Brothers & Sisters S2 E5: Domestic Issues

SPOILER ALERT!

Kitty is pregnant!

And look who's ecstatic and starts coming up with baby names:

• Tommy talks to Lena and tells her they should keep it professional. Lena is pretty blunt by saying she wished things were different. Holly talks to Lena, too but something else was about to happen. Bad, bad girl that Lena!
  
• Joe is a scumbag! He demands primary custody of Paige and Cooper in his divorce from Sarah. Kevin lawyers up for his sister. But Kevin isn't confident of his abilities but he still advices Sarah what to do. In the end, Joe won custody and Sarah is crushed. Joe picks up the kids while Nora's there, and momma dearest gives him the treatment he deserves. Whoo!
  
• Justin overhears his mom and Kitty....and gossips about it to the family.
  
• Kitty and Robert get into an argument about what this pregnancy would mean to the campaign. Kitty takes her stand, as always.
  

Ah, these Walkers, how tough they all are. Uhm, except for Tommy....he's tempted by a manipulative woman. :P

[Brothers and Sisters]

Samantha Who S1 E3: The Wedding

While listening to countless angry messages left on her machine, Samantha ponders about one truthful fact: "Everyone hated me, except for one friend from high school and, for some reason, my boyfriend." Until she receives her bridesmaid dress for a wedding she cannot remember, on account of her recovering from amnesia.

Samantha attends the wedding to know who actually liked her enough to make her bridesmaid. But before the ceremony even started, she meets the bride at the hallway and she wasn't too pleased Sam was there. Turns out, Sam had started a wedding pool to bet on how long the marriage will last and in the process, she got herself uninvited from the wedding. Only of course, she couldn't remember all those details.

So Sam tries to make peace with the bride, who happens to be moneyed and influential. While trying to be back in her circle, she inadvertently ditches her high school chum, Dena, for them. In the end, Sam realizes (via a flashback she conveniently remembers) these "friends" of hers are horrible people and tries to woo back the only friend who actually likes her (Dena).




Also present at the wedding was Sam's boyfriend, who she broke up with after her accident/amnesia, after realizing she wasn't treating him right. Boyfriend Todd is played by Barry Watson (Seventh Heaven), and it looks like he is starting to see the changes in Samantha. Will they get back together?

Samantha Who? is probably the surprise hit of the season. And other than Christina Applegate's perfect comedic timing, also equally delightful to watch is Jean Smarts, who plays her mother and Jennifer Esposito, who plays her other friend.



[Samantha Who]

October 29 - Monday's Ratings

1. “Dancing with the Stars” (8-9:30) (ABC) 21.57m
2. “Samantha Who?” (ABC) 15.36m
3. “CSI: Miami” (CBS) 15.19m
4. “Two and a Half Men” (CBS) 14.12m
5. “Rules of Engagement” (CBS) 11.24m
6. “The Bachelor” (ABC) 10.59m
7. “Heroes” (NBC) 10.45m
8. “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) 8.92m
9. “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS) 8.55m
10. “Chuck” (NBC) 7.03m
11. “Journeyman” (NBC) 5.93m
12. “House” (Repeats) (FOX) 5.82m
13. “K-Ville” (Repeats) (FOX) 4.00m
14. “Everybody Hates Chris” (CW) 2.50m
15. “The Game” (CW) 2.40m
16. “Girlfriends” (CW) 2.24m
17. “Aliens in America” (CW) 2.11m

Heroes continues to lose its audience, affecting the show following it (Journeyman). Now that one doesn't only lose audience week after week like Heroes, it couldn't even retain the audience from its lead-in. It continues to lose 35% of those who tune to Heroes. Not a good combination. Journeyman should be given a chance because it's a good one. A better time slot should work wonders.

Wounded Up

It's amazing how much I pressure myself when in a tight fix. It's like watching the Energizer Bunny. On sugar rush, yet. But it's actually these things I enjoy best. I tend to cram everything and stress myself out. When I'm doing that, it makes me feel very controlled and useful. That's the Virgo in me talking.

Just yesterday, I managed to:

• write my income-producing blogs
• cook a pasta dish
• prep the living and dining room
• throw a lunch party with my extended families
• take a nap in the middle of that
• gush at my baby niece who I just want to pinch all day
  
• subscribe to live feeds on Big Brother
• did transcripts of that for a few minutes, for my GirlTalkin' sisters
  
• watch my TV backlogs
• visit a friend in nearby Pasig
• had an incident at a gas station which took at least an hour to be done
  
• watch regular TV
• read a book
• sleep for more than my usual four hours

Anyway, catching up on TV

Heroes S2 E5 - Fight or Flight: This was the episode Kristen Bell makes her appearance and for obvious reasons, I could not shake Veronica Mars off her. Especially when she questioned the Irish guy on Peter Petrelli's whereabouts --- that's usually what VM does.

Bionic Woman: Ah...I purposely did not watch last week's episode. I am considering dropping it now. I've wasted enough time.

Chuck S1 E5 - Chuck vs The Sizzling Shrimp: The episode felt like Rush Hour or some Hong Kong movie. What's with the freeze framing on the fight scenes, though? There are attempts at showing Chuck's personal life and relationship with his sister, perhaps to give this show some heart. But it was slightly creepy. In the premiere episode, it took me awhile to get into the idea that they are siblings. And it's still the same after five episodes.

Dirty Sexy Money S1 E5 - The Bridge: This show is my Brother & Sisters for this year, in terms of watchability... and alright, maybe in similar ways, it's a lot like B&S because of the family element to it. DSM just keeps getting better and better. It's fun watching how they live, with the kind of lifestyle they have. It's also interesting to see how they fix their mess. Or how Nick fixes it for them.

• The twins are bratty millionaires but I'm still hoping they get their act together and come out winners.
• Brian, the pastor, is evil and ill-tempered in many ways but I love the fact that, more than God, he's afraid of his wife. Bwahaha.
• Karen is the manipulative sweetheart, hence her character is likeable.
• The only Darling sibling I don't warm up to is Patrick. Politicians just suck.

Friday Night Lights S2 E4 - Backfire: Julie realizes the young guy she's got her eyes on isn't exactly prince charming material. Thank god she saw that very early. And hooray for the coach! He returns to Dillon Panthers! Although, I know this is just a set-up for what should happen next. Lawsuits may be involved, as the fired coach accuses Coach Taylor of backdooring him so that he gets his job back.

Journeyman S1 E5 - The Legend of Dylan McCleen: I hated the fact that Dan's ability (time traveling) is starting to affect even his son. But, what can he do? He still doesn't know how to control it well. Traveling back to the 70's and talking to his father at work was interesting to watch. Journeyman is an underrated show that deserves more attention.

Life S1 E5 - The Fallen Woman: It's difficult to watch a procedural drama when I have guests in the house. But what I have managed to gather from this episode is that a diabolical character plays nemesis to Charlie Crews. Cool. Potential recurring character.

[Heroes], [Dirty Sexy Money], [Journeyman], [Life], [Chuck], [Friday Night Lights]

October 28 - Sunday's Ratings

1. “World Series Game 4” (8:30-11) (FOX) 19.72m
2. “Desperate Housewives” (ABC) 18.10m
3. “World Series Game 4 Pre-Game” (FOX) 16.58m
4. “NFL Football Overrun” (FOX) 15.42m
5. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (ABC) 14.07m
6. “60 Minutes” (CBS) 13.02m
7. “Brothers & Sisters” (ABC) 12.75m
8. “The OT” (FOX) 12.21m
9. “Cold Case” (CBS) 11.69m
10. “Shark” (CBS) 10.27m
11. “CSI” (R) (CBS) 9.41m
12. “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (ABC) 9.16m
13. “Movie: The Bourne Supremacy” (8-10:30) (NBC) 5.88m
14. “Dateline” (NBC) 3.59m
15. “Football Night in America” (NBC) 3.58m
16. “America’s Next Top Model” (CW) 1.42m
17. “Life is Wild” (CW) 1.10m
18. “Aliens in America” (R) (CW) 0.75m
19. “CW Now” (CW) 0.74m

October 26 - Friday's Ratings

1. “Deal or No Deal” (NBC) 10.50m
2. “Ghost Whisperer” (CBS) 9.87m
3. “Numb3rs” (CBS) 9.68m
4. “Women’s Murder Club” (ABC) 8.90m
5. “Moonlight” (CBS) 8.56m
6. “Las Vegas” (NBC) 8.18m
7. “Men in Trees” (ABC) 6.51m
8. “Friday Night Lights” (NBC) 5.88m
9. “Friday Night Smackdown!” (8-10) (CW) 4.61m
10. “Grey’s Anatomy” (Repeat) (ABC) 4.31m
11. “The Next Great American Band” (8-10) (FOX) 2.87m

Ugh. With so much to do this week, I was not been able to watch a quarter of shows on my list. And November Sweeps is starting. I don't think I can catch up.

On the brighter side, this week's long holiday is a time for family bonding. Slowing down on TV watching affords me to spend time with my big extended family, on both sides.

• Extended in-laws from abroad are visiting.
• My cousins and their kids are coming over. Since school is out, the kids have more time to play. Or fight. Whatever comes first.
  
• Our baby niece is learning how to react to people now. Watching her, talking to her --- it takes all the tiredness I feel away.
• My son and his elder half-sister are catching up on each other and that's great.

I've got my own family drama or sitcom to watch this week. And you know what? It's the best show yet.

Ugly Betty S2 E5: Hot Dates

• Betty goes out on a real date with a guy she meets online. She wasn't what he expected. And Betty thought they were having a good time. She ends up kissing Henry, though.
• Mode is in big trouble. Advertisers started pulling out. They need money to run the magazine, so siblings Daniel and Alex meet with their dad to ask for a loan. But Alex suddenly remembers the real stand of her relationship with Bradford Mead. And how she actually planned to kill her father.
• Justin has skipped school, has driven his mother's car towards a tree, has gotten arrested by the police. Hilda talks to Justin. They both miss Santos very badly.
• And the cliffhanger of this episode: Christina, who is also looking to date somebody online, does meet someone in the chatroom. But, it turns out --- he's her husband.
  

[Ugly Betty]

Scrubs S7 E1: My Own Worst Enemy

Hey, sports fans...I smell something awful. And it isn't Turk (who embarrassingly admitted he smelled like eggs when he sweats!)

In last night's episode...JD realizes he doesn't love the woman who is pregnant with his baby; Elliot realizes she doesn't love Keith enough to want to marry him. So, are the writers setting up how this show finally ends? With JD and Elliot actually getting together? Are we going back there again? And why am I getting a Garden State-ish feeling about JD in this episode?

I still have lots to love about the premiere though:

• Dame Judy Dorian tells Tony Shalhoub to suck on it. (Zach Braff was nominated and lost to Tony Shalhoub for Best Actor in a Comedy at the Emmys in 2005. Putting that in as a joke was clever.)
  
• The short squeaky intern
  
• Janitor's lady friend named Lady
  

JD: "Who's named Lady?"
Janitor: "She is! She has a brother named Him. So what?"

This would be Scrub's final year. Will you be missing it or do you think it's finally the right time to bow out?

[Scrubs]

Grey's Anatomy S4 E5: Haunt You Everyday

This would have been another episode with quality for Grey's Anatomy, but the Gizzie story line has thrown me off once again. Callie out Izzie in? They are actually together now? Tell me, when did that happen between episode 4 and 5?

Equally surprising (but totally loving the idea!) is the return of Dr. Hahn. Or Dr. Hahn's red scrubs (lovin' it!). Or her confirmation as the new head of cardiothoracic surgery. Or her bitchin' at Christina. Something more is coming from this story line and that's what I want to see!

Meredith washes her mother's ashes in the sink just outside the OR. She's been haunting Mer in her dreams and Mer believes this is where her mother wants to spend forever and ever. Mer's also been trick and treating around the hospital. A little boy is in need of new ears, and she is helping him get that. Mer is in her whimsically dark place....we let her be. Meantime, Derek, who was barely in this episode, realizes he needs to start dating again. Wha? Didn't he just say last week he wants to marry Meredith? Again, tell me what I missed between this week and last?

