Special Report: NBC’s American Gladiators Season 2 Taping

American Gladiators Season 2 Premieres May 12th on NBC

"Looks good for a 97-year old!"

Marmot: Hulk Hogan has chicken legs.

Manatee: Indeed he does. I'd like to know if he wears a wig.

Marmot: I was kind of disappointed that no one got body-slammed, but apparently, that's not what this show is about.

Manatee: I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in how the taping worked. It was a little slow and boring, like most tapings. I needed more action. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the Hang Tough event which is the only one we got to see.

Marmot: I think the Hang Tough is exciting, but the angle that we viewed it from was kind of restrictive. You would think that they would have given VIP's like us better seats.

Manatee: I know! For anyone reading this blog, who does not know, tapings of TV shows can be really boring, even good shows. The audience is usual abused - made to sit around for hours without food or water while "actors" perform for the camera, mess up and redo it. The disappointing thing with this show for me was watching the taping is not watching a competition. It's only pieces of a competition. I used to watch this show (the original) and think, "wow, those people do all those events and then they do the eliminator - how do they have the energy?" Now I know, they don't. It's one competition per week or every few days! Seeing the show tape was a little bit of a disappointment from that standpoint. Though seeing the gladiators perform was a treat! I touched Siren's hand! Yeah!

Marmot: I would have liked to see a little more action packed event, that's for sure. Apparently they tape the Eliminator on different days. I guess the show only presents the illusion that its all done in one day, but never specifically states it. The Gladiators, Siren especially seemed really nice. It's kind of weird, their personas. They're sort of halfway between pro athletes and pro wrestlers.

Manatee: I think they crave the attention. You could see they cared about their fans, hence her coming into the audience to shake her booty in our faces!

Marmot: Well, the girls (Venom and Siren) did. Wolf and Justice didn't come anywhere near us. Which is probably partly due to the fact that they're 6'6" and 300 lbs.

Manatee: Yeah, I'm pretty glad they steered clear of the crowd. They are pretty scary. Though I am sure the woman could take me too.

Marmot: I'm pretty sure either of them could take me. And I'm a marmot. We're fierce warriors.

Manatee: Would you go back to see another taping?

Marmot: I would if it were the Eliminator. But in all honesty, I think it's just better on TV.

Manatee: A miracle happens in the editing room on this show

Marmot: Then another miracle happens with my DVR, and it's cut down even more.

Moonlight

Friday, April 25th @ 10 PM
CBS
Moonlight - Season 1 - Episode 13 - "Fated to Pretend"

Beth's Editor is murdered and Mick and Beth pursue leads on the killer. Mick and Beth struggle to make decisions about their relationship and now that Mick is Mortal. Mick faces an agonizing decision regarding the price of Mortality.

Manatee: I did not want to put Marmot through the disaster that was Moonlight last week. "Why so nice?" you ask?

Well, I have seen all 13 episodes to date, and I cannot tell you why. The first one was terrible, but for "business reasons," I came back and watched 4 more online in the fall, and somehow I got hooked. Hmmm... I'd have to say it was the romance between Mick and Beth that kept me coming back. A few episodes later I had set my DVR to record the series.

As I watched Friday's episode, I realized I was embarrassed to have asked Marmot to watch this show with me; how could I have admitted that I actual liked Moonlight?! It was supposed to be my secret. My dirty little passion for bad television. Call me a sucker... what can I say - I liked Mick and I wanted to see him get together with Beth. Though, thinking about it now, it's a pretty gross situation considering he is over 80 years old and has known Beth since she was 4 but hey, what can I say, they make a cute couple, vampire or no vampire?

In fact, I started thinking about all the terrible television I watched pre strike (and pre this blog) - Bionic Woman (again, I watched for the romance between the part-bionic woman and some cute-ish CIA agent, though that was possibly a worse show than Under One Roof.) & Gossip Girl (though I don't think it stinks, I am a huge fan, I enjoy the unlikely romance between Serena and Dan).

