what would you say? Maybe he should have struggled with the decision first, been a cocky bastard and wanted the heart. But then as he sees the little girl and the father's struggle maybe he starts to melt, maybe he tried to intervene but was not able to. It would have been more dramatic to see some struggle instead of an 11th hour decision to let the girl have her heart.

Aside from that small flaw, I still think the episode overall is some decently entertaining summer programming. How do you think this show compares to the short lived series Stand Off on Fox? That was also about hostage negotiators but seemed less dramatic and emotional, and more about stuff blowing up. I'll admit I was not much of an avid viewer of the show, so leave us your comments if you want to chime in.

Fear Itself (1.6)

2008-07-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 17th @ 10 PM NBC Fear Itself - Season 1 (aka: the only season), Episode 6 - "New Year's Day"

"Predicable and Cliche: Two Words that best describe what show?"

A young woman wakes up in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by horrifying zombies. She must fight the murderous creatures at every turn, right up until the shocking, horrifying end. (NBC.com)

Manatee: I never thought it was possible to f-up a zombie movie till last night.

Marmot: That was terrible. Terrible. The zombie equation is simple: zombies + people trying to survive = entertainment. That's all you have to do. But when you complicate it so that it looks like this: (Z+P)/F X T = garbage.

Manatee: There was nothing good about this episode. In fact it was so bad, I think a brainless zombie wrote it.

Marmot: That equation was (Zombie+People trying to survive) divided by Flashbacks times Twist, by the way. And a zombie probably did write it. Maybe that 12 year old zombie that popped up at the end.

Manatee: I feel like they could have come up with a better twist than they did. But that aside, did the writers know anything about zombies, or have their assistants research zombies?

Marmot: I don't think so. With monsters and such, there are certain liberties you can take - vampires don't always have to be afraid of the cross, werewolves don't always have to be killed by a silver bullet - but zombies can't have emotions. That's the whole point to being a zombie.

Manatee: Exactly. Do zombies target people they hated as humans and enact revenge? And what was up with the "happy Zombie couple" at the end? Do zombies have relationships in zombie world?

Marmot: No! Zombies just want to eat brains. That's all they do. In some movies, like Land of the Dead, they've gotten a little smarter, but they definitely don't understand concepts like affection and revenge.

Manatee: From the limited research I did on Wikipedia, I learned that they rarely have speech or free will, and have limited to no memory of their previous life. I'm all about reinventing the wheel or taking a little creative license but Zombies are a cult classic and it's just wrong to mess it up this much.

Marmot: I couldn't figure out when exactly she became a zombie.

Manatee: My guess, after Kevin (the kid) bit Eddie, he went into her room and bit her and the spider. Because if you notice the night before her pet spider was dead at 4:30 AM, he was alive. Zombie Spider! But if she OD-ed and was dead (Eddie was performing CPR), then Kevin bit her, would she become a Zombie? I'm not sure on that rule. Like with Vampires, you bite a human who is alive and turn them. If she was already dead, and a zombie ate her, would she turn? Or maybe she was barely alive. That's my thought. Why it took her 2 hours to wake up from her zombie slumber, I don't know. Denial maybe?

Marmot: I don't think zombies feed on dead people. Maybe if it thought she wasn’t dead, it would, but usually zombies like the hunt. They're like tigers in that sense.

Manatee: Well someone bit her while she was down.

Marmot: Coming back to the twist in this episode - the reason twists in Shyamalan movies work is that you plant clues for it throughout the movie/episode. GIANT SPOILER ALERT - You believe that Bruce Willis is dead, because when you look back, it was plainly obvious. He was shot, no one could see him but Haley Joel Osment, etc. But in this, there was no evidence for her being a zombie anywhere until we were just told that she was one. That would be like watching all of Men in Black and then at the end Will Smith pulls off a mask and he's an alien.

Manatee: Enough with the Fear Itself twists! You don't need a twist to be good. But what's also of interest to me is that in these shows (specifically this one but also other horror projects) the characters have NEVER seen a horror movie before. Hello, pick up a weapon, or two! Looking back, she was already a Zombie but still, it's like the horror and thriller genre do not exist in their world. I know we're prepared for Z-Day.

Marmot: Wait a second. If she was a zombie, how was she able to carry around a flashlight?

Manatee: Or use a cell phone, or drive a car, or barricade a door?

Marmot: And you're right. We've been preparing for Z-Day for years, and most of that knowledge is applicable to other apocalyptic events.

Manatee: Very useful information indeed. Why do we punish ourselves with such horrendous writing? That dialogue was atrocious. Especially the bar scenes with Helen and James.

Marmot: What the hell were they even talking about? In fact, what the hell was anyone talking about? People kept telling her she was different than anyone else - was she already a zombie? Has she been a zombie her whole life?

Manatee: Maybe that's the case. That's why everyone around her is always dying. And why the old man blamed her for the whole mess.

Marmot: What a stupid episode. I don't think we should watch this show anymore, it's making us stupider.

Manatee: There is nothing talented about this show. I hate to say the DP and Editor are talentless hacks, because I assume that those crappy creative look choices are made by the bad producers on the show and are not a reflection of the crews’ talent. But then again, the look stinks so bad maybe the production value is just so low (and Canadian) you have little choice over the look.

If you like this series, comment below! We always welcome opposite opinions.

The Middleman (1.5)

2008-07-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 14th @ 10 PM

ABC Family

The Middleman - Season 1, Episode 5 - "The Flying Fish Zombification"

Marmot: I am officially a fan of The Middleman.

Manatee: Why?

Marmot: I just really like this show for some reason. It's light and fluffy and really silly.

Manatee: Who do you think watches this show? And/or who do you think is supposed to watch this show?

Marmot: I think it's supposed to appeal to teenagers, maybe tweeners? Nerds like me?

Manatee: You're not a nerd, Marmot. I was thinking tweens too. It is a silly show, and I like that about it, but it's sort of fading for me. The uniqueness isn't as interesting anymore. I would like to know where these stories come from? The graphic novel? Or new ideas? They are quite weird.