Ava/Rebecca returns. And leaves... with only her bra? After spending time with Alex in the on-call room (e.g. they had sex), she leaves her blouse on top of the pillow, for Alex to smell. ????

Bailey's marriage is in trouble. It would have been the first night her son gets to experience Halloween and she missed it. While agonizing over that, George apologizes to her with his adultery, and for becoming a disappointment. And Bailey said something that should actually make sense. Except that I got lost in it. What was it about again?

This episode has got me very confused.

But there's one thing I know now ---- Don't get married if you're interning at Seattle Grace. Because all marriages turn really, really bad here.

[Grey's Anatomy]

Oct 24 and Oct 25 - Weds and Thurs Ratings

Oct. 24

1. “World Series Game 1” (FOX) 16.87m
2. “Criminal Minds” (CBS) 14.93m
3. “CSI: NY” (CBS) 13.64m
4. “Private Practice” (ABC) 11.77m
5. “Pushing Daisies” (ABC) 9.45m
6. “Dirty Sexy Money” (ABC) 8.56m
7. “Phenomenon” (Series Debut) (NBC) 8.35m
8. “Kid Nation” (CBS) 8.03m
9. “Bionic Woman” (NBC) 7.78m
10. “Life” (NBC) 6.85m
11. “America’s Next Top Model” (CW) 4.72m
12. “Gossip Girl” (CW) 2.55m

Oct. 25

1. “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) 17.95m
2. “World Series Game 2” (FOX) 15.64m
3. “CSI” (R) (CBS) 14.76m
4. “Survivor: China” (CBS) 14.16m
5. “Without a Trace” (CBS) 12.75m
6. “Ugly Betty” (ABC) 9.84m
7. “ER” (NBC) 9.12m
8. “The Office” (NBC) 8.98m
9. “My Name is Earl” (NBC) 8.23m
10. “Big Shots” (ABC) 8.08m
11. “Scrubs” (Season Premiere) (NBC) 7.03m
12. “30 Rock” (NBC) 6.53m
13. “Smallville” (CW) 4.50m
14. “Supernatural” (CW) 3.27m

Surprised for Bionic Woman rating very low against debuting show Phenomenon when the latter wasn't even worth watching.

The Office S4 E5 Local Ad:

Episode Summary: When the Scranton branch is asked to participate in a Dunder Mifflin ad, Michael seizes his chance to exhibit his creativity. Meanwhile, Dwight explores the online world of Second Life.

RECAP IN FULL
*If you don't see it yet, please check back 10 AM USA Eastern Time*

[The Office]

24 Season 7 Preview: In Which Jack Bauer does Die Hard

Alright, except for the fact that this awfully feels like a Die Hard movie, I think the preview kicked ass. Hence, my face went like this:








Tony is back from the dead...and appears to be the bad guy. But I highly doubt that's the case. Please, let this season be as good as this trailer shows!

Watch here.

[24 Season 7]

Private Practice S1 E5: In Which Addison Finds A Showerhead

This week on Private Practice, I learned that:

1) Addison does not masturbate. And I'm guessing if you had a McDreamy and a McSteamy, you wouldn't need to.

2) She constantly dreams of Pete passionately kissing her.....the effects of a McDiet!

3) The girls, Violet and Naomi, encourage self-gratification....and Naomi needs to get some real soon. The other week it was cakes and now this?

4) Naomi and Sam handle their daughter like grown-ups this time around.

5) Violet handles work as a therapist as efficient and professional as possible, despite going through some emotional issues with her Ex-husband. Allen, shooo!

6) Cooper is a sweetie. I learned that before, so I'm just stressing the fact.

7) Addison shows why she's a board-certified neo....something. When advising boy nurse Dell on what to do before going down on Lady Town (i.e. papsmear), Addison exuded credibility. There's that the doctor I learned to love on Grey's Anatomy!

8) This I learned not from the show, but from googling --- Pete, or the actor who plays him, Tim Daly, is 51 years old!!!


[Private Practice]

Friday Cuteness

I interrupt the program for.... teh cuteness!!!

Chris Pirillo is this geek whose techie videos my husband subscribes to; and he posted something really cute a few days ago.

Look at how well-behaved these two puppies are. They don't move an inch as their human daddy points the video cam at them. What could be going through their minds, I wonder?



From Chris' description of this video:

This year, our two puppies are getting dresed up as Princess Leia and Darth Vader. My wife, Ponzi, came up with the idea.

One minute after I recorded the video, Pixie peed in place and Wicket bit my left hand.

Cuteness!

Pushing Daisies S1 E4: Pigeon

Episode Summary: A plane crash into an apartment building leaves the trio with a case - did the pilot commit suicide? - while Chuck finds herself drawn to the man who appears to be the sole survivor (guest star Dash Mihok), much to Ned’s distress. Meanwhile, Olive takes a wounded messenger pigeon to the Aunts for help.

RECAP IN FULL HERE
*If you don't see it yet, please check back 10 AM USA Eastern Time*

[Pushing Daisies]

Daemons

This is one of those days when I sometimes wish I had another body to do all that I want to do. I took a break from TV yesterday and saw a couple of movies and caught up with reading (a book, yes! NKKBSPA-ko! LOL!).

A friend of mine lent us the Dark Materials series to read before we go and watch The Golden Compass (showing in December). Incidentally, if you visit their official website, there's a quiz there that tells you what your Daemon is. A Daemon in The Golden Compass is like a pet you have with you all the time. Except that, that pet is your "soul". If it dies, you also die.

Daemons are supposedly a reflection of your personality traits. So, the hubby, my son and I took the quiz to find out what creature best represents who we are.

Hubby had a really interesting result, his Daemon was like this magnificent bird or whats-it-called, I forgot. My son's Daemon was a Jaguar or Panther, I forgot too but it was something beastly.

And guess what mine was? A little lady bug (ladybird in the UK)!!!! It's the tamest, safest Daemon you can get. And that could only mean one thing --- I was boring.

Hubby: Kapamilya ng ipis yan, eh! Ipis! Ipis!
Me: Aahhhh! Ang corny ko talaga! Hindi ako ipis! Ang baduy ko! Bakit kayo ang gaganda ng creatures niyo?

My son was laughing at my results and got teased endlessly. :P

Anyway, so.... my TV viewing list is piling up. I'll better hurry up and catch some of it later today. But not without leaving these news first, check it!

• Tomorrow, the trailer for 24 Season 7 will be up at 24Trailer. The show will begin in January 2008.
• Prison Break spin-off, Cherry Hill, in the works!
  
• Amazing Race Season 12 premieres on Nov. 4! This was originally planned for airing in February 2008 but Viva Laughlin has been canceled and that time slot is now ready for another show to occupy.
• CSI and Without A Trace is doing a cross-over. Mother of All Crime Dramas, that's just WOW! The episode will air on November 8. I plan to watch that as soon as it airs.
  

Be back later. I remember, I've got to work on the Pushing Daisies recaps! That takes me three hours or so...man, the things I do for the love of TV. Haaaackkk!

October 23 -Tuesday's Ratings

1. “House” (FOX) 17.87m
2. “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC) 17.82m
3. “NCIS” (CBS) 17.09m
4. “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC) 12.17m
5. “20/20 Special” (ABC) 10.92m
6. “The Unit” (CBS) 10.86m
7. “Bones” (FOX) 8.82m
8. “Cane” (CBS) 7.98m
9. “The Biggest Loser” (8:30-10) (NBC) 7.17m
10. “Carpoolers” (ABC) 7.13m
11. “The Singing Bee” (NBC) 6.82m
12. “Cavemen” (ABC) 6.55m
13. “Beauty and the Geek” (CW) 3.20m
14. “Reaper” (CW) 2.57m

Wonderful episode from House this week. He sent one more fellow packing, mimicking The Bachelor's way of booting a contestant. And now they are down to six aspirants. Next week, Foreman is back at the hospital, working as...House's boss it seems.

October 22 - Monday's Ratings

1. “Dancing with the Stars” (8-9:30) (ABC) 19.96m
2. “CSI: Miami” (CBS) 15.48m
3. “Samantha Who?” (ABC) 14.35m
4. “Two and a Half Men” (CBS) 13.74m
5. “Rules of Engagement” (CBS) 10.82m
6. “Heroes” (NBC) 10.70m
7. “The Bachelor” (ABC) 9.20m
8. “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) 8.72m
9. “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS) 8.60m
10. “Prison Break” (FOX) 7.45m
11. “Chuck” (NBC) 7.14m
12. “Journeyman” (NBC) 6.28m
13. “K-Ville” (FOX) 6.12m
14. “The Game” (CW) 2.54m
15. “Everybody Hates Chris” (CW) 2.53m
16. “Aliens in America” (CW) 2.35m
17. “Girlfriends” (CW) 2.14m

The Monday line-up seems to be my busiest. I am not actually able to watch everything at once, some of these, I skip to watch on weekends. Like last night, I got to watch only two from the line-up: Aliens in America and Samantha Who?

But I backtracked a little and watched the first episode of The Big Bang Theory. Yes, that is back on my list! Evidently, from what I've read, it's the best new sitcom around and I'd like to find out if it really is. I had seen the pre-air last July and found the laugh track very, very, very annoying. I still feel the same after one episode. But I'm supposed to watch the show develop to fully appreciate it. 1 episode down, 4 more to go...

And speaking of Samantha Who? --- ABC Television has found another hit in this one. Look at the ratings. It remains steady with 14+ Million for this week and previously. And you know what? The show ain't so bad either. I'm enjoying it immensely! Samantha Who? stars Christina Applegate (see first photo above) and is a comedy about a woman who wakes up from a coma to discover that before her accident, she was this ultra-bitch who didn't have any good relationships. Realizing that it's not the life she wants to have, Samantha tries to change for the better, while struggling with the fact that she couldn't stand how her former self behaved and treated people.

How I Met Your Mother earned its season high this week, with the funniest episode to date, How I Met Everyone Else. Have yet to watch it but this the first one I'm gonna do later today, when I'm done with real life (e.g. work, family, etcetera...) Speaking of those other distractions, I'm close to sulking in depression again. It's back at the bottom for me, in this roller coaster we all call life. UGH. I refuse to get dragged down by it. Happy thoughts! Happy thoughts! Happy thoughts! Things will fall in its proper place, I know.

Kristen Bell appears on Heroes this week. And she supposedly delivered and saved the show from becoming a one season wonder. How bad is Heroes' free falling?

09/24/07 16,970M 7.3
10/01/07 11,960M 5.5
10/08/07 10,910M 5.1
10/15/07 11,410M 5.2
10/22/07 10,700M 4.9

Those numbers on the far right are crucial. I'm pretty sure Heroes will have another season after this one, but it will continue to lose viewers.

Journeyman --- now that's a show to watch. Never mind the sorry ratings it is getting.

Also on this list is the show Rules of Engagement. It's not part of my regular viewing list but I've gone through Season 1 earlier...and did not enjoy it. :( It's about 30-something couples, people my age, dealing with problems people my age deal with. So, I'm supposedly its audience but I hated this show. Studio 23 is bringing this to local free TV, why????

[Samantha Who?], [The Big Bang Theory], [How I Met Your Mother], [Heroes], [Journeyman]

October 21 - Sunday's Ratings

1. “NFL Football Overrun” (FOX) 20.91m
2. “MLB ALCS Game 7” (FOX) 18.09m
3. “Desperate Housewives” (ABC) 17.78m
4. “The OT” (FOX) 13.74m
5. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (ABC) 13.56m
6. “Brothers & Sisters” (ABC) 11.92m
7. “Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh at Denver” (NBC) 11.82m
8. “Cold Case” (CBS) 11.44m
9. “60 Minutes” (CBS) 11.14m
10. “Shark” (CBS) 10.93m
11. “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (ABC) 8.36m
12. “Viva Laughlin” (CBS) 6.77m
13. “Football Night in America” (NBC) 6.28m
14. “America’s Next Top Model” (R) (CW) 1.61m
15. “Life is Wild” (CW) 1.58m
16. “Aliens in America” (R) (CW) 1.28m
17. “CW Now” (CW) 0.89m

Viva Laughlin is toast. Putting it before Cold Case has slightly affected the ratings of Cold Case.

