Moonlight (1.14)

Friday, May 2nd, 2008 @ 9 PM
CBS
Moonlight - Season 1 - Episode 14 - "Click"

CBS

A rising Hollywood Starlet is murdered after she hires Mick as part of her security detail. (CBS.com)

Manatee: I know last week I tore this show apart. I shamed myself by admitting that I would watch it again, and then CBS lets me down. As you can see from the photo that I have chosen above, this show is about the murky, dark, scary underworld of Los Angeles vampires. What has been so attractive about this series is seeing a new, different side of LA then the glamed up super-celebrity world of HBO's Entourage. However, episode #14 from Friday is making it hard for me to stick up for this series... again.

There were "celebrities" left and right, and paparazzi (I knew it was only a matter of time before paparazzi revealed their true selves - vampires! haha, alittle LA humor) trailing right and left. They filmed the "usual" LA spots - fancy outdoor cafes, shiny new cars, studio lots. I liked the downtown loft at night (mostly because no one in their right mind goes downtown after sunset, unless of course you are a vampire), the unpretentious beach apartment, the outdoor parks, the beach, the morgue. What happened to those? I used to forget it took place in the entertainment capitol, while still celebrating LA's architecture and it's dark underbelly. "Click" was too "industry" as they say here in LA. It had the "riped from the headlines" feel of Law & Order, only ripped from the "Perez Hilton" headlines (if you don't know Perez Hilton, check out: perezhilton.com, that will answer all your questions).

The episode was shot almost entirely during the day. It was too bright for my Friday 9 pm eyes. Though the story did revolve around a murder, the tone was still a little too light and fluffy for me. I want the dark morbidity back. The writing and characters were so cliche. The brooding Emo rock star with long dark hair, a purple velvet blazer, and the record that's almost hit. The Hollywood Starlet with the short skirt and fast car (did the teaser remind anyone else of CSI Miami?) who drives Beth crazy with jealousy. The psycho stalking paparazzi who blackmails the starlet. The money stealing manager. The overzealous security man who says "trust me," and then turns... oh wait, that's just Mick, vampire; America's Sweetheart; your favorite Friday night PI.

Just on a story level: how, all of a sudden, did Mick turn into security as opposed to a PI? And why did he take such a liking to the starlet? The writer created this character to make Beth jealous, to stir a little controversy between her and Mick... and the new ADA Benjamin Talbot (Eric Winter) - I smell a threesome.

Miss/Guided (1.2 & 1.3)

Thursday, March 20th, 2008 at 8 & 8:30 PM

ABC

Miss/Guided, Season 1 - Episode #2- "Hot Sub" & Episode #3 - "The List"

ABC

Marmot: I'll be the man who will fight for your honor, I'll be the hero that you're dreaming of... Best reuse of a cheesy 80s song goes to Miss/Guided. Sorry – TWO cheesy 80s songs!

Manatee: And cheesy 80s/Forever 21 clothing!

Marmot: That's one thing I love about this show: retro feel with a modern sensibility.

Manatee: I find myself wanting to hate this show, but I can't. I thought that the Ashton Kutcher guest role would be a cheap way of getting the audience to tune in, but I actually liked him on the show (though it was a way to draw the audience). He was pretty fun. The show overall is very delightful.

Marmot: I thought his performance was great. The character was nothing I haven't seen before, but that's pretty much all of them. Chris Parnell is growing on me a little, though.

Manatee: I was going to ask you that. I felt better about him this week too. But I could have done without the back to back Spears. First you get the terrible Jamie Lynn Spears (she's almost too "celebrity" now for that kind of role) and then the remake of the infamous Britney crotch shot.

Marmot: It's funny you say that about Jamie Lynn Spears, because I didn't know who she was. Until the credits. The shows definitely pulls a lot of inspiration from pop culture. But then some of the jokes feel really dated. I guess that's part of the Retro sensibility.

Manatee: I guess I read too many gossip rags, so I know who JL Spears is! And you're right, I did notice a lot of pop culture reference, like who gets plastic surgery in high school! I guess at least they didn't when I was a young manatee. Nor did they have blogs about HS gossip!

Marmot: But they did make reference to a slam book, which is funny because I had never heard of one before I saw Mean Girls. People were generally nice at East Marmot High.

Manatee: I still don't know what a Slam Book is! But I do love Gossip Girl, so I know all about the blogosphere, if you will. Rich Manhattan teens getting drunk and horning and having it posted on the WWW.

Marmot: Where is here school supposed to be? I know it says Glen Ellen, but that could be anywhere, including Encino, where it's shot.

Manatee: I'm going say it has to be in Cali. Who else would let their 16 year old daughter get plastic surgery?!

Marmot: Did she get plastic surgery? I wasn't clear on that. I thought she may have actually had something like a deviated septum that was operated on.

Manatee: That's possible. I thought maybe I missed it. But Chris Parnell sure had a laugh out of it! Perhaps it was just a routine nose operation.

Marmot: I feel like Chris Parnell gets a laugh out of a lot.

Manatee: Including his little butler and then the "non-gay" Village People photos!

Marmot: The only thing I worry about is where the show is going. Or where it could go. I feel like they've almost written themselves into a corner.

Manatee: Perhaps that is why they are burning up all the episodes - they have it on back to back each Thursday till April.