Marmot: Trout eating zombies? It's so bizarre, it’s comical. I really like the Middleman character. There hasn't been an actor this stiff on primetime television since Data.

Manatee: Does that make you wonder why he likes Wendy so much? She's the complete opposite.

Marmot: Opposites do attract. That cat that Paula Abdul used to dance with taught us that.

Manatee: Maybe he'll be loosening up soon. He seemed to be jealous of Wendy's freedom last episode.

Marmot: I think he's also jealous of her friends and life away from being a Middleman/person. Does he live at Middleman HQ?

Manatee: I get that sense. He's got everything he needs. The big question is when will he hook up with Lacey?

Marmot: I hope soon. That is going to be a great story arc, when Wendy wakes up to find her boss making eggs in her kitchen.

Manatee: You just wrote it! That's the scene!

Marmot: Better yet: if he's only wearing a towel.

Manatee: And he bends over.

Marmot: Then they get a call from that old lady robot in the office and have to talk in code in front of Lacey and she thinks they're having an affair.

Manatee: OMG! What could be better?

In Plain Sight (1.7)

2008-07-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 13, 2008

In Plain Sight 1.7 – "Iris Doesn’t Live Here Anymore"

One of these kids is doing is doin' their own thing, one of these kids is not the same...

Iris McBride, 17, and her boyfriend Lawrence Parker, are walking down a block in an East L.A. neighborhood minding their own business when a car pulls up alongside them and the Hispanic teens inside begin harassing them. The young couple tries to ignore their taunting, but when the guy in the car pulls out a Mac-10 and starts spraying bullets everywhere, Lawrence springs into action and jumps in front of Iris, taking several bullets for her. It's bad enough for Iris that her boyfriend has just been shot almost to death, but the fact that the shooters were members of one of the most dangerous gangs in the country makes matters much worse-not only for Iris but also for her entire family. Five hours later, Mary and Marshall have arrived in Los Angeles to transport the McBride family to Albuquerque, who haven't yet been told that they'll have about ten minutes to gather up their belongings and leave their lives behind-immediately. Her father, Warren McBride, a successful doctor, is livid when he learns that just because his daughter disobeyed him and went to the wrong part of town, he has to give up his successful medical practice that he worked so hard and long to build. Mary assures them that things will get better, but that's hard for them to believe when they'll have to move to Albuquerque to live on a government stipend in "Casa WITSEC" until their finances can be sorted out and the only job that the haughty Doctor McBride can get is at a free clinic-and that's only possible because Marshall pulled a few strings. Mary certainly knows what to do to keep Iris safe when she has to return to Los Angeles to ID the suspect, but what Mary's not so confident about is how she's going to keep the now "Morris" from falling apart, or worse, getting themselves killed. Meanwhile-back in her own hot mess of a personal life-Mary's trying to get back into some kind of rhythm with Raphael, which isn't easy when your younger (and sluttier-dressing) sister is trying to move in on your territory. And especially when said younger sister catches another woman answering her own boyfriend Chuck's phone...

Manatee: This was one of my favorite episodes of IPS yet.

Marmot: Definitely. It was finally about something interesting, not trying to protect someone from being killed. Immediately killed, that is.

Manatee: It was just the pure emotional side of leaving your entire life behind to start again. Sometimes, I think people dream about the opportunity to start over fresh, but this was a great look into the drama behind what's really involved. Quitting the medical profession, leaving your family, seasons Dodgers tickets, or what have you. Not to mention the idea of being a father first and an individual second.

Marmot: Exactly. This was a really well written episode, especially the struggle the father was having with being a proud, but ultimately selfish person and sacrificing personally for his family. It was ultimately resolved, but it was a definite struggle for him to get there. Kudos to writer Linda Burstyn on this episode.

Manatee: This was an episode I was looking forward to - clips had been on the previews prior to the premiere. My personal struggle with this show is that I want it to be more procedural than it is. I'll tell you why. Her personal life, family drama is not handled well. If it was, then I'd be fine with flying with it. But the drama with the boyfriend, who cares. So they obviously lack chemistry. The sister is a bad actress. And her personal issues are (I think) supposed to be mysterious, but come across as lazy... maybe the writers didn't know where they wanted to go with it yet. We've never really learned enough about her "previous" life or the suitcase of drugs to really feel invested in her "baggage" issues.

Marmot: Was that an intended pun?

Manatee: Yes

Marmot: Good. I agree with you on the sister. She's really just eye candy. I get the scene with her in her underwear, but her ethical struggle of whether or not to go after her sister's boyfriend doesn't really come across when looking at her chest and legs.

Manatee: The scenes involving her family make we want to turn off the tv and tune back in when the work stuff comes on.

Marmot: Where was the mom in this episode? The scenes with her family are always strange, because they rarely have Mary in them. When she does show up, it feels like you're watching a spinoff and she's guest starring. So it gives it more of an ensemble feel, but it's not an ensemble show. Just weird.

Manatee: The mom is even more pointless than the daughter. Do you ever get the feeling USA is airing the shows in a different order than they filmed them and those family scenes are just cut and paste into the show as needed?

Marmot: I think you may be on to something. Like they're just splicing their scenes in when the show is running short.

Manatee: Because the fam stuff doesn't always correspond like it did with that gambling episode. I don't think this show is going anywhere - it ranked #3 this week for cable series. I'm sure there is bound to be a second season!

Flashpoint (1.1)

2008-07-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 11th @ 10 PM

CBS
Flashpoint - Season 1, Episode # 1 - "Scorpio"

When an enraged gunman takes a hostage in a public square, the team must take drastic action and deal with the consequences.

Manatee: (I'm solo on this one.)