Desperate Housewives, for the curious, is experiencing a "very creative year", critics say. They've been bringing up the ante, delivering a better show, episode after episode after episode.

Brothers & Sisters 2.4 - State of The Union

Last night on Brothers & Sisters... (SPOILER ALERT)


- Bangs, they're back?

- Justin is an addict to pain killers. Again. He's also addicted to the TV show, The Hills. Note to self: Check that one out!

- Predictable, but ugh! Tommy and Lena...I'm so nervous they'll be having an affair. And Holly's the (angry) voice of reason for Tommy, his father's mistress. Unlikely!

- Saul denies to Kevin he is gay. Still hiding in the closet....

- Too much shouting from Calista...her throat must be hurting.

- Nora needs a new project. She's driving her kids crazy. She's driving me crazy, even if I know how she's feeling!

I love you. You're my children. When you're in trouble, I'm in trouble. I'm sorry I don't know how to say, "Oh ladida, I think I'll go play golf..." You're everything I've ever done with my life. Believe me, I lay awake at night praying you guys would get your lives together so I can get some sleep.



[Brothers & Sisters]

Nothing Compares To Your Umbrella...ella...ella....

Caught up with talent shows last night, and heard two songs sang in two different contests. Which one do you think did the cover better?

NOTHING COMPARES 2U (Prince/Sinead O'Connor)

Natalie's done the Prince version and she did a nice job, vocally. She was supposedly experiencing something like it, having broken up with her boyfriend 7 hours and 13 days ago (as the song goes), but it didn't connect with me.

Niki did the Sinead version and she showed vulnerability and emotion. It's the exact copy of the original but her delivery was flawless. I like hers better.


Natalie Gauci
Australian Idol Top 6 Part 1
Judge's Pick
Media from Idol Fanatic


Niki
The X-Factor Top 12
Representing: Over 25's
Mentor: Louie Walsh

UMBRELLA (Rihanna)

I'm so tired of hearing Umbrella, so I've got no favorite.

Natalie did her own version sans the "Ella...Ella..." and it didn't feel right to me.

The group, Hope, turned theirs into a Pussycat Doll performance. Guys probably went, "Wow!" but I got bored.

Other people have done better with this song, if you search YouTube for "Umbrella cover version".


Natalie Gauci
Australian Idol Top 6 Part 2
Pick Your Own Song


Hope
The X Factor UK
Representing: Groups
Mentor: Simon Cowell



[Australian Idol], [The XFactor UK]

Friday Night Lights S2 E3: Are You Ready For Friday Night?

This episode of Friday Night Lights deserved a standing ovation...from me at least (and I did give it one!). The writers and producers got it right this time. It's gone back to its first season quality --- raw, gripping, sympathetic and real.

• The Dillon Panther and its new coach are not getting along.
• Jason, the former player and now the assistant coach, isn't being given the chance by the new coach to do what he can.
• Riggins is back on an alcoholic binge.
• Saracen (former captain) and Mash (new captain) are at odds.
• Julie has broken up with Saracen and she is now with someone else, someone who's bad news.
  

Plus this:

With Coach Taylor working far away and is only home every weekend or so, Tami, who has just given birth, is left to hold the family together. It's tough taking care of the baby, much less taking care of it all by yourself. And it's tougher if you also have a teenage daughter to watch over, especially if she is in this rebellious phase.

In this scene, Tami confronts her 15-year old daughter because she hasn't been behaving herself...watch:



Julie so deserved that slap. I cheered for that. Yeah, Mrs. Taylor!

I feel for Tami. :(

[Friday Night Lights]

Canceled!

Oh, I'm going to embark on a crazy week beginning tomorrow. And I still haven't catch up on the previous episodes!

Anyway, so, one month after the season premieres...which new TV show do you think is bowing out? Based on the poll I ran for 6 weeks, visitors of my blog think Cavemen will be the first one canceled, with 17 votes or 28%.


Well, the show is hanging in there but yes, it isn't doing very well. But officially, Nashville is this season's the first casualty...although it wasn't included in my poll selection.

On Sept. 25, TV Week reports:

Looks like Fox isn’t going let “Nashville” coast after all. After two episodes, the network is pulling the Friday night docu-soap reality show in favor of “K-Ville” repeats for at least two weeks. The show debuted to a 1.0 rating among adults 18 to 49, then dropped to a 0.8 last week.

As for the rest of the series?

• Gossip Girl is officially the first new show picked up for a full season.
• The Big Bang Theory is officially the first new sitcom to get a full season order.
  
• Additional scripts were ordered for the following series: Journeyman, Cane, Chuck, Bionic Woman, and Life
• Private Practice is leading the pack of new shows in terms of ratings. Update: It has gotten a full season order. Dirty Sexy Money is also fairing better.

But it's not all good. There is still some uncertainty for all of the shows we're watching this season because of the looming Writers' Strike, which sources say, could take effect anytime this week.

October 19 - Friday's Ratings

1. “Numb3rs” (CBS) 9.72m
2. “Women’s Murder Club” (ABC) 9.67m
3. “Deal or No Deal” (NBC) 9.32m
4. “Ghost Whisperer” (CBS) 8.92m
5. “Moonlight” (CBS) 7.78m
6. “Las Vegas” (NBC) 7.51m
7. “20/20” (ABC) 6.75m
8. “Men in Trees” (ABC) 6.42m
9. “Friday Night Lights” (NBC) 5.48m
10. “Friday Night Smackdown” (CW) 4.66m
11. “The Next Great American Band” (Series Premiere) (8-10) (FOX) 3.57m

Liking lots: Women's Murder Club. Yeah.

I have Phoebe!

P as in Phoebe.
H as in Heebee
O as in Oebee.
E as in Eebee.
B as in Beebee.
E as in 'Elo there, mate!

Who is Phoebe?

She looks something like this.

So named after a favorite FRIENDS character by her previous dad. And we've adopted her. My son is now asking we get an Ursula for him next. Nyak.

I'm getting to know Phoebe now. I love her already.

Threesome with Me, Conan O'Brien and John Cusack

It's something I've longed wished to happen --- this late night threesome with me and two men I've long admired: John Cusack and Conan O'Brien. That is, me watching Conan interview John on TV. (Why, what were you thinking? Mwehe.)

I had no intention of watching Conan late last night since I wanted to retire to bed early (Man, those Office recaps wear me out!). But it's a good thing the TV was tuned on ETC, or else I would have completely missed this moment. And apparently, based on the interview, John's been on Conan a few times and I wasn't able to see those! :(

click to watch video

• Conan was his usual goofy self, very gabby and animated ... which is what I love about him.

• John was very uncomfortable and hardly supplies anything personal about himself (as with most interviews) and keeps a certain polite but charming appeal... which is what I love about him.

These are two men I've been crushing on since I've learned to recognize my taste in the opposite sex. We've got the the dorky class clown and the anti-social (those are my types?? LOL!) --- someone who makes me laugh and someone so private and distant, I'm so challenged to pick into his brain and his emotions to discover who he is.

And with that, my night was complete. :)

[John Cusack], [Conan O' Brien]

October 18 - Thursday's Ratings

1. “CSI” (CBS) 20.80m
2. “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) 17.67m
3. “Survivor: China” (CBS) 13.92m
4. “ALCS Game 5” (FOX) (8:30-11) 12.81m
5. “ER” (NBC) 10.01m
6. “Ugly Betty” (ABC) 9.67m
7. “Viva Laughlin” (Series Premiere) (CBS) 8.83m
8. “The Office” (NBC) 8.50m
9. “Big Shots” (ABC) 8.34m
10. “My Name is Earl” (NBC) 7.26m
11. “30 Rock” (NBC) 6.27m
12. “Smallville” (CW) 5.06m
13. “Supernatural” (CW) 3.06m

I'm only checking out Viva Laughlin this week. Reviews for this show's premiere are very, very bad so I have very low expectations.

My Name is Earl had the oddest episode ever. It had animation, a mascot, some singing and dancing...odd, odd, odd. Odd in a way that my son and I enjoyed very much. But also odd in a way that others hated it, too.

I still have to watch the rest of Thursday's line up sometime this weekend.

The Office S4 E4: Money

Episode Summary: As Jan renovates the condo, Michael confronts his growing debt every way he can, which includes pressuring his employees for a loan. Pam and Jim spend a night out on Dwight’s family farm, now a bed and breakfast.

RECAP IN FULL HERE
*If you don't see it yet, please check back 10 AM USA Eastern Time*

[The Office]

October 17 - Wednesday's Ratings

1. “Criminal Minds” (CBS) 14.87m
2. “CSI: NY” (CBS) 13.86m
3. “Deal or No Deal” (NBC) 12.29m
4. “Private Practice” (ABC) 11.81m
5. “Pushing Daisies” (ABC) 9.75m
6. “Dirty Sexy Money” (ABC) 8.83m
7. “Bionic Woman” (NBC) 8.52m
8. “Life” (NBC) 7.66m
9. “Kid Nation” (CBS) 7.41m
10. “Til Death” (FOX) 6.98m
11. “Back to You” (FOX) 6.91m
12. “Kitchen Nightmares” (FOX) 6.88m
13. “America’s Next Top Model” (CW) 4.97m
14. “Gossip Girl” (CW) 2.42m

Ayayay. It upsets me to see Pushing Daisies losing viewers week after week (Week 1 - 12M, Week 2 - 10M, This week - 9M). While the over-all numbers remain in good standing, the drop isn't.

Private Practice, while experiencing a slight drop, still leads in its key demographics (target audience) every time, with this week being its best one yet. The episode I saw sure was better. WTG, Addie!

Bionic Woman has lost a total of 35% of its audience after 3 episodes.

Freshmen shows started out promising, but surprisingly, this week, their ratings are disappointing.

Losses:
“Dirty Sexy Money” (ABC) -0.34%
“Deal or No Deal” (NBC) -1.60%
“Private Practice” (ABC) -2.80%
“Pushing Daisies” (ABC) -3.18%
“Life” (NBC) -5.90%
“America’s Next Top Model” (CW) -6.05%
“Bionic Woman” (NBC) -15.64%
“Gossip Girl” (CW) -15.68%

By the way, Kid Nation has began airing on Studio 23 (Sundays 730 PM). I'm now going to follow it on that channel with my 10year old. The show has about 10 episodes so far and guess what? It's getting positive feedbacks. Damn be the moralist critics!

Pushing Daisies S1 E3: The Fun In The Funeral

Episode 3 Summary: Another strange death at the Schatz Funeral Home leads Ned back to the scene where he brought Chuck back to life. Meanwhile, Olive unwittingly becomes the messenger in Chuck’s plan to bring a little sunshine into the lives of Aunts Lily and Vivian via some anti-depressant laced pies, on Pushing Daisies.

RECAP IN FULL HERE
*If you don't see it yet, please check back 10 AM USA Eastern Time*

[Pushing Daisies]

October 16 - Tuesday's Ratings

1. “NCIS” (CBS) 17.40m
2. “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC) 17.03m
3. “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC) 12.54m
4. “The Unit” (CBS) 12.27m
5. “ALCS Baseball” (FOX) 11.71m
6. “Boston Legal” (ABC) 10.22m
7. “Cane” (CBS) 8.50m
8. “Carpoolers” (ABC) 6.96m
9. “Cavemen” (ABC) 6.92m
10. “The Biggest Loser” (NBC) 6.90m
11. “Dateline: Matt Lauer Presents” (NBC) 5.73m
12. “Beauty and the Geek” (CW) 3.55m
13. “Reaper” (CW) 3.25m

With no episode for House this week (it's baseball season!), I only had Carpoolers to watch on a Tuesday (Wednesday here) and now I feel so dumb still sticking to this show. LOL! I think I'm dropping it anytime now.