Friday night, the truth was glaring. It was staring me down, saying "Manatee, why did you ask Marmot, your friend, to sit through an hour of this?" It's a bad show! The dialogue is heinous. The acting is over the top. It does not even look that good: Mick walking down the beach, shirt open, wind in his hair (Note: Someone stopped hitting the gym during the strike.). I quickly regretted my mistake about halfway through, and called Marmot and said cancel this show stat. Luckily, I caught Marmot in time.

However, the last 10 minutes of Friday night's episode got me! Sucked me right back into this LA underground vampire world. Mick needs to make a big decision, stay mortal (for an undetermined length of time) and see Beth die, or turn back into a vampire (a state which he has been cursing all his unnatural life) and save the woman he loves? A very emotional decision. He chooses love of course, becomes Beth's "Guardian Vampire" again and saves her life. As they stand atop his downtown LA apartment, she gives your typical female speech:

Beth: It's not me you're scared of hurting, it's yourself you don't want to hurt.

I scream (in my head): Hurry up Mick and decide, you've only had 22 years to think about this little girl budding into a perky blond journalist (Creepy!). Now's the time to strike, you may have the rest of your immortal life to think about it, but she doesn't. They kiss, and cut! And I couldn't be happier.

You've guessed right, ...yes, I will be sitting in front of my TV this Friday night watching episode #14.

Gossip Girl

Monday, April 28th @ 8 PM

CW

Gossip Girl - Season 1 - Episode 15 - "Desperately Seeking Serena"

"See?!"

Serena's Upper East Side world is turned upside down when her former partner in all things bad, Georgina Sparks (guest star Michelle Trachtenberg), returns to Manhattan to stir up trouble and Serena's past. When Dan (Penn Badgley) notices that Serena seems preoccupied he jumps to the conclusion that it must have something to do with Serena's new roomie and soon-to-be step-brother, Chuck (Ed Westwick). Nate (Chace Crawford) finds romance with the last person he was expecting to connect with, Vanessa (Jessica Szohr). Jenny (Taylor Momsen) meets a new guy, Asher Hornsby (guest star Jesse Swenson), who just might be her ticket to permanent popularity. Finally, Blair (Leighton Meester) hatches a secret plan to sabotage her biggest rival, Nelly Yuki (guest star Yin Chang). Matthew Settle also stars. The episode was directed by Michael Fields and written by Felicia D. Henderson. (CWTV.com)

Marmot: Was this a good episode? I couldn't tell. I liked it more last week.

Manatee: From my perspective as a hard core GG fan, I think it was just okay really. I did not like what was going on with Serena. I felt like her unusual attachment to Chuck sort of came from no where this episode. She's always hated him, and steered clear, so to see her do a 180 in the course of 47 minutes was a little unsettling. Granted, we do have the pay off of some sort of surprise with her and the new character, Georgie. I think it is leading up to a Dan and S breakup. I also thought the romance between Nate and Vanessa (who is new to you) was forced and rushed. But if Dan and S breakup, the dynamic between Dan and Vanessa will be interesting if she is dating Nate. Follow me?

Marmot: No, not at all. Why would John Mayer care if Josh Harnett Lite is dating the curly-haired girl?

Manatee: Ah, because she was his first love and came back onto the scene when he was already dating S. Curly Haired girl is just his friend from Brooklyn, knows him since they were young, etc and is poor.

Marmot: Oh gotcha. So yes, I think Curly Blonde is going to break up with John Mayer, since she obviously has no interest in trying to involve him in her life. But I don't really understand why she would call Panic! at the Disco before she would call John Mayer. I know that they're going to be step-siblings soon, but Panic/Chuck is kinda creepy and keeps mentioning how he wants to sleep with her. I don't understand her logic here - I need help, who do I call? The creepy step-brother in the Dick Tracy trench coat or Grammy Award Winning John Mayer Boyfriend? Creepy Chuck, of course. It doesn't really make sense.