Back on January 2008 during the WGA strike that plagued Hollywood, CBS made the announcement that they were "picking up" a Canadian television pilot. They were going to air the series on CBS. It was called "Flashpoint" and it was a desperate, reactionary move for cheap programming during a time when there was nothing new on television except for a few sparse reality performances. The show was already shot, they just needed to air it and rake in the advertising dollars. Then NBC followed in CBS' footsteps with a Canadian drama called "The Listeners" (which has yet to air). Some people wondered if this would be a new model.

Eleven days later, the strike ended, and CBS and NBC had two Canadian shows in their pocket. Let's be honest. I'll say what everyone is thinking, it's Canadian, how good can it be? Will it be a "House" or a "Grey's Anatomy" quality?

CBS has buried "Flashpoint" On Friday nights. This is a throw away time slot. Who watches television on Friday night anyway? Well, there is this little invention called the DVR and mine recorded "Flashpoint" Friday night and I watched it over the weekend, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. I was mostly surprised at how good it looked. The cinematographer, David Perrault, did a wonderful job - clean, clear and crisp images. The design was great - gritty, edgy, and dark when needed (Production Designer was John Dondertman). It looked like New York not Toronto (where they shot). The show also had a nice cast: Enrico Colantoni (we know and love him as 'Elliot'), Amy Jo Johnson (of "Felicity." Come on, who didn't love "Felicity?"), (cutie) David Paetkau, and a great performance from Hugh Dillion.

Overall the show is very consistent with CBS' programming, so it was a successful choice for them to distribute. It's cops, pretty/smart girls, and family and career drama. One thing I really liked about the show was the aspect of the sniper's job you rarely see on a Law & Order - the responsibility and stress that goes along with being a cop who kills a criminal, or 'potential' criminal. There was an eerie silence right after the shot was fired by character, Ed Lane. What a bold move. How often do you see a show comfortable with taking such a quiet pause? Every second now a days is littered with white noise or some sort of music, dialogue, or what have you.

Detective Olivia Benson (Law & Order: SVU) might get harassed by the Internal Affairs every now and then, but never before have you seen it on this level. You get investigated just as if you were a criminal yourself. Think of the stress and responsibility that goes along with taking a human life, any life - good or bad? Your comrades are congratulating you for doing a good job and saving an innocent life, but IA wants to make sure you didn't act prematurely... that maybe there was another way to work out this hostage situation. Friday's episode had a great emotional element that is sometimes missing from these 'cop shows.' A real internal struggle. You feel the psychological aspect of being on a hostage negotiation team - the action and the weight of it.

If you look up the creators (Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern) you won't really recognize many credits (unless you watch Canadian TV). But that's okay. They've molded some excellent characters, good action, and decent dialogue. I'm looking forward to next week. CBS scored a winner with this one (PS Friday's airing was #1 for the night, and Sunday's repeat beat out a "Desperate Housewives" repeat). My advice to you - watch it!

Let's hear your thoughts. Comment below if you watched the show.

Fear Itself (1.5)

2008-07-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 10th @ 10 PM

NBC
Fear Itself- Season 1, Episode # 5 - "Eater"

Officer Bannerman is assigned to watch after the police station with two other officers during the night. Things go routinely until a person is brought into holding, who is supposedly responsible for over thirty "Silence of the Lambs"-style killings. Now, as things go from odd to frightening, Bannerman must determine just who is who because this Cajun killer may be more than just a mere cannibal.

Manatee: Fear Itself was horrible!

Marmot: It was probably the best example of awful, awful, awful television that I've seen in a while. It was so incredibly bad.

Manatee: It was, wasn't it? The story didn't even make sense

Marmot: I feel cheated out of 45 minutes of my life.

Manatee: I'm still surprised though that the make up was pretty good. The serial killer looked pretty creepy. It's too bad the writers aren't as skilled. I need to delete this DVR recording.

Marmot: I'm going to give it one more episode. Thursday is a zombie/apocalypse. If this one is as bad as the others, then an M&M first - we drop a show. Which is pretty spectacular, seeing as how we're only watching 4 shows a week as it is.

Manatee: I know the pickings are slim, but I can’t stand this show.

Marmot: Let's try to clear this up: All the cops were in the building. The Eater was held in a cell downstairs, and then made some kind of voodoo curse, right? So how did he eat the hearts of the cops?

Manatee: I think he was upstairs, but basically yes. I guess his voodoo curse allowed him to unlock the cell, kill the cops (including the one who went home), and then eat their hearts to become them. How he switched back and forth between cops, I don't know?

Marmot: I think once he ate the heart, it allowed him to change into anyone he wanted to, but this wasn't clear to me: how long after eating the heart could he assume their identity? And, why didn't he change into anyone else he had eaten previously? Were these the first hearts he ate? And if so, why now? And why did he want to eat the girl's heart so badly? Did he want to know what it was like to be a woman?

Manatee: They did say he liked to torture the women longer.

Marmot: That's true. And why did she pass up the numerous weapons around the station, like fire extinguishers and guns just to kill him with rat poison?

Manatee: Set Decorator didn't talk to the writer.

Marmot: I think the writers had no idea what a police station was like on the inside. I think they'd only seen one on TV.

Manatee: Sometimes I think the writers on TV don't know anything except what they see on TV.

Marmot: Did you see who wrote this episode?

Manatee: No who?

Marmot: It was two people, one was Jonathan Schaech.

Manatee: Is he mostly an actor?

Marmot: Yeah. He was in That Thing You Do!, which is one of Marmot's favorite movies.

Special Report: Save the Manatee

2008-07-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

We wanted to share this with you, our loyal readers. We received this very serious email yesterday:

NEW! MANATEE PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE

Since record-keeping began in 1974, at least 1,557 manatees have been killed by boats in Florida waters. The loss of warm-water winter habitat is another serious concern. Both are the two greatest threats to the future status of manatees.

Save the Manatee Club needs your help in delivering our important message.