Last week's overall standings? I got this one from mrpayroll of the DVD Talk forum:

The Other Sarah Walker

Those following Brothers and Sisters should be familiar with Sarah Walker or Sarah Walker-Whedon (soon to be back to Sarah Walker....ooops sorry that's a spoiler!). Anyway, watching Chuck the other night, I just learned there's another Sarah Walker on TV. This one below:



It's only now that I learned of the character's full name (or full fake name).

This Sarah is played by Australian native Yvonne Strzechowski and in Chuck, she is this really hot ass-kicking CIA agent. When I was first watching this series, I thought her character was a bit like Elle Woods but that's not the case now. She's a tough chick. And she's one of the reasons why I'm liking Chuck more and more.

[Brothers & Sisters], [Chuck]

Say What's In My Heart

I interrupt TV viewing for the meantime to bring you this song....

I finally found it! I've been looking for this for sooooo long now. Ten years ago, I first heard this being performed on Jay Leno's The Tonight Show and I instantly fell in love with its lyrics and melody.

Today, the story behind the song is ten times more meaningful to me than when I first heard it. Because this time, I know exactly what it is about.




Say What's In My Heart
Aaron Neville/Babyface/Dianne Warren

My eyes can't lie to you
My kiss my kiss can only tell you true now
You say you have your doubts
But I say I don't know what that talks about now

My world, I have given you
I never gave myself the way I gave myself to you
What have I gotta do to make you believe I love you
What have I gotta say to make you believe you're the one for me

Didn't you hold me last night
Didn't you look in my eyes
Didn't I, didn't I say what's in my heart
Didn't my heart tell you true, that I could only love you
Didn't I, didn't I say what's in my heart
When I say I love you, I say what's in my heart

There is no other love
I know that God knows you're the only one so
Why can't you believe when I tell you there ain't nobody
There ain't nobody but you in my heart

Long as we've been together
You should know by now the love I feel, I feel forever
What have I gotta do to make you believe I love you
What have I gotta say to make you believe you're the one for me.

Didn't you hold me last night
Didn't you look in my eyes
Didn't I, Didn't I say what's in my heart
Didn't my heart tell you true, that I could only love you
Didn't I, Didn't I say what's in my heart
When I say I love you I say what's in my heart

I'll never walk away, I'll never leave your side,
I'll never break your heart looking in someone else's eyes
You're everythingI need, the air that I breathe
I won't live one day without you, believe me

Didn't you hold me last night,
Didn't you look in my eyes,
Didn't I, Didn't I say what's in my heart,
Didn't my heart tell you true, that I could only love you
Didn't I, didn't I say what's in my heart
When I say I love you I say what's in my heart

Didn't you hold me last night
Didn't you look in my eyes
Didn't I, didn't I say what's in my heart
Didn't my heart tell you true
That I could only love you
Didn't I, didn't I say what's in my heart
When I say I love you I say what's in my heart
Didn't you hold me last night
Didn't you look in my eyes
Didn't I, didn't I say what's in my heart
Didn't my heart tell you true that
I could only love you
Didn't I, didn't I say what's in my heart
Didn't you hold me last night
Didn't you look in my eyes
Didn't I, didn't I say what's in my heart

Australian Idol Top 7 - Songs From The Year You Were Born

Australian Idol reached a whole new L O W.

That's all I have to say about that. :P

Ben McKenzie — "Higher Ground" (Stevie Wonder) - ELIMINATED
Marty Simpson — "Now We're Getting Somewhere" (Crowded House)
Natalie Gauci — "Endless Love" (Diana Ross/Lionel Richie)
Carl Riseley — "Turn Your Love Around" (George Benson)
Matt Corby — "Another Day In Paradise" (Phil Collins)
Tarisai Vushe — "I Knew You Were Waiting" (Aretha Franklin/George Michael)
Daniel Mifsud — "Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson)

You can watch vids here, though...if you're curious.

[Australian Idol]

October 15 - Monday's Ratings

1. “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC) 19.19m
2. “CSI: Miami” (CBS) 15.40m
3. “Samantha Who?” (Series Premiere) (ABC) 14.92m
4. “Two and a Half Men” (CBS) 13.78m
5. “Heroes” (NBC) 11.26m
6. “Rules of Engagement” (CBS) 11.02m
7. “The Bachelor” (ABC) 9.30m
8. “ALCS Game 3” (FOX) 9.18m
9. “Chuck” (NBC) 8.23m
10. “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) 8.15m
11. “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS) 7.96m
12. “Journeyman” (NBC) 7.00m
13. “The Game” (CW) 2.64m
14. “Everybody Hates Chris” (CW) 2.57m
15. “Girlfriends” (CW) 2.42m
16. “Aliens in America” (CW) 2.23m

For the fourth week in a row, HIMYM's rating is lower than its lead-in, Big Bang Theory. How on earth is the latter more favored than HIMYM?!

Samantha Who draws 14M viewers for its pilot episode. Hooray!

Chuck actually does better in its key demographics and it could be because Prison Break is on hiatus this week.

Heroes' ratings improved, increasing 4% of its viewership from last week.

Journeyman is trapped in a bad time slot. Too bad, since it's one of the better series this season.

I would have wanted to continue watching Everybody Hates Chris, but my plate is kinda full. So I'll just catch that on cable....wait a minute, it's on Jack TV! The channel would have been gone from our line-up by January... :(

Comedy Trio

How I Met Your Mother 3.4 - Little Boys - Robin dates a guy with a six year old boy. Little boy and Robin hit it off but the chemistry between Robin and the dad isn't working. So she has to break up with daddy. When she learns from Lily that the boy has grown quite attached to his "new mother", Robin feels bad about it. So, she to has to break-up with the boy, too. But then she receives a different response from the six year old.

Meanwhile Ted and Barney competes for the affection/attention of a girl, claiming one has better style for wooing women than the other. I won't say who wins between them, but his style is definitely far more superior.

The whole episode was okay, average. The opening scene, though, was cute and funny....


Robin: Hey, what's my "but"? You know, I'm really nice...but????
Ted: [thinking...] But she's afraid of commitment
Lily: [thinking...] But she's a gun nut.
Barney: [thinking...] But she's Canadian!
Marshall: [thinking...] But she didn't like "Field of Dreams"...
And they all tell Robin, they can't think of any.

Oh, yes...as of today, there are 35 days left till the slap counter rounds up to 00:00:00!


Aliens in America 1.3 - Rocket Club - Perhaps Raja hasn't heard of House when he said, "Everybody lies".... The boy is one perfect kid. He does his school work diligently, behaves like the perfect son/model citizen and tries to make friends with every one else. There's really nothing vile about him. Except for one thing: his ethnicity. When Raja tries to cover up for his best friend Justin and blabbers on about this fake Rocket Club (they supposedly are members of) to Justin's parents, it eventually leads to the police inspecting their home computers for fear that Raja might be planning a terrorist attack.

This episode was so far the funniest, I made the right choice of sticking with it. The Raha character is growing on me and the actor playing him (Adhir Kalyan) is such natural.

"And I just kept going hoping I would find the one lie that made sense of all the others!"


Samantha Who 1.1 - Pilot - I have one other reason to look forward to Mondays (Tuesdays here) and it's this show starring Christina Applegate (who you might recognize as Rachel Green's sister). She plays Sam, who is suffering from amnesia, after being in a coma for 8 days.

Sam wakes up to discover that:
- she and her parents are actually estranged
- she is cheating on her boyfriend (played by Barry Watson, 7th Heaven) with a married man who seems full of himself
- she is in AA
- she has no other friends except bar-hopping party girl Andrea (played by Jennifer Esposito).

In other words, Sam used to be a horrible person. But the coma/amnesia doesn't change her overnight, although she nows sees her life from a different perspective.

I rather liked the pilot episode, it's worth checking. Plus points for having a cast I love seeing on TV --- Jean Smarts (her mom), Barry, Jennifer and of course, Christina.

[How I Met Your Mother], [Aliens In America], [Samantha Who?]

October 14 - Sunday's Ratings

1. “Football Overrun” / “60 Minutes” (7-8) (CBS) 26.45m
2. “Desperate Housewives” (ABC) 18.55m
3. “60 Minutes” (8-9) (CBS) 17.45m
4. “60 Minutes” / “Cold Case” (9-10) (CBS) 14.75m
5. “Brothers & Sisters” (ABC) 12.71m
6. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (ABC) 12.18m
7. “Cold Case” / “Shark” (10-11) (CBS) 12.00m
8. “Sunday Night Football” (8-11) (NBC) 9.28m
9. “The Simpsons” (8-8:30) (FOX) 8.83m
10. “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (ABC) 7.71m
11. “King of the Hill” (8:30-9) (FOX) 7.43m
12. “Family Guy” (R) (FOX) 7.09m
13. “American Dad” (FOX) 6.26m
14. “Football Night in America” (NBC) 5.04m
15. “The Simpsons” (R) (7:30-8) (FOX) 5.00m
16. “King of the Hill” (R) (7-7:30) (FOX) 3.51m
17. “America’s Next Top Model” (R) (CW) 1.68m
18. “Life is Wild” (CW) 1.04m
19. “CW Now” (CW) 0.66m
20. “Online Nation” (CW) 0.59m

Brothers & Sisters S2 E3 - History Repeating

What I learned from Nora Walker last night: "...when life does something horrible to you, there are no rules as to how to get over it, you just have to do whatever you can, anything you can, to make it better."

That summed it all up in last night's episode of Brothers & Sisters.

Justin refuses to take pain medication for his injured knee, fearing he might be pushed to addiction again. But every doctor Nora has spoken with advised taking pain meds, to help Justin recover better. Convincing a former drug addict to take drugs (which can be highly addictive, it's not just plain Ibuprofen), is too much for a mother to handle. But it has to be done.

Kevin's old boyfriend is back in his life. He takes Scott's DUI case and helps hims dismiss the case against him. Scott returns the favor by cooking a five-star hotel meal for Kevin, and eventually tries to make a pass at him. Kevin rejects the kiss, saying he is in a long-distance relationship with someone else and instead offers friendship. Sometimes, it is hard for former lovers to remain friends. But it has to be done.

Tommy is devastated. It seems his family is falling apart. Julia decides to go back to her parents in Arizona, bringing baby Lizzie with her. Julia says she needs time away from Tommy to get perspective. The more she stays with Tommy, the more she will resent him for the death of their other baby. It isn't always a good solution for couples to stay together in times of trials. Sometimes, one has to get away from it all. It's hard, but it has to be done.

But of course, each of the choices these people make will have consequences...
- Will Justin go back to being an addict?
- Will Kevin break his promise to a boyfriend far away?
- Will the marriage of Tommy and Julia survive the temporary separation?

Things just got a lot more complicated in the Walker household.

[Brothers & Sisters]

Supernatural

We began viewing the very first season of Supernatural last night. I don't particularly enjoy subjecting myself to a chill-fest and I can't understand the appeal of horror and suspense. The hubby is a big fan of the genre, though. He's a big influence on the variety of TV shows I watch for if not for him, I'd probably be sticking with the mushy chick stuff.

It's a great thing the show has two very likeable characters, at least I have something or someone to root for. Brothers Dean (the reckless one) and Sam (the calculated one), make it their life-mission to explore America's unknown....and eventually find where their father has gone. Save for the creepy storytelling on Supernatural (as in me, covering my eyes, or hiding behind the hubby's back, or looking away from the TV monitor most of the time), I have to say that I'm quite invested on the story now. Its hardcore Hardy Boys freak hunting. But Hardy boys I love. Freak hunting, not so much.

[Supernatural]

TV Score Card

So, two-three episodes down the line...I'm finally getting my schedule in order. That is, I now more or less know what TV shows I should be watching or watching as soon as possible and what time I'm supposed to work my work schedule around it.