Manatee: I agree. It doesn't make sense. It happened in the course of one episode. I'm hoping though, that the payoff will be some big surprise next week with Georgie - like a rape or murder ....

Marmot: That would be pretty amazing. But for a show that presents downloading a song as an villainous deed, it's most likely going to stay out of felony range.

Manatee: Yeah, that was kind of weird. I thought that side story was stupid. Who cares if the Asian chick does poorly on the SATs, if memory serves me, you can retake them a few times and combine your highest scores.

Marmot: That's another thing that I didn't understand. What was the plan with the Asian girl? Was she supposed to tank to make the rest of them look better? They acted as if these colleges only take one student per school. And were they trying to get a 2000 score? I thought a perfect score was 1600?

Manatee: Yeah, B mentioned that Yale would only take 1 girl from their school, and I was confused on the 2000 too. But it's been awhile since I was in High School. Maybe the scoring changed? I still think it was a dumb side story because it's not going to go anywhere. They will never mention that girl again. It was a very dumb side story. I know that they are in HS, and all these trivial things happen to them, like Flo Rida songs, but I could have done without that saga. Plus it also brought Blair back to the front of that group. Jenny's next move? Some kid named Asher? Really?

Marmot: I can't get over the costumes. During the scene where John Mayer goes to Chuck's hotel to find his girlfriend, I half-expected Chuck to walk out from his bedroom wearing a purple tuxedo and matching top hat, a la Willy Wonka. Which would have yielded hilarious results.

Manatee: I know what you mean about the costumes, they are a little over the top since the strike. I do like them though, just because they are different and basically unrealistic and fun. And it leads to a good marketing scam: http://cwtv.com/thecw/ggstyle

Ugly Betty

Thursday, April 24th @ 8 PM

ABC

Ugly Betty - Season 2 - Episode 14 - "Twenty Four Candles"

ABC.com

Betty's plans to spend a romantic 24th birthday with Henry are sidelined when his Baby Mama Charlie drops in unexpectedly. Will Gio be able to salvage Betty's big day? Meanwhile, Wilhelmina does her devious best to spoil Renee's blossoming relationship with Daniel by hinting there's some dark secrets in her sister's past. (ABC.com)

Marmot: Fugly Betsy is back!

Manatee: She is indeed! My first thought was, "Why am I watching this show, again?" I vowed during the strike to cancel my TiVo recording of the series. But here I am for the sake of this blog.

Marmot: This episode seemed a little better than the ones in the first half of the season, but I'm wondering if that's because I hadn't watched it in a while and forgot that it sucks.

Manatee: That's a possibility. I realized that I dislike all the characters, even Betty. The only one I kind of like is Gio. Everyone else is less than entertaining. I couldn't care less what happens to Amanda, Henry, Charlie, Mark, and Wilhelmina, Daniel, his sister, his mother, or Vanessa Williams' sister. That is about 98 % of the show.

Marmot: I really don't like Betty. Her appeal wore off halfway through last season. The only thing that kept me interested was the supporting characters. But lately, Vanessa Williams has been all Wicked Witch and Daniel has gone completely the opposite direction. In Season One, all the characters had depth. I wonder if that wasn't a criticism, that the show didn't focus enough on Betty.

Manatee: Perhaps, but with the focus on more on Betty, I find the episodes more predictable. Duh Charlie shows up, Duh Charlies gets sick, Duh Gio shows up late to work with cake and then gives Betty everything she wants and then Duh, Betty stills goes home to Henry. Side Note: Do you think Betty and Henry have sex? Or they are waiting?

Marmot: I think they have, but I'm note sure that I want to think about it that much. It's not a pretty sight, I'm sure. And I don't know what they'd be waiting for. He moves to Arizona in a few months/end of the season.

Manatee: Yeah, when is Henry moving? I thought it was coming up sooner than this? My thought is Henry will leave, she'll realize she likes Gio, Gio will move on and it will be a repeat of Season 1 when the guy from the office supply store commercials was on the show and played her BF.