Save the Manatee Club is the world’s leading nonprofit manatee conservation organization, dedicated to protecting manatees and their habitat. Singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett and former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator, Bob Graham, founded the organization back in 1981. Through the Club's efforts, manatees grow increasingly popular around the world. As more people come to care about the manatee's welfare, there is a better chance that these fascinating animals will receive the protections they need for their long-term survival.

Adopt-A-Manatee! Go to www.savethemanatee.org/adoptpag.htm

In Plain Sight (1.6)

2008-07-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 6^th @ 10 PM

USA

In Plain Sight – Season 1, Episode #6 - “High Priced Spread”

Mary learns that her witness, a NCAA basketball star, has a gambling problem. (USANetwork.com)

Manatee: Why are TV shows so darn convenient? A ward in Witness Protection has a gambling addition, so did Mary's dad. Now as the ward battles his addiction, so must Mary battle the legacy her father left her.

Marmot: What's sad is the fact that this was probably the best episode so far.

Manatee: It wasn't bad. I guess your standards lower when it's summer time.

Marmot: Let's talk about the elephant in the room: Marshall hooking up - repeatedly - with his former college professor/TA. How completely pointless was that?

Manatee: I'm not sure what that was all about. I kind of always figured he (what do they say?) "Held a torch" for Mary.... he was really in love with her, his best friend, but she seems him as only that.

Marmot: I think that can be true still. When you have feelings for someone like that, who is a close/best friend, there's can be a disconnect between love and lust. I don't think Marshall would ever get into anything serious if he truly is carrying a torch for her, but he'll allow himself the occasional hook up, then find some kind of flaw that Mary doesn't have, thereby justifying (only to himself) holding out for Mary, instead of allowing himself to open up to the possibility of someone else. It's dangerous and lonely waters that he is treading in.

Manatee: Makes sense. I just didn't really feel like the episode help up at the end. Ultimately, where was the older brother? Kidnapped by the bookie's goons or out for a stroll still po-ed at this little brother and thus skipping the game? I know the authorities contacted Mary and said Scott was safe, but it was kind of vague and a little too easy and convenient if you ask me.

Marmot: I just assumed that the older brother was kidnapped by the evil suburban bookie, but that's because the show told me to. In retrospect, he may have never been in danger.

Manatee: Maybe he pulled over for an ice cream?

Marmot: I would. It's hot in New Mexico.

Manatee: How did you feel about Mary's emotional breakdown?

Marmot: Weak. She was pushing hard to get those tears out. I wonder something...how far away do you think Mary lives from Walter White on Breaking Bad?

Manatee: Hmmm, good cross over idea. Maybe he should join Witness Protection.

Marmot: There are only about 850,000 people in Albuquerque

Manatee: That's a good amount, but I'm sure they've met before.

Marmot: They would have to run into each other at some point.

Manatee: At the gas station

Marmot: Probably. Or Target. I bet Mary shops at Target.

Manatee: Walter strikes me as more of a Wal-Mart guy.

Marmot: Hmm. I think you're right.

Swingtown (1.5)

2008-07-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 3^rd @ 10 PM

CBS

Swingtown – Season 1, Episode #5 – “Go Your Own Way”

Against Bruce's wishes, Susan attends a free speech fundraiser in connection with the film, "Deep Throat." Defying Bruce, Susan attends the fundraiser at the Decker's home to benefit the legal defense of the star of the controversial film. (CBS.com)

Manatee: I think Susan and Bruce need to pay more attention to what their kids are doing.

Marmot: When you think about it, they're terrible parents. While I was watching, I wondered, has Susan ever even talked to her son?

Manatee: I'm pretty sure they've never met before. And not only do they take no interest in their kids, out of nowhere Bruce has this hissy fit about his wife not being home to cook, clean, and pick him up at the train station. How 1950!

Marmot: The writing is so uneven on this show. Why is he so uppity about a porno when he and his wife had sex with other people? Together!

Manatee: I think the writers are trying to get all the 70s themes into just a few episodes and into almost each character. It started out as 3 separate couples with completely different ideas, now they are meshed.

Marmot: Also, what was going on with the teacher and the daughter? She brings him a donut, then sits outside his office for hours, then talks to him in the hall for 2 minutes and declines a ride home? None of that made sense.

Manatee: I feel like the daughter/teacher scenario was a little anti-climatic. There was build up to some crazy sex scene, which never happened. And then build up to the Ex-Boyfriend telling on the teacher to get him fired (I'm sure in the 70s that was still a no-no), and then that never materialized. The only good thing, I hope, is that this is the last of that d-bag ex boyfriend.

Marmot: That kid is terrible. Where did they find him? And I don't get what the drama is; they're waiting until he isn't her teacher anymore for the inevitable hook-up. It's the 70s, the sexual revolution. Who cares?

Manatee: Honestly, neither of those kids looks their parents. Maybe they are not really their kids! Just some roommates. I mean that's how Susan treats them.

Marmot: It's kind of a common theme on this show. Roger and Janet haven't spoken to their weirdo son since the first episode.

Manatee: Why put kids in the show anyway?

Marmot: I don't know. I guess to normalize life, but they're stupid and boring. I bet you could just quit writing the kids in and no one would notice.

Manatee: Note to Writers, Take our suggestion and get rid of the kids. Overall, do you enjoy the show?

Marmot: Mostly. I'll definitely see it through to the end of the season. I like it's tone a lot, and the characters aren't terribly boring. I wonder where it's going, but I don't mind that it's taking it's time to get there.

SPECIAL REPORT: Shows We Have No Interest in Watching

2008-07-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

SPECIAL REPORT: Shows We Have No Interest in Watching

Manatee: Shows I never want to watch: anything with “America” in it. Examples: American Idol and America's got Talent.

Marmot: What about Aliens in America? That show was good.

Manatee: Never saw it and no interest in watching repeats.

Marmot: Here's a show I have no interest in: One Tree Hill. I have no idea what it's about, but I think it's like Dawson's Creek set in Utah.