Two-three episodes down the line and here's the scorecard:

NEW SHOWS

Aliens In America - A better show than the rest, keeping on list.
Back To you - Not great but keeping on list.
Big Shots - Anticipating I'll tire of it, but it is surprisingly hooking me in.
Bionic Woman - Am on the fence.
Carpoolers - My current guilty pleasure and I'm not recommending this unless you're really easy to please.
Chuck - Hopes it does better, keeping on the list.
Dirty Sexy Money - Liking it much.
Journeyman - So liking it much.
Life - So liking it much, too.
Pushing Daisies - A big, big fave!
Private Practice - Not great but keeping on list.
Women's Murder Club - New show I checked out merely a few hours ago. So far, yes, liking it.
Samantha Who - to premiere this week, checking it out.
Viva Laughlin - to premiere this week, checking it out.
Big Bang Theory - Never bothered with it.
Cane - Never bothered with it.
Cavemen - Never bothered with it.
Gossip Girl - Am not its audience.
K-Ville - Never bothered with it.
Life Is Wild - Haven't even heard of this.
Reaper - Did not get the appeal.

21 shows in all.
12 on my list.
2 for checking later.
7 dropped.

RETURNING SHOWS

These returning shows are keeping me dull but very busy. How have they been so far?

Brothers and Sisters - I've been crying less, but I'm not saying the show is losing its heart. I am just now able to control my emotions better.
Heroes - Slumping. Hoooboy, slumping really hard.
How I Met Your Mother - Still enjoying it like the first time I saw it.
House - Weak season opening, but has managed to get back on track immediately. Which means its still a genius of a show.
The Office - I love this one but please get back to the 30 minutes show.
30 Rock - Much improved. Ratings though, hasn't.
My Name is Earl - My filler show, when I need something to keep me happy.
Grey's Anatomy - Well, alright, the last episode was a notch better. Hope it keeps up.
Ugly Betty - Perhaps the most improved returning show of the season. It just delivers one great episode after another.
Friday Night Lights - Something has to be done fast, to keep its realism and quality.
Scrubs - to premiere in Oct 25
Prison Break - I've given it up.

12 shows in all
10 on my list.
1 waiting to premiere.
1 dropped.


If the above aren't enough, I still have my hands full with these shows whose new season has started or is about to start or is already half-way done:
Robin Hood 2
America's Next Top Model S8
Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2
Australian Idol 5
The XFactor UK 4

And apparently, anytime in the next two weeks, the hubby is going to start watching Supernatural. Which means, because I'd be in the same room with him... I've got to watch it with him, too. Not too big on shows with this premise. But I said the same thing for XFiles and I loved that. So, we'll see where that goes.

These are what will keep me cooped inside the four corners of my bedroom till December. Or until I find the need to know if people outside still wear shoes. :P

Gone for the weekend

I'd be gone all weekend to play Monopoly. Seriously. That's what I'm doing.

My son's turning 10 on Monday and someone has gifted him in advance with the board game. Seeing that I'm just about the only playmate he has at the moment, (till the cousins arrive on the next long weekend by the end of October... where the real party is going to happen) I'm not allowed to have any choice. And well, I do love this game anyway. :)

So tah-tah, y'all.

No TV, recaps or news for the meantime.

The Office S4 E3: Launch Party

Episode 3 Summary: The Dunder Mifflin Infinity website is launching and Michael is excited about going to the big launch party in New York while Angela plans a satellite party for the Scranton branch. Meanwhile, Dwight competes against the website to see who can sell the most paper in one day.

RECAP IN FULL HERE
*If you don't see it yet, please check back 10 AM USA Eastern Time*

[The Office]

October 10 - Wednesday's Ratings

In color = shows that I actually tune to weekly

1. “Criminal Minds” (CBS) 14.47m
2. “CSI: NY” (CBS) 13.31m
3. “Deal or No Deal” (NBC) 12.49m
4. “Private Practice” (ABC) 12.21m
5. “Bionic Woman” (NBC) 10.10m
6. “Pushing Daisies” (ABC) 10.07m
7. “Dirty Sexy Money” (ABC) 8.86m
8. “Life” (NBC) 8.14m
9. “Kid Nation” (CBS) 7.01m
10. “Back to You” (FOX) 6.55m
11. “Til Death” (FOX) 6.48m
12. “Kitchen Nightmares” (FOX) 6.45m
13. “America’s Next Top Model” (CW) 5.29m
14. “Gossip Girl” (CW) 2.87m

Whoowee....The shows I tune to follow each other in the ratings. But I'm really more concerned for Pushing Daisies, which lost 2 Million viewers this week. :( They had a fantastic episode! It's still winning with its key demographics (viewers 18-49 years old) though, so it's not bad. Recaps here.

Private Practice and Back To You had decent episodes, which is a great thing. I'm still on the ship. Private Practice, in particular, toned down on the cheesy-ness. It's hopefully finding its heart. It remains the new show to beat on Wednesdays. Yay for Addison!

Dirty Sexy Money's episode this week was so far the best (out of 3 already shown). This show is picking up steam.

I've yet to watch Life and Bionic Woman but now I'm curious as to why BW's rating has picked up.

Busy long weekend ahead. I'd be lost in a flurry of activities. It's a good thing I'm superwoman. Haha!

- Today's a holiday which means anyone from my family is going to drop by anytime.
- My baby niece is here for a visit and I can't get enough of her.
- And my son is turning ten years old on Monday, so this week's gonna be all for him.

Breathe...breathe....breathe...

[Pushing Daisies], [Private Practice], [Dirty Sexy Money], [Life], [Bionic Woman]

Pushing Daisies S1 E2: Dummy

Episode 2 Summary: When an automotive expert is found dead (ironically enough) after a strange hit-and-run accident, Ned suspects there’s more to the story, especially when he finds out the deceased worked for a company about to launch an experimental car. Meanwhile, Chuck wants some answers about how Ned brought her back to life. Jonathan Mangum and Riki Lindhome guest star.


RECAP IN FULL HERE
*If you don't see it yet, please check back 10 AM USA Eastern Time*

[Pushing Daisies]

October 9 - Tuesday's Ratings

In color = shows that I actually tune to weekly

1. “House” (FOX) 17.73m
2. “NCIS” (CBS) 16.09m
3. “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC) 16.04m
4. “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC) 12.19m
5. “The Unit” (CBS) 11.13m
6. “Boston Legal” (ABC) 11.04m
7. “Cane” (CBS) 9.10m
8. “Bones” (FOX) 8.32m
9. “Carpoolers” (ABC) 7.36m
10. “Cavemen” (ABC) 7.00m
11. “The Biggest Loser” (8:30-10) (NBC) 6.65m
12. “The Singing Bee” (NBC) 6.72m
13. “Beauty and the Geek” (CW) 3.16m
14. “Reaper” (CW) 2.65m

This week's episode of House was actually better than last and it could be because the former ducklings now have a few minutes of airtime....things are slowly falling into place. The doctors vying for fellowship under House (am liking #13 and Cutthroat Bitch so far) calls on Cameron (ER Head) and Chase (Surgery) for help while Foreman has just been fired from his new job.

Here's House and Wilson looking at Cuddy's behind as she walks away from them

New shows Cavemen and Carpoolers are not doing great with the numbers. I don't really care, except that I do enjoy Carpoolers ludicrous premise over Cavemen's:

Cavemen lost 31% of its viewers last week.
Carpoolers down by 25%.

Those are really bad numbers.

[House], [Carpoolers]

Australian Idol Top 8 - Brit Pop Night

Favorite performance of the night? Tarisai Vushe, who sang "Somebody To Love" (Queen)



The rest? Two things. It's either...
A. I could not get into their performance.
2. It was...and I hate to say this, but as Randy Jackson would (say it) --- 'It was just awyt, dawg.'.

Carl Riseley — "Can't Buy Me Love" (The Beatles)
Ben McKenzie — "Wonderwall" (Oasis)
Marty Simpson — "Naive" (The Kooks)
Jacob Butler — "Let It Be" (The Beatles) - ELIMINATED
Daniel Mifsud — "Message In A Bottle" (The Police)
Natalie Gauci — "Rehab" (Amy Winehouse)
Matt Corby — "Bittersweet Symphony" (The Verve)

If you need the media and would like to listen to their performances, this is the place.

[Australian Idol]

TV Writers to go on STRIKE!

Most TV shows have about 6-10 episodes wrapped up. But with the strike looming, what could this mean after all 10 episodes are aired?

• Replays, replays and more replays
• Writers will be replaced with non-Union members, which would mean a change in the quality of the show
• More Reality TV programming. This genre was somehow borne out of a writers' strike last time.

LOS ANGELES - Talks between Hollywood writers and studios abruptly broke off for the weekend, dimming hopes of averting a strike that could cripple the television industry. Click to read more...

October 8 - Monday's Ratings

In color = shows that I actually tune to weekly

1. “Dancing with the Stars” (8-9:30) (ABC) 19.32m
2. “CSI: Miami” (CBS) 14.14m
3. “Two and a Half Men” (CBS) 12.98m
4. “Heroes” (NBC) 10.75m
5. “The Rules of Engagement” (CBS) 10.71m
6. “The Bachelor” (9:30-11) (ABC) 9.92m
7. “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) 8.36m
8. “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS) 8.03m
9. “Prison Break” (FOX) 7.21m
10. “Chuck” (NBC) 7.12m
11. “Journeyman” (NBC) 6.94m
12. “K-Ville” (FOX) 5.38m
13. “The Game” (CW) 2.81m
14. “Everybody Hates Chris” (CW) 2.63m
15. “Girlfriends” (CW) 2.50m
16. “Aliens in America” (CW) 2.11m

HIMYM's ratings increased by +1.90% from last week....and the show is in need of a ratings boost after rumors last season that it was going to be axed.

Heroes, despite always staying on top five for the last three weeks, continue to drop. It's slumping, nearly losing its 2-digit ratings. Last night's episode was badly written. Baaaadly written. Under its time slot (9:00-10:00 PM) and up against Dancing With the Stars and Two and A Half Men, Heroes comes in third. Nielsen viewers love their dance shows...and Charlie Sheen. :P

Speaking of dropping, Prison Break is, too. I have actually dropped Prison Break from my viewing list. Oh, and read the real reason why Sarah Tancredi had to be killed off the show.

Journeyman is dropping drastically, overall. As is Chuck. But Journeyman is doing better in its key demographics. And Chuck is a fun show! Nielsen viewers don't get it?

LAST WEEK's OVERALL RATINGS: ABC Television ranked number 1.


[Journeyman], [Heroes], [Prison Break], [How I Met Your Mother], [Chuck]

October 7 - Sunday's Ratings

For this week, and from here on out, I'll post the rankings as it is, and not by just demographics anymore.

On Sunday's line-up, I only look forward to a fresh episode from Brothers and Sisters. All the rest I catch up on cable or don't really bother watching.

The ranking for October 8, Sunday:
1. “Desperate Housewives” (ABC) 17.41m
2. “Sunday Night Football” (NBC) 16.40m
3. “Cold Case” (CBS) 12.81m

4. “Brothers & Sisters” (ABC) 12.21m

Without giving away anything from the story, check this 27-sec video of Kevin and Sarah, talking to Nora and Kitty on their phone. The way they both played out this scene is so fantastic. Makes you wanna be in the phone conversation, too.