Marmot: That guy was on My Name is Earl a couple weeks ago. He played Betty's ex boyfriend. I keep hoping that Jayma Mays (Charlie) will just replace Henry on this show. And Betty. And Daniel.

Manatee: I hate to say it (wait, who am I kidding, I really don't...) I don't like Betty - I find her super annoying. I've had enough of her Queens charm at Mode. She wants to be a writer but she sucks. She takes a class, steals an article, and nothing happens. She is a career assistant, and career assistants don't make interesting TV subjects. The only time she was promoted was Season 1 and that was a joke to get at Daniel (Salma Hayek's character "played" Betty).

Marmot: I don't like her either. But I did like it more when she was an annoying assistant instead of the lynch-pin for the whole Meade Empire. Maybe they should change it up next season, refocus the show, and call it Hot Amanda. Or Gay Younger Nephew.

Manatee: Yes, Gay Younger Nephew gets my vote! He's awesome! I really don't want to focus on another season - I can't believe they are bringing it back.

Marmot: This show is going to go until people stop watching it or until they stop watching Grey's Anatomy and forget that Ugly Betty is a better choice than My Name is Earl or Survivor.

Manatee: We should start a campaign to end the show? What can we send to ABC to get the point across?

Marmot: Season One DVD's with notes that say "Make it do this again"?

Lost

Thursday, April 24th @ 10 PM

ABC

Lost - Season 4 - Episode 9 - "The Shape of Things to Come"

"The smoke monster attacks Major Nelson."

The team from the ship attacks Locke's camp looking for Ben, with Alex as a hostage. Meanwhile, the doctor from the ship washes up on shore at Jack's camp, and Daniel Faraday provides some distressing news to Jack.

Manatee: So I know I am new to Lost, but my biggest concern with this week's episode was this "Smoke monster"... I know I was not around Season 1, but what's up with the supernatural element being introduced here?

Marmot: Team Darlton (Showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse) have gone on record as saying that everything on the show is based in some sort of real science and there is nothing supernatural about it. That being said, no one knows what the smoke monster is. It's made a number of appearances through the show's run and this isn't the first time we've seen it kill. However, this is the first time it's (seemingly) been summoned.

Manatee: OK, supernatural aside, how do you feel about the use of this "smoke monster?" When the characters are in a jam, they run into a secret room and release a monster? I think it was lazy writing... just a way to get the characters out of the situation.

Marmot: It was a glaring example of deus ex machina, but there's a lot more there than a simple "rescue". Smokey has been around since the show's beginning and no one knows what it is, where it comes from, where it came from or what it does. The only thing that's ever been said about it is that it's the island's "security system". So while it may seem (and may be) a bit lazy, writing-wise, it opens up another aspect of the story; a larger piece of the puzzle, if you will.

Manatee: Hmmm... interesting. I got the sense that there were a lot of puzzle pieces on this episode. How or why did Ben end up in the desert?

Marmot: That is a great question. Earlier this season, the redhead from the boat (Charlotte Staples - or "CS" - Lewis) was seen in a flashback digging for a skeleton in the Tunisian desert, Indiana Jones style. She found what she was looking for: a polar bear with a Dharma collar on it.

Manatee: So that means, the desert is a sort of point of entry? Is there a weird time travel thing going on? Or another dimension?

Marmot: That's what I'm thinking. For the last season or so, there have been signs pointing that LOST centers around some kind of time travel/wormhole theory, but of course, no one knows. What was really interesting was the fact that Ben was wearing a Dharma-brand parka when he woke up in the desert. Much like you would wear somewhere a polar bear lives. Hmmmmm?

Manatee: What's Dharma?

Marmot: Oh boy.

Manatee: What?! I'm new!