Manatee: Agree with you there. Another one: Army Wives. It looks so bad to me, not to mention it's on Lifetime.

Marmot: It just looks like bad melodrama, which is the definition of Lifetime. It's true, look it up.

Manatee: Wow! You're right. I know you'll yell at me for this one, but: Heroes.

Marmot: I can understand that. If it doesn't get better this season, I might be joining you there.

Manatee: Really. What's happened to it?

Marmot: They really lost their footing last season. One of the main characters (Hiro) was in this endless arc that kept him in feudal Japan and it was just booooring.

Manatee: Japan, boring?

Marmot: It was feudal Japan. Not the future, like it is now. And of course, it wasn't real Japan. Probably just somewhere in Santa Clarita.

Manatee: You lose the charm that surrounds movie (or TV) making magic living in Los Angeles. Normal viewers in the Mid-West probably thought that NBC went to Japan each week to tape.

Marmot: Most likely. I wonder how many people think that they actually shot in NY and Texas during season one. Although, I'll admit, if you just sit back and enjoy it, it's not really noticeable. Another show I have zero interest in watching: Eli Stone.

Manatee: That show stinks! I watched the pilot and had to knock myself out that night to get those terrible images out of my head.

Marmot: What is that show about? I think it's about a lawyer who gets attacked by dragons. At least that's what I get from the commercials.

Manatee: All I remember is George Michael dancing in court. He has hallucinations (or premonitions?) about stuff. And though he is a high paid lawyer, his visions lead him to do "non profit" type work.

Marmot: Huh? That sounds...does he ride these dragons?

Manatee: I don't remember dragons in the pilot.

Marmot: Then this sounds dumb. I don't want to watch it.

Manatee: Scrubs.

Marmot: Why do you have no interest in Scrubs?

Manatee: I can't quite place my finger on it, but every time I've seen it, I'm bored and annoyed.

Marmot: Did you watch the first few seasons?

Manatee: I've never seen any in a row, just various episodes now and again.

Marmot: Ah. The first 3 seasons were really good. As were the first 8 episodes of Season 4. It hasn't been the same since.

Manatee: And yet, they are bringing it back…?

Marmot: There are three shows that I cannot distinguish between and have completely no interest in watching: Lipstick Jungle, Cashmere Mafia and Women's Murder Club.

Manatee: The only one that seems different to me was WMC - because it had Angie Harmon on it and they carried guns (maybe, I'm not actually sure since I never saw it). The other two are Sex & the City rip offs.

Marmot: I know Brooke Shields is on one, and Lucy Liu is on another. But they all look the same to me.

Manatee: Too bad all 3 were canceled! You'll never get to learn the difference.

Marmot: Oh how sad.

Manatee: Big Bang Theory

Manatee: I watched the pilot of that show. Terrible. Imagine Revenge of the Nerds where the Nerds are too believable.

To be Continued…

Please Join the conversation, Comment Below! What Shows do you love to hate or vow never to watch?

SPECIAL REPORT: Update on Our Future as Television Executives

2008-07-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

SPECIAL REPORT: Update on Our Future as Television Executives

We thought we’d (finally) give you an update on our potential to be GREAT Television Executives. Here are the results of our Upfront predictions:

ABC: 100% on Returning Series

66% on Pilots (Note, 12 are still pending pick ups)

CW: 100% on Returning Series

33% on Pilots

FOX: 100% on Returning Series

77% on Pilots (Note, 3 are still pending pick ups)

CBS: 50% on Returning Series

(Manatee: I’ll admit this was brought down by my desire to see Moonlight return)

73% on Pilots (Note, 1 is still pending pick up)

In Plain Sight (1.4 & 1.5)

2008-06-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

Sundays June 22nd & 29th, 2008 @ 10 PM

USA

In Plain Sight - Season 1, Episodes 4-5 - "Trojan Horst" & "Who Shot Jay Arnstein?"

Episode #4: Mary and Marshall are caught in the cross-fire of a contract killer while transporting a witness.

Episode #5: Mary works to solve the mystery of who tried to kill her witness, an art dealer. To complicate matters, both his mistress and his wife are in the program…and key suspects. (USANetwork.com)

Marmot: So we got a little behind in our summer viewing habits. It's all the days spent splashing around at the beach. Marmots and manatees love that stuff. Seriously, look it up. But we have 2 big reviews of In Plain Sight, and that's pretty exciting. They were two very different episodes, too. In one, Mary hunkers down, a la Outlaw Josey Wales and takes on a bunch of baddies who are working for a contract killer. Played by Dave Foley. Yes, that Dave Foley.

Manatee: Boy, did he gain some weight. But seriously, I thought that episode (Trojan Horst) really raised the stakes. Mary kicked some butt! The action was a nice distraction for the usual Shannon Family melodrama.

Marmot: I was kinda disappointed that there wasn't a big shootout at the end. But oh well. This show had a fundamental example of bad villany. Dave Foley's character was supposedly working for a woman named Lola, after a song about a man pretending to be a woman. Pretty much anyone could have figured this out. I think it's referred to as the Riddler Syndrome - The Riddler would always come up with semi-elaborate riddles to clue Batman in on his nefarious crimes, when it would have been a lot easier to just keep his mouth shut. Idiot.

Manatee: It always comes back to Batman!

Marmot: Batman is the key to everything.

Manatee: I wish that action had carried over to last night's episode. It went back to Mary's dramatic home life and boyfriend complications.

Marmot: Is she supposed to be a detective? It seems like the show has been increasingly headed in that direction.

Manatee: I don't think so. She's just supposed to take care of Witsec people, but her "clients" somehow get themselves involved in crimes in New Mexico constantly. And she needs to bail them out. She always seems to find the good in these people when 9 times out of 10 they are criminals, hence being in Witness Protection.

Marmot: Yeah, why are most of her people criminals. Don't non-criminals witness crimes? Wasn't there an episode of The Simpsons where they went into Witsec to hide from Sideshow Bob?