5. “Football Overrun” (CBS) 11.78m
6. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (ABC) 11.66m
7. “Shark” (CBS) 11.20m
8. “60 Minutes” (7:30-9) (CBS) 10.80m
9. “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (Season Premiere) (ABC) 8.48m
10. “Family Guy” (FOX) 8.39m
11. “The Simpsons” (8-8:30) (FOX) 7.74m
12. “Football Night in America” (NBC) 7.26m
13. “American Dad” (FOX) 6.58m
14. “King of the Hill” (8:30-9) (FOX) 6.16m
15. “The Simpsons” (R) (7:30-8) (FOX) 5.39m
16. “King of the Hill” (R) (7-7:30) (FOX) 3.62m
17. “Life is Wild” (Series Premiere) (CW) 1.64m
18. “America’s Next Top Model” (R) (CW) 1.36m
19. “CW Now” (CW) 0.85m
20. “Online Nation” (CW) 0.76m

[Brothers & Sisters]

An Award for Egg-cellence

Have I been a good girl or what? Blog buddy Emmyrose has given me another award. Whoohoo! Thanks again, Emmy! Your gesture is much appreciated. Someday I have to reward you too. *hug* <=0=> *hug*

Now, I'm passing this on to fellow bloggers who definitely need the stamp of excellence for --- 1) doing so well at work/school or their personal lives, 2) writing something inspiring and interesting on their blogs.

And the award goes to:

Abbie
Rad
Raein

I hope you carry on with making your life so colorful. :)

Friday Night Lights S2 E1 - Last Days of Summer

The best thing about Friday Night Lights is that it is a believable little TV show, with a believable story and believable characters. It did not need episode arches and story build-ups in order to deliver a fantastic episode. It just had to feel authentic. And that might have been messed up, as Season 2 opens.

I could not contain the tears the first few minutes. I was so glad the show is back on air. But sometime after that, the mood changed. It had the same set of characters I love. But aside from one little scene with Tami crying upon learning her husband and her have to be separated by work again.... no other story drew me in. From something believable, it has become melodramatic. Changes are supposed to expected. But the season opener felt like it's going in the wrong direction.

It was a case of too much vs. too little. Everything changed rather quickly. And as a viewer, I felt that I was made to absorb it all at once with very little information.

• The Garrity's are in a messy set-up. Lyla has found Jesus but doesn't hesitate to unleash acerbic comments towards her mother. It's obvious what has happened here but I still would like some details.
• Riggins supposedly grew up last season. Now he's back to being a jerk again.
• Smash had a ten second scene, maybe less, and that was it.
• Julie's issues is something I cannot understand at the moment. She says the reasons why, but it did not satisfy me. I needed more.
• And finally, the murder story.....ah, how do I begin digesting that? It was a generic storyline that seemed like it just had to be thrown into the story. Fine. But did it have to be on the first episode? I would have personally liked that they just did away with it and never really gets its closure (like Dr. Melfi's rape in The Sopranos). Besides last season, they sort of indicated that that has passed.

I'm not happy. The balance is lost. But I am hopeful. Bring back my show, please.

Episode Guide from TV.Com
Changes in the team force Dillon Panthers to work harder than ever before to achieve the same level of success they had last season. Losing Coach Taylor to TMU might prove to be their biggest setback. Tyra gets a shock visitor. Matt and Landry struggle with their everyday life, as it is not what they expected.

[Friday Night Lights]

Laughing till my face ached

Once in a while, the hubby and I get a kick out of watching Youtube videos. Once in a while, we find something golden, such as this Japanese video prank (of which there are many on Youtube). An hour or so after watching this last night, the hubby and I still couldn't get over it. It still had us laughing.

So, I'm sharing this with you...because I know that whoever watches this will also find themselves laughing till their face ached.

It's a Monday. It's great to start the week on a positive note, so this one should do it:


Onto other matters...caught up with new episodes (second episodes) of Life, Journeyman, Dirty Sexy Money and Big Shots. These shows don't have much of the hype around them, unlike other more popular shows, but that's not saying they are not as fun to watch. It's been a fairly good one for TV last week. The shows I've been watching pretty much delivered. More than I've expected.

And oh, Friday Night Lights is back! Call me sentimental but a few minutes into the opening of Season 2, my eyes welled up. I just instantly remembered how good this show was. More on this next time, gotta get working now.

So on to another week ahead...

[Japanese Prank], [Life], [Journeyman], [Big Shots], [Dirty Sexy Money], [Friday Night Lights]

My Name Is Earl S3 E3 - The Gangs of Camden County

Over the weekend, I made the mistake of watching My Name is Earl with my 9 year old (10 year old in a week's time! My baby is getting older!). The story had two prisoners smooching...


Yeah. Earl's reaction was how I reacted, as well. And it wasn't because of what they did. It's because I was watching with my 9 year old! So, I didn't know what to do.

Do I press the stop button? Or continue watching? If I did stop it, then that would have made my son all the more curious, the way I was freaking out. I decided to just get on with it. When the show ended, I asked my son what he thought and if he did not find the episode unsettling....was he shocked? They kissed more than once.

My son: Mom, I was more shocked at the way you reacted! You kept fidgetting!

Oh, okay. Now, that was embarrassing. Just to appease myself though, I prodded him for more...wanting to see what was in that head of his and in the end, I think it was enough for me that he said:

My son: Yeah, well...if they love each other....

And then he turns away and watches something on TV to make himself fall asleep.

That teaches me to read the episode synopsis before I even watch another comedy with my son again. At least if I'd done that, then I would know what to expect when we're watching it together.

Anyway, aside from the gay story, the episode from last week also sorta reminded me of Prison Break once again. Except of course, this was a comedy.

Remember that on the very first episode of PB, Scofield robbed a bank so he could get inside the prison that housed his brother. On Earl --- Earl's brother, Randy, was missing him so much in the outside world, so he kept finding ways to get inside the prison. He tried to steal a car...

[Loud enough for all to hear]
Oh my god, I'm stealing a car!

He also walked up to a police officer and claimed he was the Truck Stop killer they were looking for. When all that didn't work, Randy slapped a police officer. In the end though, Randy got himself a job as a prison guard, so his plan worked.

The prison warden also asked favor from Earl, which was almost the same for the prison warden at PB. But in Earl's case, the warden asked him to mediate two cliques at war....which is what that darn smooching was about.

Episode Guide from TV.Com
Earl is offered a deal to receive a lesser sentence if he can resolve problems between rival gangs. But, he finds the task harder than he expected. Meanwhile, Randy looks for ways to join Earl in prison.

[My Name Is Earl]

October 5 - Friday's Ratings

For viewers 19-49 years old:

1. “Numb3rs” (CBS) 2.7/9
2. “Ghost Whisperer” (CBS) 2.4/9
3. “20/20” (ABC) 2.4/8
4. “Friday Night Lights” (Season Premiere) (NBC) 2.2/7
4. “Las Vegas” (NBC) 2.2/7
4. “Moonlight” (CBS) 2.2/7
7. “Deal or No Deal” (NBC) 2.1/7
8. “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (FOX) 1.6/6
8. “Private Practice” (R) (ABC) 1.6/5
10. “Friday Night Smackdown!” (8-10) (CW) 1.4/5
10. “Pushing Daisies” (R) (ABC) 1.4/5
12. “K-Ville” (R) (FOX) 1.2/4

Ugly Betty Season 2 Episode 2 - Family Affair

Episode Guide from TV.Com

Betty gets a little overwhelmed about Wilhelmina's brand new hunky bodyguard. Plus, Henry returns to pay for insurance, which has Betty concerned about their relationship. Because of the fatal crash, Alexis gets amnesia and Bradford uses it to his advantage. Hilda comes to terms with recent events. And Amanda gets a surprise inheritance from her late biological mother.

After last week's episode left me weeping, this week's Ugly Betty was a combination of light-hearted fun and one scary Wilhelmina.

Wilhelmeister's angry!.....and she's out for blood.

The fun part was mostly thanks to Marc, who I believe had the best lines in this episode.



Marc stands as Justin's mentor on Mode, it seems. Maybe even his mentor in life in the future, the way they're bonding at work and especially now, when Justin needs a "father figure". For all the impish things Marc has done to date, when he comforted Justin about the death of his father, it reaffirms what I've always believed to be true and what he said about himself ---- Marc: I'm a good person. No, I'm a great person.

On to other matters:

• Alexis, who is suffering from memory loss because of the accident and has forgotten she had a sex change operation, grabs her boobs and gives herself a thumbs up. No one has told Alexis what has been going on (parents divorced, mom in jail, dad remarrying the devil, brother was the reason for the accident).
• Betty sold her soul to the devil. I mean, she made a deal with Wilhemina, who Betty witnessed being consumed with the "afternoon delight" with her body guard. And I did not know that song meant that, too!
• Amanda inherits her dead mom's rat...errr....dog, who needs special care. The pooch has a monthly allowance of $1000.
• Hilda is moving on. So glad to see her back to her old self. She sorts through Santos' tacky things and decides to keep just one item to remind her of him. She chose a lamp made from a bowling pin.
• A distraught and drunken Henry visits Betty in the middle of the night to tell her that he knows about Charlie's baby and that he drank milk before he drank the alcohol (haha, does this work?). He wants to be with Betty.
  

[Ugly Betty]

The Office S4 E2 - Dunder Mifflin Infinity

Episode 2 Summary: Much to the dismay of Michael and many of the employees, Ryan returns to the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin to bring the company into the digital age. Angela is still upset about her cat.

RECAPS IN FULL HERE
*If you don't see it yet, please check back 10 AM USA Eastern Time*


[The Office]

Grey's Anatomy S4 E2 - Love/Addiction

Episode Guide from TV.Com
A patient is in the hospital because they fell asleep in a hazardous situation. A patient's home laboratory blew up in an apartment building and the victims flood the hospital. Alex investigates the cause of the incident by talking to a really old guy who lived in the building. Jane Burke shows up to deal with what her son left behind. Lexie tries to talk to Meredith. Callie is overwhelmed by her new position while Bailey is searching for things to do.

So who thought Meredith was being a bitch towards her sister, Lexie? I didn't. Her reasons might be bad for Lexie to take but they are valid. Lexie is great for reaching out. But after all her sister has been through, it's not the best timing for Lexie.

"We don't have the same dad, Lexie. You and I, we do not have the same dad. My dad disappeared when I was five years old and I never saw him again. Does that sound like the daddy you grew up with? I kicked a man out of my bed, in the middle of the night...the world's most perfect man, who loves me, and I can't let him. And it doesn't take a shrink to figure out why. Because our dad chose you. So, I'm sure you are a very nice girl, Lexie. But I hope you can understand you're not a girl I ever wanted to have to know...."

Big abandonment issues. Whew. That's the nicest way for someone with Meredith's issues to say to someone like Lexie. It wasn't mean or bitchy. It was the truth.

And how much did you feel for Bailey and Callie? :(

• Bailey letting steam off was, I think, over the top. It wasn't the Bailey "in control". The stress and the disappointment got to her. It was out of character. But from a viewer's point, seeing Bailey's guard down was a good thing. It gave her depth.
  

• Callie is becoming a mess. She was a toughie last season. Her incompetence is illuminated because she lacks the ability to command her staff, the same way she is losing her hold and connection with her cheating husband.
  

[Greys Anatomy]

Alright, I take it back...30 Rock is funny

This time, last year... I said that 30Rock was a lame TV show when it first aired . So guess what? I've been watching every episode since after that and have silently been enjoying it.

What can I say?

I root for Tina Fey.

Anyway, 30 Rock Season 2, now an Emmy Award winner (Best Comedy) returned to TV last night and so...

30 Rock S2 E1 - SeinfeldVision

Episode Guide from TV.Com
As the cast and crew of TGS with Tracy Jordan returns for a new season, Liz is excited to see Jack again. However, her excitement quickly fades as Jack insists that Liz is still not over Floyd. Meanwhile, Jerry Seinfeld shows up at Jack's office in an upset mood after Jack announces his plan to use footage from Seinfeld to install Jerry into every current show on NBC, a strategy which he calls "SeinfeldVision". Finally, Kenneth becomes Tracy's office wife when Tracy separates from his wife and Jenna returns to set a whole lot heavier now that she has been involved in Mystic Pizza: The Musical!.

^ That has summed up everything about the premiere. So I'm just gonna do this:

Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! But I could also go the other way and say Kenneth! Kenneth! Kenneth! Kenneth! Because Kenneth, as seen in this video, was a hoot:

I think most Seinfeld geeks would do what Kenneth did.