Marmot: The DHARMA Initiative is a research project that was founded by two scientists from the University of Michigan, Karen and Gerald DeGroot, and funded by Alvar Hanso. The project focused on different fields, psychology, parapsychology, electromagnetism, zoology, etc. and was based on the island. In the first season, Locke and Boone stumble upon a hatch in the middle of the jungle. In Season Two, we learn that the hatch was the entrance to the Swan, one of at least 6 Dharma stations located on or around the island. This is the station that focused on electromagnetism and the one that had the infamous "button".

Manatee: And you had a hard time following along with Gossip Girl!

Marmot: Here's where it gets crazy. Benjamin Linus came to the island with his father, who signed up for the Dharma Initiative. Over time, he grew to hate his father and his life in the Dharma camp. Around this time, he discovered that there was already a group of people living on the island. With their help, he led what is known as "the purge" or "the incident", which refers to the mass extermination of the Dharma people. IE, Ben gassed them all and buried them in a mass grave.

Manatee: Wow, he is evil! He killed his own dad! So who were the people already there? And did Ben become their "leader" post gas?

Marmot: That's what so great about Ben's character. You start to feel pathos for him, like in last week's episode, and you forget that he killed dozens of people, even if it was 20 years ago. As far as the people that were already on the island go, no one knows where they came from. What's interesting about them is that when Ben met what is to be assumed their leader at the time, Richard Alpert, he was the same age in the flashback as when we had seen him previously in the season in real time, even though 15 years had gone by. So towards the end of last season, Ben's leadership of this group, The Others, was being challenged by a new "chosen one" - John Locke. We haven't seen Richard Alpert or the other Others at all yet this season, but I have a feeling that they're coming back soon.

Manatee: I think I'm more confused now, then before I watched this episode.

Under One Roof

Wednesday, April 24th, 2008 at 8 PM

MyNetworkTV

Under One Roof, Season 1 - Episode # 2 - Cell Out

"Kiss My Pork Dumplings!" (Mynetworktv.com)

Marmot: Speaking of rich people… Watching Under One Roof is painful. Really painful. I imagine the bends to be more pleasurable than watching this show.

Manatee: I did not realize all episodes were going to be about ex-cons visiting this Beverly Hills mansion. I want us to keep a running tab of all the "Gay" Prison jokes! I think this episode was 4.

Marmot: Which would be halfway okay, if it was like on Scrubs, when Dr. Cox calls JD a girl's name. The writers actually kept a list of the ones they'd used.

Manatee: But Flavor Flav is just creepy. Way creepier than Dr. Cox. Even with a name like "Cox."

Marmot: no kidding

Manatee: What do you think of the cast? I think that wife sucks, and the daughter looks about 30 when she's supposed to be 16!

Marmot: The wife is terrible, the son is terrible, the dad is in the wrong show and the maid is just embarrassing.

Manatee: and your thoughts on my fav and yours: Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison)?

Marmot: Where were his flip up sunglasses? I would like to think this is what happened to his character after A Different World ended. He went to prison and then pulled some semi-elaborate rouse to escape and rob from a bunch of rich people. Which really made no sense. He had the opportunity to make a lot more money embezzling, which wouldn't have been hard, seeing as how those rich gay guys were willing to give him a 6 figure salary after meeting him once. But instead, he holds them up at gunpoint in their underwear? Why did he make them take their clothes off, anyway?

Manatee: I was wondering that myself... but let's be realistic, underwear are sexier! But he did reference wanting to see some chick's booty. The real question is: Why did Kadeem feel it was necessary to gain 75 pounds for this role?

Marmot: I have no idea. Maybe that's what you do in prison to make yourself undesirable. You know, because all that happens in prison is gay rape. Just endless gay rape. Here's another question: Why does the maid always refer to herself in the third person?

Manatee: Hmm.. tough one - because maybe they'd confuse her with another Asian Maid in the house? Why did the writers make her say such terribly racist comments too? Do you think the actress (Emily Kuroda) was like “Wow, thanks for setting back Asian American culture 200 Years”, or like “Wow, that's revolutionary comedy!”