Manatee: She did protect that little 8 year old boy who saw his dad kill his mom... but then it turned out the kid really killed his mom. Hmmm, I thought normal people got to be protected. Maybe USA is trying to make a political statement: the government only protects and makes deals with the bad guys?

Marmot: It took me a second to realize you meant the USA network and not the USA country. Personally, I would appreciate some variety in the protectee of the week.

Manatee: I would agree with that. I would also appreciate stronger teasers. I’m sick of the how or why a person gets into Witsec and then it shows them chatting with Mary about entering the program. Then it skips about 6 months ahead to when they are established in Witsec and all hell breaks loose.

Marmot: Yeah, those are tiresome.

Manatee: Shouldn't they be more exciting to hook us into the show, not drive us away?

Marmot: You would think. But then the rest of the show isn't working towards that goal, either.

Swingtown (1.4)

2008-06-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

Thursday June 26th @ 10 PM

CBS

Swingtown - Season 1, Episode #4 - "Cabin Fever"

It's becoming just a soap opera in bell bottoms.

The Middleman (1.2)

2008-06-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 8 PM
ABC Family

The Middleman - Season 1, Episode # 2- "The Accidental Occidental Conception"

A Terra Cotta Warrior is brought back to life, sending The Middleman and Wendy on a mission into the underworld to stop him before he can kidnap the last living heir of the Qin dynasty. Should they fail, fire will rain down on the Earth for a thousand years. (IMDB.com)

Manatee: Middleman – not great, but not the worst show I’ve seen. I’d rather watch this than Fear Itself

Marmot: I don't know what to make of it. This episode was much more focused than the pilot and way more coherent and it retained some of its charm, but for some reason, I liked it a lot less.

Manatee: I feel like Middleman has a little of that original Batman series feel. A little wacky, not taking itself too seriously, and it's fun. But even after episode #2 I want it to be better than it is.

Marmot: Which is so odd, because it's much improved over the episode. Yet I feel like it lost something. Like the crazy cutaway scenes. Where were those?

Manatee: They did lose a little silliness this week. I thought the two main characters still had good dialogue and a quick back and forth’s. But maybe it did lose some of its uniqueness, production wise.

Marmot: I do like the banter, but I feel like I can get that anywhere. If this is going to turn into Juno meets Men In Black, boredom will be imminent.

Manatee: I think ABC Family has lost interest. I'm positive it will not be renewed (the numbers were horrible for the pilot episode). All we have to look forward to on ABC Family is Brenda Hampton's (7th Heaven) The Secret Life on the American Teenager starting July 1st at 8 PM. And that is described as Juno for TV, not Juno meets anything.

Marmot: What is so secret about the life of an American teenager? I think there have been plenty of shows and movies exposing this seedy underworld.

Manatee: I don't think ABC Family does seedy or underworld. My bet is "secret" refers to the pregnancy, which could be an interesting plot for young female teens to watch. I usually don't condone teen pregnancy talk on TV, especially TV geared towards kids (i.e.: Nick and that Younger Spears girl), but we'll see how this is done.

Marmot: Oh, she's pregnant? Well, then that is something to keep secret. Actually, the one thing I really like about The Middleman is the fact that nothing is evil or dark. It's just silly, and I'm okay with that.

Manatee: Yeah, I like that too. Though why was it necessary to wear togas to go to the underworld last night? Don't they allow suits? The show seems to be geared more toward keeping it light.

Marmot: I didn't get that either. Considering the desk attendant was wearing a sweater-vest, you'd think that a military suit would be acceptable attire

Manatee: And the clay man stuck with his ancient Asian garb? Hmmm.... that costume change did jump out at me a little. Do you think Ms. Fashionista Succubus will become a recurring character as the international consultant?

Marmot: I hope not. I had my fill of her from that episode. Ship her to Ugly Betty to make her a foil to the pregnant Scottish wardrobess.

Manatee: That could work. Do I smell cross-over?

Marmot: It's all ABC. How hard could this be to do?

Fear Itself (1.3)

2008-06-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

Thursday, June 19th, 2008 @ 10 PM

NBC

Fear Itself, Season 1 - Episode #3 - "Family Man"

NBC

A likeable family man switches bodies with a serial killer during a near-death experience. Now he must keep his loved ones from being added to the long list of the killer's victims. (NBC.com)

Cast: Colin Ferguson, Clifton Collins Jr., Josie Davis, Gig Morton, Nicole Leduc

Marmot: This week’s Fear Itself was the best of them so far, but still kinda dumb. I was disappointed.

Manatee: I hated it. I thought it was called "Face Off" the first time I saw it. And the twist at the end was so obvious. I'm thinking of canceling the DVR recording.

Marmot: The ending was totally obvious. I might keep watching, but I won't be in a big hurry.

Manatee: I think it stinks. I just can't get over how unoriginal the stories are.

Marmot: Nor frightening. This is the same stuff that was on “Tales From the Crypt” 20 years ago, and “The Twilight Zone” 20 years before that.

Manatee: I was thinking that same thing!

Marmot: This episode could have made for a really interesting character study - about what makes a person do the things they do, and what can bring about change in them. Instead, everything reverted to how it was at the beginning of the episode and no one was redeemed, with the good guy actually being punished - for what? It completely falls flat as a morality tale, if that was the intent.

Manatee: If it was a morality tale, they need a new morality barometer in their writers' office. There were no stakes. The main character (Colin Ferguson) was just a good guy and he got thrown for a loop being switched into a killer's body, which I did find interesting. If you try to picture yourself in that position, it’s a pretty scary place to be. But you're right, what did this guy do that he was punished for? He seemed to be so great and likeable.

Marmot: He did nothing. It just completely missed the point of horror. The true intent of horror is to act as a cautionary tale against immoral behavior. That's why Jason Voorhies always kills the sexy teens who are about to do it first, and the nerds who try to protect their friends last. But there's nothing really horrifying about some magical "spiritual transgression" because he did nothing to deserve it. It was just completely random.