The season premiere was one of its best episodes overall
- Perfectly smart writing.
- Best punchlines that would rival The Office.

One other moment to remember is this --- Liz Lemmons buys a wedding dress, you know, "just in case"... and tries it on at work. Her officemates see her in the dress and...

Frank: Liz lost it.
Liz: It was on sale!
Pete: I thought you and Floyd broke up.
Liz: We did! And I am doing great with it. I just bought a dress. Because I don't see society's permission to buy a white dress. Who says this is a wedding dress anyway, in Korea, they wear white to funerals!

Moments later, Tracy Morgan (not the brightest person in the world) sees Liz in the white dress:

"Oh no! Did a Korean person die?"

Bwahahaha! I think 30 Rock got even funnier. Now, if only more people would watch the show and improve its abysmal ratings.

[30 Rock]

October 4 - Thursday's Ratings

For viewers 18-49 years old:

1. “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) 7.4/18
2. “CSI” (CBS) 6.3/16
3. “The Office” (NBC) 4.5/11
4. “Survivor: China” (CBS) 4.4/13
5. “Without a Trace” (CBS) 3.8/11
6. “Big Shots” (ABC) 3.7/10
7. “ER” (NBC) 3.7/10
8. “My Name is Earl” (NBC) 3.4/10
9. “Ugly Betty” (ABC) 3.4/10
10. “30 Rock” (Season Premiere) (NBC) 3.4/9
11. “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (FOX) 2.3/7
12. “Smallville” (CW) 1.8/5
13. “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” (FOX) 1.8/4
14. “Supernatural” (Season Premiere) (CW) 1.2/3

Will I go Bye-ionic?

Let me first say ----- Whooohoo, peace and quiet! :)

Bionic Woman S1 E2 - Paradise Lost
(or In Which We See Isaiah Washington's TV Comeback After Being Fired From Grey's Anatomy)

Episode Guide from TV.Com
Jaime continues to gradually adjust to her new bionic life - all while trying to maintain the normal aspects of her human life. She also befriends a stranger who appears to be very friendly and goes on her first mission.

The stranger would have to be Isaiah's character. He is Bionic Woman's trainer and supervisor. Whether Isaiah delivers or not, it's hard to tell with just this episode alone (he appears in four more, to date). Although, I've always thought Isaiah's a good actor and so far, he's proving it.

This week's episode does nothing to convince me it's getting better:

1. The show attempts to bring back the persona Jennifer Garner brought to Alias. It fails.

2. There isn't enough of Sarah Corvus, the first Bionic Woman (...ta-dah!), when she appears more charismatic to the viewer than the current Bionic Woman. More Katee Sackhoff!

3. Bionic Woman can only save the world until 7 PM and none on weekends. They made her job an office 9-5 job with medical benefits. Whaa??!

4. Her first mission? Babysit a teenager. Well, alright, she butted heads with someone but......ehh.

5. When finding the only survivor in this little town which had all residents dead in 12 hours, the only answer they can come up with was, "Maybe she's immune to the gas?" and that was it? Survivor girl didn't even freak out.

Now, when are the producers from Friday Night Lights getting on board again? I need to see the magic they can do, because so far.... it has been two weeks of disappointment.

[Bionic Woman]

House, Private Practice, Back To You

Last night I saw three shows that presented average episodes and one show I decided to completely drop out of my list (Reaper).

Things are beginning to calm and slow down now....no more hypes, no more hooplas.

House S4 E2 - The Right Stuff

Episode Guide from TV.Com
House is secretly trying to treat a fighter pilot who is a candidate for NASA's astronaut training program. Her diagnosis will be the test to choose which ones of the 40 applicants are going to take the empty spots in his team.

House: Did you just see a blonde guy with a pretentious accent?
Amber: You can’t see an accent.
House: Good point.

Cameron: Three weeks. Wow - for someone that doesn’t miss anything, you missed something really big.
House: What are you doing?
Cameron: My hair, the ER, or both?
House: Your hair makes you look like a hooker…I like it.

Chase is working surgery. Cam is heading ER. Foreman....is in New York, but House also saw him pass by the halls.

As for the new students, #13 is already a favorite.


Private Practice S1 E2 - In Which Sam Receives An Unexpected Visitor

Episode Guide from TV.Com
Two couple are involved in an unfortunate baby switch, and the doctors must handle and solve it. Sam treats a client that may upset Naomi. A grandmother goes to extreme lengths to stop her son killing himself with alcohol, but her plan backfires.

The second episode was a notch better than last week. But I still don't like how the lines are written. And going with the baby switching angle was a ploy, I think --- using a very emotional story to appeal to the viewers. Anyone with a mother (and that's like every person born in this world!) will feel for this episode, regardless if you hate your mom or not. But that was the only thing worth caring about in this episode. The rest of it? ZZzzzzz...

This was supposed to be Episode 3 but they switched the orders. Episode 2 is next week's story.

I'm still sticking by this show though, the same way I'm sticking by this next one below. Below I love their central characters.

Back To You S1 E3 - The First Supper

Third episode down and Kelly (Patty Heaton) is still as uptight as someone who has had too much botox treatment. She's always mad or annoyed at Chuck (Kelsey Grammer). I think that would have to be getting old by now. When is she ever going to be fun to watch?

The whole episode was a disappointment, since the plots felt "recycled" from an 80's sitcom.

[House], [Private Practice], [Back To You]

October 3 - Wednesday's Ratings

1. “Private Practice” (ABC) 4.5/11
2. “Pushing Daisies” (Series Premiere) (ABC) 4.3/13
3. “Bionic Woman” (NBC) 4.0/10
4. “CSI: NY” (CBS) 3.9/10
5. “Criminal Minds” (CBS) 3.7/9
6. “Dirty Sexy Money” (ABC) 3.6/10
7. “Life” (NBC) 3.0/8
8. “Kitchen Nightmares” (FOX) 2.9/7
9. “Deal or No Deal” (NBC) 2.8/8
10. “Til Death” (FOX) 2.5/7
11. “Back to You” (FOX) 2.4/7
12. “Kid Nation” (CBS) 2.4/7
13. “America’s Next Model” (CW) 2.2/7
14. “Gossip Girl” (CW) 1.3/3

Pushing Daisies S1 E1: Pie-lette

Episode 1 Summary: Ned works in a pie store and seems to lead a perfectly normal life. This, however, is far from the truth. Ned can, through the touch of his hand, wake people from the dead. He decides to use this ability of his to solve crimes, but this appears to be much more difficult than it sounds, when he gives life to his childhood crush, and decides to let keep living.

RECAPS IN FULL HERE
*If you don't see it yet, please check back 10 AM USA Eastern Time*

[Pushing Daisies]

Heroes, Chuck & Carpoolers

Last night on Too Much TV....

I could not figure out which one freaked me out more:



Heroes - Season 2 Episode 2 - Lizard

• Peter has amnesia but realizes he's got super powers. Peter is a stud. Haaaayyy......
  
• Maya and her twin brother Alejandro? Super Twins! One kills, the other resurrects. But their story could get pretty old.
• Mama Petrelli reveals she had a tryst with Hiro's dad. Whoa. Mama Petrelli, you naughty girl.
  
• The Hatian is back.
• Kensei heals really, really fast.
• Cute flying boy still stalks Claire and finds her secret out.
• Claire discovers she can regenerate like a lizard. I thought Mr. Muggles was gonna eat her toe.
• Not a good episode this week. :P
  

Chuck Season 1 Episode 2 - Chuck vs The Helicopter



Episode synopsis from TV.Com
Chuck is beginning to adapt to his new life as a spy. Meanwhile, a doctor who could possibly "cure" Chuck is murdered and he must decide which of his two colleagues to trust.

Still not jumping for joy over this show. But I can get used to it. Could get on board with it. Loving Sarah, the CIA agent. Some parts were sloppy, that it makes me wanna wish it was a 30 minute show, rather than a full hour.

Carpoolers Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot



Episode synopsis from TV.Com
We are introduced to Aubrey, Gracen, Laird, and Dougie as they commiserate about life on their way to work. On the ride to work as they miss all the traffic and fly in the carpool lane, Gracen tells the guys how upset he is that his wife, Leila, spent $200 of "his" money on a toaster. This starts a whole argument about marriage and money.

Would it be wrong if I said that I liked it?

It's still a bit uneven. The reviews have not been very good. I do think this show would NOT have a solid following. The characters aren't very likeable at this point, they are annoying.

But some scenes had me laughing. Especially, the first one with all four of them singing and emoting to Air Supply's All Out of Love.... I'm such a cheeseball.

[Heroes], [Chuck], [Carpoolers]

October 2 - Tuesday's Ratings

For viewers 18 to 49 years old:

1. “House” (FOX) 7.1/17
2. “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC) 4.5/12
3. “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC) 4.3/10
4. “NCIS” (CBS) 3.6/10
5. “Carpoolers” (Series Premiere) (ABC) 3.4/9
6. “Cavemen” (Series Premiere) (ABC) 3.3/10
7. “The Biggest Loser” (8:30-10) (NBC) 3.3/8
8. “The Unit” (CBS) 3.2/8
9. “Boston Legal” (ABC) 3.1/8
10. “Bones” (FOX) 2.9/8
11. “Cane” (CBS) 2.5/7
12. “The Singing Bee” (NBC) 2.3/7
13. “Beauty and the Geek” (CW) 1.3/4
14. “Reaper” (CW) 1.3/3

Da Huwaat?

Hooookey...I thought hard if I had to write something about it. Everyone seems to have said what is needed. And I just really wanna get back to watching TV. Hee.

But anyway....

First, thanks to every person who found their way into my little TV couch. My butt's grown a bit bigger since I first started blogging in my virtual TV couch, I'm sure you had to squeeze through it. But hope you got comfy while you were here. Sorry, I ate all the popcorn.

Second, I love TV. I hate TV. Sometimes, I'd hate what I've seen initially, and then I'd watch the rerun or review my media and I would surprisingly like it the second time around. When it comes down to it though --- it's only TV. When the screen goes black, life returns to normal.

Third, here is the complete scene from Desperate Housewives I got off Maying's blog link. (Maying, like wildfire nga!). I get where all the anger is coming from. At least 3 out of 7 Pinoys (stats are mine, no scientific basis) know someone or is related to someone in the medical field...so you must understand all the uproar from my fellow citizens.

Lastly, in the real world we all know what every Pinoy is capable of. A little TV show might have bruised our ego but what was said was written into the script. We shouldn't let a script define who we are.

I'm sorry I have to moderate comments from now on. I'd like to keep this blog as, really, just a nice place for entertainment. I sympathize with all your personal convictions and might be exchanging opinions with you in another venue. But in here ---- let's all just watch TV (or turn it off, it's your choice). You are welcome to come back and watch with me....just no Desperate Housewives (only because I got over this show a long time ago).

Australian Idol Top 9 - Acoustic Night

Last Saturday, Australian Idol went unplugged. After consistently having off nights the last three weeks, some of them stepped up and did very, very well. Doing away with synthesizers and allowing these singers/artists to play their own instruments boosted their performance level.

My favorite of the nine performances was Natalie Gauci — "Man In The Mirror" (Michael Jackson). I loved this song when if first came out in the early 90's. But not so much today. Natalie, however did a wonderful, wonderful job. The hair in my arms stood as she sang. Watch this video from Youtube:



Eliminated this week was actually my choice to win, rocker Mark Da Costa, who sang his very own version of Coldplay's Yellow. I still don't know if I loved it or hated it. Listen:

Mark DaCosta — "Yellow" (Coldplay)


Mark is the first boy (man) booted from Top 12.

The rest gave pretty decent performances, thank god. I was already getting disappointed with the show the other three times. Today, I saw hope.