Marmot: I think she was like, "Wow, I'm employed." The writing is just...there isn't even a word harsh enough to describe it. It's unforgivable. Lazy, clichéd, just terrible. It feels like it was written by 13-year-olds illiterates. Listening to the dialogue is like having a dull spoon burrow through your brain. The jokes are terrible, cliched and just dumb. It's beyond insulting or patronizing. I think even the laugh track is embarrassed.

Manatee: It does have a sort of embarrassed laughter feel to it. I ask that any My Network TV Exec out there reading this blog, writes in and tells us WHY they put this series on the air! I can think of a million better ideas than this show. Even if you want it done cheap and to star Flavor Flav. Hire us, this blog is funnier than your show.

Marmot: So are we going to watch it again?

Manatee: I have to admit, I think I'll give it a 3rd round. If for no other reason that to keep the "Gay Prison Joke" Tally going! Total as of now: 9 (+/- 1).

Special Feature: The Mythical, Mystical Grey Wolf Answers Your TV Law Questions

Special Feature: The Mythical, Mystical Grey Wolf Answers Your TV Law Questions

MandM: Would jurors go to an on-site visit? Specifically in a civil case, against a land lord to see the bad apartment in question?

Grey Wolf: Yes, this happens regularly. The funny thing about it is that the Judge is actually required to wear his robe and carry his gavel on the on-site visit because Court is in session during the visit. It's pretty funny.

MandM: What is the highest sentence for a rapist? Specifically, this case takes place in RI, where a (one time, not serial) rapist comes forward 15 years after the fact, and the judge and the victim want to give Life in Prison?

Grey Wolf: In Rhode Island, the crime is called sexual assault (as opposed to Rape) and the penalty for first degree sexual assault is not less than 10 years in prison up to life in prison. RI General Law s 11-37-3. It is irrelevant as to whether the person is a serial rapist or when the rape occurred.

MandM: Let's say another plea bargain is made with the DA and the victim on board for 5 years. Can a judge say no and try to give the rapist life?

Grey Wolf: A judge can reject a plea agreement, but it rarely happens because judges are more concerned with clearing their calendars than anything else and a plea agreement takes the case off a judge's calendar. If the judge rejects the plea agreement, the case goes to trial. The judge cannot reject a plea agreement and then do his own sentence without a conviction at trial. This is because a plea agreement is a contract and if the defendant does not get the sentence he was promised in the agreement, there is no contract.

MandM: What's the maximum money you could be awarded in RI court in a civil case against a landlord? Is 20,000 compensatory and 600,000 punitive realistic for rat bites to a 6 year old?

Grey Wolf: There is no maximum. It's what the compensatory damages are as proven in trial supported by evidence and determined by the jury. In this scenario, the punitive damages are excessive. The rule is that a jury can only award punitive damages in an amount of 2-9 times the compensatory damages. So, the maximum allowable amount of punitives that can be awarded on a $20,000 judgment is $180,000. There have been cases where a jury has exceeded that limit, but the punitive damage award was struck down by the appellate court. However, this does not usually happen because a jury receives an instruction on the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded.

MandM: Is it possible for an employer or potential employer to check your bar results? Or can they hear through gossip? I assume real lawyers gossip at bars
after work like on TV?

Grey Wolf: Yes, but only whether you passed or failed. If you pass the bar, you will be sworn into the bar and, in California, you will be listed as a member of the bar on the Internet. Moreover, an employer can require that you obtain a certificate of good standing from the bar as a condition of employment. There was a famous case (in the legal community, it wasn't OJ level) where a law graduate didn't passed the bar, but told a big firm that he did pass the bar and they allowed him to start working at the firm. When they found out that he failed the bar, all hell broke loose because it was essentially malpractice to allow the person to work at the firm as a lawyer. After that case, it became common for firms to check that attorneys passed the bar.

MandM: Is there really an informal switching during opening statements? Shouldn't there be a more formal, "and now let's here from the defense?" And how do they decide who goes first? Flip a coin?