Manatee: Maybe someone should mention that to the writers on the show.

The Middleman (1.1)

2008-06-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 8 PM
ABC Family

The Middleman - Season 1, Pilot - "The Pilot episode Sanction"

Wendy Watson is a struggling artist who's resigned herself resigned herself to a life of redundant temp jobs - until a freak accident involving an angry genetic experiment introduces her to the world's most absurdly covert operative: the Middleman. (ABCFamily.com)

Manatee: I was very excited about a graphic novel turned TV series, though I had my hesitations since it was airing on ABC Family at 8 pm.

Marmot: I've never watched anything on ABC Family, so I didn't really know what to expect.

Manatee: Well, it has the word "family" in it so I figured it would be pretty tame.

Marmot: What did you think of this show? Did you like it? Did you think it was good?

Manatee: I like the concept behind it. I like the actors ok (at least they aren't some feature actors stinking up the small screen). I know it's a pretty low budget show, so I'll try not to be too harsh. But the visual effects in the pilot were terrible. I say if you don't have the money to do it right, then don't do it. Find a more creative solution. It came across as silly and immature (ie: for kids). Let's put it this way: I will watch it again next week to see if there are changes. The pilot shot in Vancouver and the series shoots here in Los Angeles. So there might be changes for the better (or worse). Right now I want it to be better than it is.

Marmot: I don't know how I felt about it. I agree, the effects were awful, but that didn't bother me so much. The thing is, the show's not good and it's not terrible, but it's also not mediocre, because that implies something more run-of-the-mill, middle-of-the-road, and this is definitely not that. It's an interesting show, and I agree, I want it to be better than it is. Both leads are very likeable, and I kind of dig the screwball-esque dialogue. I think my biggest problem with the show is that there's a lot of elements that don't all quite fit together. But for some reason, I don't mind.

Manatee: I was going to ask you if that dialogue reminded you of anything? Say a certain Academy Award winning movie?

Marmot: Schindler's List? Definitely You know, I hadn't made the Juno connection until you brought it up. Now I feel dirty.

Manatee: When there were lines like "Do me a solid" and "lickity split" Juno was the first thing that popped into my mind. Jumping on wacky dialogue bandwagon.

Marmot: I didn't like the banter between the guitar guy and the girl. What was her name? Dubby?

Manatee: I wasn't a fan of that chitchat either. I'm not even sure I understood what they were saying to one another

Marmot: She was naming songs with "Hungry" in the title at one point, that's all I remember. But then the titles - like her "illegal sublet that she shares with another photogenic artist" - I thought were brilliant.

Manatee: Really! At first I wasn't sure, but I guess it goes with the graphic novel thing

Marmot: And the fantasy, Hard Day's Night-esque sequence where she put the uniform on I thought was hilarious and so unique to a television show. I like that the show knows it’s a show, but the characters don't. It's interesting.

Manatee: And the idea of a Middleman is really funny. I don't think it takes itself too seriously. I thought it also had some fun and funky music.

Marmot: It's definitely worth another viewing. I'm interested to see what's going to happen in a few episodes down the line.

Fear Itself (1.2)

2008-06-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

Thursday, June 12th, 2008 @ 10 PM

NBC

Fear Itself, Season 1 - Episode #2 - "Spooked"

"Why are you so bad, Fear Itself? Why are you so bad?"

While on a stakeout in a haunted house, a private eye is revisited by restless spirits of those he wronged in the past and now those spirits are set on deadly revenge. (NBC.com)

Stars: Eric Roberts, Jack Noseworthy, Cynthia Watros, Larry Gilliard Jr.

Marmot: Let me see if I understand the plot of this episode: Eric Roberts is a PI. Libby from LOST hires him to spy on her non-existent husband so that an evil house can make him feel guilty for killing her brother? And somewhere along the line, he remembers accidently shooting his brother and him and his father burying the corpse?

Manatee: Basically, yes. That sounds "right." Though I'm not sure I get why/how Libby knew about that house and why/how she thought it would make Eric Roberts go crazy.

Marmot: Maybe she saw it on Craigslist? What I don't get is, what was the deal with the Satan worshippers? Was she a Satan worshipper too?

Manatee: Hmmm... maybe. Did she go to the house with her brother and worship and graffiti self portraits on the walls? Did she put a spell or curse on the house? It wasn't really haunted. It was just Eric Roberts going crazy or being delusional/drunk and remembering his own ghosts. How would she know that would happen?

Marmot: I also don't understand why the dad didn't just tell the truth about the son being shot. Seems like it would be a lot easier to explain "my boys found my gun and were playing with it and it was an accident" than "my child mysteriously disappeared and no, I'm not really all that worried about it"

Manatee: It does seem like that would be the logical choice. Not much about this show makes sense, even though it is so unoriginal and full of clichés: They meet at a diner, he's a PI with a drinking problem, the radio in the haunted house turns on by itself (so Tales from the Crypt-esque) - what's the point of this anthology? Horror is such a great genre to be original in because it's based in fantasy. What's wrong with these writers?

Marmot: Lazy? Next week's episode promised to be mind-blowing. The TV said so, and I'm inclined to believe it, because it's TV and it never lies.

Manatee: I'll give it one more chance, if it still stinks, I'm canceling my DVR recording.

Marmot: Yep. It's taking up valuable space where Under One Roof could go.

Under One Roof (1.10)

2008-06-19T11:05:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 @ 8 PM
My Network TV

Under One Roof - Season 1, Episode 10 - "Handiman"

On this week's new episode of Under One Roof, Calvester finds he has to maintain full time employment or go back to jail. But when he fakes a disability to get a job at a lingerie store, Cali Cal's got to work overtime to keep up the charade. (MyNetworkTV.com)

Marmot: Under One Roof? I don't think there's a lot to say there.

Manatee: There really isn't, is there.

Marmot: Nothing we haven’t said before.