Carl Riseley — "It's All Right With Me" (Harry Connick Jr)
Jacob Butler — "Somewhere Only We Know" (Keane)
Matt Corby — "The Blower's Daughter" (Damien Rice)
Daniel Mifsud — "I Was Made For Loving You Baby" (KISS)
Ben Mackenzie — "Hide And Seek" (Imogen Heap)
Tarisai Vuche — "Kissing You" (Des'ree)
Marty Simpson — "Open Your Eyes" (Snow Patrol)

If you'd like to listen to their renditions, you can get or listen to it here.

[Australian Idol]

Pushing Daisies Premiere in 2 Days!

Canada - Tuesdays, iTV Canada
USA - Wednesdays, ABC TV
Australia - Channel 9 by 2008

Philippines - On cable (Solar Channel) by 2008

Watch the three-minute clip. I guarantee you will LOVE it.

Visit Watching Pushing Daisies for updates and recaps.

[Pushing Daisies]

October 1 - Monday's Ratings

For viewers 18 to 49 years old:

1. “Heroes” (NBC) 5.5/13
2. “Dancing with the Stars” (8-10) (ABC) 5.2/13
3. “CSI: Miami” (CBS) 4.6/11
4. “Two and a Half Men” (CBS) 4.6/11
5. “The Rules of Engagement” (CBS) 3.9/9
6. “The Bachelor” (ABC) 3.6/9
7. “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) 3.4/8
8. “Journeyman” (NBC) 3.3/8
9. “Chuck” (NBC) 3.1/8
10. “Prison Break” (FOX) 3.1/8
11. “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS) 3.0/8
12. “K-Ville” (FOX) 2.0/5
13. “The Game” (Season Premiere) (CW) 1.4/3
14. “Girlfriends” (Season Premiere) (CW) 1.2/3
15. “Everybody Hates Chris” (Season Premiere) (CW) 1.0/3
16. “Aliens in America” (Series Premiere) (CW) 0.8/2

Dirty Sexy Money Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot

If Arrested Development was turned into a drama series, it would have to be Dirty Sexy Money.

Starring Peter Krause, Donald Sutherland and William Baldwin, Dirty Sexy Money plays out like that defunct comedy series, spiced with a bit of Falcon Crest or Knots Landing (children born in or after the 80's, ask your parents). DSM centers on the Darling family --- New York billionaires --- and a self-made lawyer named Nick George (Peter Krause).

As a young boy, Nick lost his father to the Darlings because his dad was always fixing every little mess the Darlings and their spoiled children get into, as their family lawyer. When Nick grew up to become a fine lawyer himself, his relationship with his father is strained and he's always very careful never to have anything to do with him.

Until his father met his untimely fate....

Now, forced to face the Darlings again, Nick is offered by the Darling patriarch (Donald Sutherland) his father's old job and a salary of $10M yearly. And there starts the life that Nick told himself he never wants to have in the first place. The minute he gets that first call from the Darlings to bail one of them out ---- his life, as he knows it, is soon over.

The strength of this show lies in Peter Krause. What he brings to DSM isn't just his numerous Emmy awards, but his penchant for playing a character with too many sides to him. His character, Nick, is a do-gooder alright (booooring), but Krause lets the viewers see there's something else to him, something more.

The pilot episode appears to be fast-paced but in this case, it's not always a good thing. Stories as big as the Darling families themselves should take time to develop. By the end of the hour, I was exhausted from watching what went on, much like Nick who was also exhausted from becoming the fixer-upper to each of the Darlings' mess (and all five or six of them had one each, in one episode alone!).

They fed the viewers too much in one sitting that 1) I didn't want to abandon it the next time it airs (because I so want to make chismax! *gossip*) and 2) I actually think I'd need a second, a third and maybe a fourth episode to truly appreciate Dirty Sexy Money.

Hmmmm.... now that I have time to think about it, that's a clever ploy to try and keep a viewer interested.

Dirty Sexy Money is on ABC TV, Wednesdays at 10 PM. It had a season premiere last Sept. 26.

[Dirty Sexy Money]

How I Met Your Mother S2 E2 - We're Not From Here

SOME MINOR SPOILERS


Barney: Within a triad of solar periods, you'll recognize your dearth of compatibility with your paramour and conclude your association.
Robin: My journey was transformative and I reassert my commitment to both the aforementioned paramour and the philosophies he espouses.
Barney: This is all gonna return to masticate you in the gluteus. Support my hypothesis, Ted.
Ted: I'm just jubilant my former paramour is jubilant.

You got what they said?

If you're wondering where Marshall is, he's back at the apartment doing this:

He is writing Lily a letter.

But before you go "Awwww..." , it's not as cute and sweet as one might think. The letter is intended to go into their Death Folders. And this is the reason for their first fight as a married couple. (Now go, "Awwww...")

Meantime, Ted and Barney pretend they are not from New York in order to sleep with real New York women (inspired by Ga-el's charisma with the ladies). Instead, they end up dating boring girls from somewhere "pretty much New York."

Full recap to Big Words, Death Folders and Girls Not From Actual New York is here.

[How I Met Your Mother]

Second Class Citizens

Aliens in America is premiering in the USA a few hours from now. And I'll be checking it out again as some changes were done to the pilot episode since last July's preview. Aliens in America is not a sci-fi TV series. It's about non-Americans coping in America.

Speaking of...

Maying posted an entry about the apparent racial slur against Filipinos on Desperate Housewives last Sunday. For the life of me, I gave up on Desperate Housewives halfway through Season 2. But I'm gonna check this particular episode out, just to see what the fuss is.

Quoted from Maying's blog:

I watched the Premiere of Desperate Housewives last night on ABC and was very offended by the remark of Teri Hatcher’s character about Filipino doctors. She said to her OB that she hopes “he’s not a graduate of some
Philippine Med School”.

But I'm saying this now even if I have not seen the episode yet --- if not for Filipino medical practitioners, a lot of hospitals all over the world will have to contend with rude health workers. The world favors our kind because we're compassionate people. We're a patient race. We understand the importance of caring for the sick, needy and the elderly. So, DO hope your medical attendant is a graduate from the Philippines. :)

Anyway, it isn't the first time it has happened on the show. It's been accused of lots of slurs and slips before.

Update: here's the video from the said scene. But first --- OMG, Nathan Fillion is on Desperate Housewives! Is he gonna make me want to watch the show now??



Update: The Final Word On This Blog :)
Update: Desperate Housewives Producers apologize over slur

''A statement that devalues Filipinos in healthcare is extremely unfounded, considering the overwhelming presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the medical field,'' the petition read in part.

The TV episode even became an international incident, with reports on it topping Philippine news shows and drawing newspaper headlines as officials there registered their displeasure. Filipinos could judge the scene for themselves when it was posted on YouTube.

ABC responded with a statement Wednesday.

[Aliens in America], [Desperate Housewives]

Sept 30 - Sunday's Ratings

For viewers 18 to 49 years old:

1. “Desperate Housewives” (Season Premiere) (ABC) 7.4/17
2. “NFL Football: Philadelphia vs. NY Giants” (8:30-11) (NBC) 5.6/14
3. “NFL Football Overrun” (7-7:30) (CBS) 5.4/17
4. “Brothers & Sisters” (Season Premiere) (ABC) 5.1/13
5. “The Simpsons” (FOX) 4.2/11
6. “Family Guy” (FOX) 4.2/10
7. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (Season Premiere) (7-9) (ABC) 3.8/11
8. “King of the Hill” (FOX) 3.5/9
9. “Cold Case” (CBS) 3.4/8
10. “American Dad” (Season Premiere) (FOX) 3.1/7
11. “60 Minutes” (7:30-9) (CBS) 2.8/7
12. “Shark” (CBS) 2.7/7
13. “Football Night in America” (NBC) 2.3/7
14. “The Simpsons” (2eps) (R) (FOX) 2.0/6
15. “America’s Next Top Model” (R) (CW) 0.5/1
16. “CW Now” (CW) 0.3/1
17. “Gossip Girl” (R) (CW) 0.3/1
18. “Online Nation” (CW) 0.3/1

Brothers and Sisters S2 E1 - Home Front

The Walkers are baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Season 2's opener is still making my mind woozy. The Walkers were all over my TV screen --- dialogue after dialogue after dialogue.

• Nearly everyone was present at Kitty's birthday party. Yes, including the mistress Nora invited to celebrate with them.
  
• Missing was Justine, who's fighting the war in Iraq.

But that's getting ahead of the story, because it was very crazy just right before the party started...

• Kitty and Nora argued at a wedding gown boutique. It was caught on a camera phone and was posted on Youtube.
• The siblings had a four-way argument at a Mexican restaurant --- Kevin was being self-involved; Sarah was pissed at Tommy for telling everybody the personal anecdote she told him earlier; Kitty was mad at Rebecca, who is fast becoming chummy with her mother.
  
• And Nora bitched to a group of yuppies eating at what was supposed to be their table at the restaurant.

And then after all that commotion was the clincher in the end...it's about Justine and his status in Iraq. Is he okay or is he dead? (Don't read spoilers!)

Minor observation which I hope will not start a trend or seal a slump (knock on wood!)--- there were moments when I felt the scene was forced a little bit. It wasn't as great as last year's season premiere. But then the last five minutes made up for it. So, it's forgiven!

Nitpick --- when everyone else rang the doorbell to the Walkers home (Kitty and Julia did), but Kevin's boyfriend? He just walked right in. What's that about?

How I've missed this family!

[Brothers and Sisters]

Moonlight & Big Shots

I spent a chunk of time catching up on TV premieres the last couple of days and have come to a realization that television does make you dull. Ha-ha. I was drained out of my system and wits and there isn't much to drain to begin with. The following day, I gave TV watching a rest. I also took a break from writing about it and recharged. Going without television for nearly 24 hours is bliss. But I'm not saying I've given up on it.

Anyway, two new shows I haven't written about yet were Moonlight & Big Shots. And delaying it was with purpose, too --- there wasn't much to write about....

Moonlight is a story of a detective moonlighting as a vampire (or the other way around). Those familiar with the TV series Angel, the good vampire, will notice the similarities of these shows. Also, the opening scene, with a journalist (Big Brother's Julie Chen no less) interviewing Mick St. John kind of reminded me of a Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise vampire movie. Suffice to say, Moonlight scores zero with originality. But then, what's original on TV nowadays? So, alright... on that note, you can at least brush aside originality.

The lead actor, Alex O' Loughlin, (not an American actor portraying an American, he's actually Aussie), appears to be giving his very best, looks good, delivers an above average acting. Yet lacks the command and presence on the small screen. Moonlight as a story has a good premise, I've been saying that since summer. But when it was finally time to deliver, it wasn't great enough to make me say it's an amazing series. It felt really, really felt flat.

I had a more enjoyable time watching Big Shots than Moonlight. It did help that I am familiar with some of the TV work these four male lead actors have done, so that added to the excitement a bit.

Big Shots is about four powerful corporate leaders. Men with prestigious positions in the company, but with not so ideal personal lives:

• Duncan (Dylan McDermott, The Practice) is a cosmetics company CEO who has been married many times and has to repair his relationship with his 19year old daughter. He is the master of his game, both in and out of the board room. Of all the four characters, it was clear to me why he is a big shot.
• Karl (Joshua Malina, Sports Night) is a Pharmaceutical company CEO who keeps a mistress who wants to be BFF with his own boring wife. It is difficult for me to associate Joshua Malina to Karl, the cheating husband and like the other character, Brody, who supposedly deliver the funnies --- both were trying hard at it.
• Brody (Christopher Titus, Titus) is a a crisis-management lawyer who only longs for the love of the wife that has him wrapped around her finger.
  
• James (Michael Vartan, Alias) is recently named the head of his company, after learning his wife was cheating on him with his former boss. James is the sensitive and principled one, the heart of this show.

Big Shots is Desperate Housewives ...with penis. Desperate Housebands? The backround music even sounded very DHwives.

And while I am not a fan of Desperate Housewives, I'll stick around for a few more episodes . I want so badly to root for these four familiar actors, I'm willing to give it one more shot.

[Moonlight], [Big Shots]