Grey Wolf: There is no informal switching. One side will finish and the other side then goes. Usually, the judge will say the other attorney's name and tell them to go. The order is determined by rule (not a coin toss). It is always the plaintiff goes first and then the defense. In closing, the plaintiff goes first, then the defense, then the plaintiff gets a short rebuttal.

Gossip Girl (1.13)

Monday, April 21st, 2008 @ 8 PM

CW
Gossip Girl – Season 1, Episode 13 – “The Blair Bitch Project”

Having been recently dethroned as Queen Bee in the last episode by Gossip Girl, with an assist from scheming "little J" (Taylor Momsen), Blair (Leighton Meester) hesitantly returns to school with the support of her BFF, Serena (Blake Lively). Meanwhile, Serena struggles to adjust to her new living arrangements with her future step-brother, Chuck (Ed Westwick), while receiving disturbing packages from an unknown sender. Jenny's drive to be popular hits an all-new time high when she does something illegal to fit in with her new Upper East Side friends. (CW.com)

Send in the clowns. (CW)

Marmot: It's a lot different than LOST.

Manatee: It is A LOT different than Lost, but really, how different is it from 90210? Besides the location, it's the same show.

Marmot: Just replace The Peach Pit with Butter. So, as an outsider, I had no idea what was going on. First, why was the guy from Panic at the Disco in the blonde's bathroom? And why was in a suit with the door closed and the shower going? That's going to make him sweat, which would destroy his cool outer demeanor.

Manatee: But you loved it right? I was counting down the months, the days till this show would be back on, and I must say, I was not disappointed. Well, even though you only missed 13 episodes, it probably feels like a 100. It's a total soap opera with many crazy story lines. Panic aka Chuck was in Sabrina's bathroom in his school uniform to tick her off. You see they are new step siblings. Basically all you need to know on Chuck is that he is a douche. A douche with a lot of money.

Marmot: I don't know if "loved it" is entirely accurate. It's not terrible, and I'll definitely watch it again. I just kind of hate all of these characters as people. Except for Chuck.

Manatee: The only one I really like is Dan and maybe his Dad. He throws a mean party. But the rest are rich a-holes. That has always been a criticism of the show, the unrelatable characters. It's never bothered me before... maybe because TV is entertainment; it's not always "life." If I wanted realistic I'd watch CNN or Discovery Health. Sometimes I just want to sit for 60 minutes and not think, just enjoy an hour of complete debauchery.

Marmot: Which one was Dan? John Mayer?

Manatee: Yes.

Marmot: Here's something else I was wondering. Why do all the boys at this "high school" wear a uniform, but the girls wear clown costumes?

Manatee: I love the costume designer. I think he is so inventive and creative. It's not just fancy clothes; there is a real look to it, even if you want to call it the circus look. It was a weird episode for you to come in on too, but in a way a good one. I could tell that it was the 1st one back from the strike - there were a few side characters that just disappeared and a few new ones appear and act like they belong there (maybe some casting dilemmas). It did not feel like a continuous flow from the last episode in January to now. It seemed like the start of a fresh season. If I were them, I'd just keep shooting and air through the summer. This is one of those shows that could use the momentum behind it.

Marmot: I didn't feel completely lost watching it last night. I kind of liked coming in midway. I may have missed some storylines, but getting to piece it all together made it a little more engaging. One thing I was wondering, is this a school for gifted kids, rich kids or both? Because all of their dialogue is way beyond what most kids can handle nowadays.

Manatee: I think just for rich kids, some fancy private school in the Met. But Mayer is there on a scholarship because he is smart and wants to go to Dartmouth.

Marmot: Wait, if it's a high school, why are they drinking out at clubs all the time? Does no one card in NYC?

Manatee: That's a good question. I think when you have so much money, you just slip the waitress a $100 and she serves you. Daddy's credit card can go a long way. Basically all these kids do bad things and their parents bail them out financially. There was a whole episode about that, where the kids went swimming in New Amsterdam's pool because one person has a key. A kid dies (or almost dies) and then the head mistress of the school says if the culprit does not come forth something bad will happen. Boy does Dan worry. But the thing is, no one else sweats because mom and dad can pay their way out, but not Dan. So you see all these 14 and 16 year old kids misbehaving 21st century style in Manhattan. I mean the story does not work if it's Podunk, Oklahoma you know?