Manatee: My only comment was, why were there so many ex-cons trying to get a job at a mall lingerie store at the exact same moment? Oh and why was the brother taking photos of girls' butts and getting away with it?

Marmot: Every time I've been in a Victoria's Secret, there's always been male ex-cons working there. It's just a fact of life. And the customers always walk around the store, modeling for everyone. Oh, and there's always a creepy guy taking pictures. It's just a mirror of reality, this show. Do you think Under One Roof got some kind of package deal when they bought the sets from Saved By the Bell? Like buy a set, get 2 scripts free? Because I'm pretty sure the plot of this episode was also used on that show.

Manatee: I was thinking they bought this set from The Facts of Life (later years) and changed Mrs. Garrett's shop into a lingerie store. Though I don't doubt that Zack pulled a handicapped stunt like this, maybe more than once.

Marmot: I want to set their ugly house on fire. What was the deal with Su Ho this week? They thought she was stealing, but she was actually just cleaning the jewelry as a birthday gift? What?

Manatee: I know.. That story line made less sense then Cali Cal in a wheelchair. Something that annoyed me last night too was the daughter. She is so over the top dumb, it's starting to get on my nerves

Marmot: It's just now starting? You have a very high pain threshold.

Manatee: I guess I do. I want to jump through the TV and knock her out.

Marmot: One thing that I was shocked at: the mom calling her kids "mulattos". Is that an acceptable term? I thought that was banned or something.

Manatee: I think it's the second time on this show they have used that term. And no, I don't think it is an acceptable term.

Marmot: Who's writing this show? My friend Steve's racist grandpa?

Swingtown (1.2)

2008-06-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

Thursday, June 12th, 2008 @ 10 PM

CBS

Swingtown, Season 1 - Episode #2 - "Love Will Find a Way"

Susan, Tom, and Trina make a surprise visit to the Chicago Playboy Club, where Bruce is celebrating with co-workers after his monumental day on the trading floor. The two couples continue to explore their newfound friendship. In the old neighborhood, where the Millers used to live, Janet realizes how important her friendship with Susan is when a new couple moves in next door. (CBS.com)

Marmot: I liked Swingtown. It's not the best thing on TV, but for a summer show, it's pretty high quality.

Manatee: I really enjoy the show. I find myself very interested in the characters and where they are headed. I even caught myself smiling and laughing during the show!

Marmot: I am too, but I think the show lost some of the edge from the first episode. There was some heavy stuff in the pilot and it felt a little light in this one.

Manatee: That's true. There were not as many (or any) drugs and sex. But I liked that. I didn't really come into this show thinking here is a show all about sex, some sort of network soft core porn. It's almost like a Desperate Housewives set in the 70s - so you get the bonus of free love.

Marmot: I mean edge not just about sex, but in terms of the storylines. In the first episode, there are touches of a gay crush between the two sons and then the strait-laced couple's kid gets the crap beat out of him by a girl. In this episode, they dragged camping gear through the woods. The rest of the episode focused mainly on the deteriorating friendship between Susan (Molly Parker) and Janet (Mirian Shor), but it was more about jealousy over Susan's new friendship with Trina than a clash of values.

Manatee: Very valid points. I'm not sure I picked up on the adolescent gay crush thing the first time, but I don't doubt that as a possibility. It did seem to lose a little edge this episode. The teacher/daughter potential relationship was also squashed by the emergence of a girlfriend (or was it?). We'll have to see where it goes. Will it continue with some edge or will it lapse into straight soap opera (ie: friend jealousy vs. moral values)?

In Plain Sight (1.3)

2008-06-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 15th, 2008 @ 10 PM

USA

In Plain Sight - Season 1, Epiosde 3 - "Never the Bride"

In "Never the Bride," Mary acted as maid of honor to protect her witness, Treena the diamond smuggler, at her high-profile wedding. (USAnetwork.com)

Marmot: I hated this episode. Just really bad.

Manatee: Not that episode # 2 was stellar, but what a sharp turn for the worst. I'm not sure that this show will be able to produce any more decent episodes. I'm pretty sure it's sinking.

Marmot: That was quick. Where was the mom in this episode?

Manatee: She didn't appear at all. That's one issue with this show. We've talked about the balance (imbalance) of the family/personal life vs. work life. The BF was missing in episode 2 but showed up and purposed in episode 3. The mom was absent though in episode 2 she had a large story line. The stupid sister was still there unfortunately.

Marmot: It's odd that the Mom just sort of disappeared. I was also hoping the guy with the eye patch would show up, but no dice. I thought the whole story in this episode was weak, with Missy Pyle stealing diamonds...what?

Manatee: The whole story line was unfortunately all revolving around Mary's emotional commitment issues and the Witness Protection aspect just mirrored her issues.

Marmot: Which could be nice, if used properly. But...it wasn't. I couldn't care less about what was going on with her...client? What are they called?

Manatee: Ward?

Marmot: I don’t like that. They should change it.

Manatee: There were also some really dumb "comic relief" scenes. Like the detective on the horse at the end, leading the bad guy by a rope. Marshall and his boss dancing at work.

Marmot: Marshall and his inability to talk to Mary's boobs.

Manatee: Weird sexual tension between those two

Marmot: Yeah. It's there, it's just weird.

Manatee: Overall, I don't like where the characters are going... which is nowhere really. There is no growth, no stakes for anyone.

Marmot: Well, it is still early. It's only the 3rd episode. Usually these shows take a little while. How many are in this season?

Manatee: Well, I think there are only 12. So I'm going to be your typical TV watcher... I want more now. I don't have time to sit around and watch a character slowly evolve over 4 seasons! I want awesomeness now! I demand it.

Marmot: Only 12? Yeah, something should have happened by now. I call for a Marshall / bald boss hookup!

Manatee: I'll second that. Though I think everyone is in love with Mary (ring a bell)... Marshall, her BF, her boss, and maybe that little 10 year old from last week.