Marmot: So will their adventures suffer in a recession?

Manatee: I doubt it. It's old money. I'm sure their grandkids will be able to party without worry, too.

Canterbury's Law (1.6)

Friday, April 18th @ 9pm 

Fox

Canterbury’s Law – Season 1, Episode 6 – “What Goes Around” (Season Finale)

"Vote Martin for President 2008"

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

Manatee: It was interesting that Cant law pulled a Law & Order - ripped from the headlines - Friday night.

Marmot:  Which headline was that?

Manatee:The one where the alcoholic sends an apology letter to a woman from college whom he raped some 15 years prior (because of his AA) and she has to open old wounds, and her family finds out, and then she calls the cops. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-03-15-UVA-sex-attack_N.htm

Marmot:I'm glad you told me that, because i was giving them way more credit than they deserved for coming up with that story

Manatee: It was a pretty popular story this winter, and quite interesting and unique... how could you think for a second they came up with that out of plain air?

Marmot: Yeah, that was pretty dumb of me.  I'll say this, some of this episode was not entirely terrible.  And by some, I mean 2 scenes

Manatee: I agree. It definitely wasn't the worst. One problem right off the bat with that story was this: The girl lackey says, "I thought we did not rep rapist?" I'm sorry in episode # 2 did Liz not defend a sex offender (who we saw last week get off the list)? In that episode he was accused of being a pedophile!  And he was on the list for sleeping with his underage girlfriend! Huh? What's with the double standard or the world's worst memory?

Marmot:  Elizabeth Canterbury defends whomever will bring her the best ratings. If its a pedophile, or a rapist, or a couple of teenage girls accused of murdering their friend, than so be it.

Manatee: Why bother bringing up that point now? I think we get it. Don't need lackey # 56789 to point that out in the series finale.... uhhh did I say series, I meant season.  Molly, I think that's her name, is so flip floppy / wishy washy. One week she wants to defend Liz against allegations that she was immoral in court, and the next she wants to quit due to some alcoholic rapist... do I smell Season 2, Molly was raped by her college boyfriend and that's why she becomes suicidal and Liz and Russell have to talk her down from the edge in the opener?

Marmot: I would hope that Russell would just give her a little push. You know, just help her a little. I think the real story this episode is where was Martin?

Manatee:  Bahamas.

Marmot:  But why? That's what I want to know. Why does their intern suddenly go to the Bahamas? This is the interesting story here.  Not the rapist, not the slums

Manatee: I think Season 2 should follow Martin in the Bahamas, and all the wacky things that happen to him, like Weekend at Bernie's the series.

Marmot: Like he gets framed for murder for killing his boss? Weekend at Canterbury's?

Manatee: Smells like a spin-off to me!

Marmot: The other thing of course was the B-story in this episode - 

The blue suede shoes.

Manatee: Not enough air time in my opinion.

Marmot: They should get their own spin-off.

Manatee: What do you think about the fact that for 6 episodes we have been bashed over the head with the missing child thing, and I finally realized last night, would Liz not be pounding down the police station doors asking for answers, asking for them to reopen the case? Would she not ask Frank to investigate? Would she not do her own investigation? Put an image on a milk carton?  I mean, she is a high power attorney, doesn't that carry some weight? Talking about it is one thing, but acting is another... and Liz seems proactive, so why the character flaw? Why doesn't she try (Besides that half ass psychic attempt early on)?

Marmot:  It seems to me that she would have put her practice on hold to find her son. It does seem like a half-hearted attempt on her part. Maybe this is a story they were planning on exploring down the line.  Thank god this was the last episode of this show. I don't think I could take many more of these.

Manatee: Ditto.