Archive: June 2009 (31-40 of 68)

Jun 17 2009 12:15 PM ET

'Saving Grace' and 'HawthoRNe': Did you watch last night?

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Categories: TV Last Night

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TNT rolled out two new hours of TV last night: the third-season premiere of Saving Grace and the debut of the brand-new hospital drama HawthoRNe. I’ve always liked Holly Hunter’s performance in Grace, even though I find her “last-chance angel” Earl to be a tiresome character, a frequently lame plot device.

But last night, in an episode written by show creator Nancy Miller, Saving Grace was particularly good. The series has moved Grace closer and closer to her colleague-now-lover Ham in a believable way, and to start off the season with Grace telling Ham about Earl was a big deal in the Saving Grace universe. Among other things, it shows how much Grace’s character is growing — she’s trusting Ham enough to believe he won’t laugh or run away from her if she confides in him about her otherwordly, winged pal.

I was going to begin this next paragraph by writing, “in contrast,” but there is no contrast between the new HawthoRNe and Saving Grace: It fits TNT’s new winning combination for their dramas. Like Grace and The Closer, it features a strong female character as its lead (in this case, Jada Pinkett Smith as a Chief Nursing Officer at a big hospital), who breaks the rules and stands up to authority (the latter includes Alias‘ Michael Vartan as Chief of Surgery).

Like Hunter in Grace and Kyra Sedgwick in The Closer, Pinkett Smith’s Christina Hawthorne occasionally bends her iron will, but only for the comfort of the innocent and the afflicted. She’s a good caregiver, but this character just isn’t as interesting as the ones in those other two series. It’s not because this is the umpteenth hospital show — there were umpteen crime shows before Saving Grace and The Closer — it’s because the dialogue in the premiere was pretty trite and the plot twists predictable.

How about you? Did you watch both Saving Grace and HawthoRNe? What did you think of them?

Jun 17 2009 04:09 AM ET

Letterman comes out joking about Sarah Palin and the 'Fire Dave' rally

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Categories: Television

Well, he may have apologized on Monday, but on Tuesday, it was an unbowed David Letterman that strode out to deliver a punchy Late Show monologue.

“I want to get through this quickly so you can get to the ‘Fire Dave’ rally,” he said, referring to the demonstration being held by Gov. Sarah Palin supporters, a gathering that one news source said numbered three dozen, while CNNPolitics.com put the number closer to 15. Wow, what a show of outrage. Do you get the feeling that even the people who are angry at Letterman are beginning to feel it’s time to live and let live?

The theme of the nightly Top 10 List was the “Top 10 Things Overheard at the Fire David Letterman Rally.” It included “When does Cheney arrive with the waterboarding gear?” “Well, it was nice of CBS to provide the catering,” and “Isn’t there always a crowd demanding Letterman be fired?”

Letterman said that Palin had accepted his apology, but that “she’s also accepted a $500 gift certificate from Lenscrafters.”

Now, I’m sure there are those who are going to say this proves Letterman’s apology the night before wasn’t sincere. Me, I was glad to see the old, cranky spark back in his performance. What did you think?

Jun 16 2009 04:11 PM ET

'Better Off Ted' returns tonight: A quick hooray!

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Categories: Television

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One of your favorites and mine, Better Off Ted, returns to ABC’s schedule tonight. This evening, Ted will be a rerun but a fine one, the episode called “Racial Sensitivity.” (Remember this edition, about how Veridian’s new state-of-the-art sensor security system fails to detect the company’s black employees, how horrified Ted is, and how angry Lem is, about this problem?)

Next week, however, we start getting a batch of new Teds. This is summer television to be savored, and a way to tide us over until (hooray again!) Better Off Ted begins its new season in the fall.

But show your support now and watch the summer Teds and e-mail ABC about how psyched you are that they’ve rescued a worthy show. You’ll be glad you did.

Jun 16 2009 11:42 AM ET

'Nurse Jackie' gets good 'n' 'sweet'

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Categories: TV Last Night

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I pretty much love Nurse Jackie; I’m already rooting for Edie Falco to get an Emmy next year. And I enjoyed this week’s second episode, especially the subplot about the violent patient who punched Jackie (“This happens,” was her simple yet eloquent response), yet to whom Jackie showed compassion and helped.

Having seen a few more episodes beyond this week’s, I know how much you’re going to enjoy Nurse Jackie as it proceeds. But this week’s episode, entitled “Sweet-N-All,” revealed the series’ one weak spot: the cartoonishly written role the terrific Anna Deavere Smith has to tackle as hospital administrator Mrs. Akalitus. That whole Akalitus-drinks-Jackie’s-percocet-spiked-coffee scene, that was pretty predictable and corny, didn’t you think?

But if that’s the only complaint I can come up with, this is a pretty darn good show, right? And next week, Eli Wallach guest stars as a patient in a super-fine episode.

What did you think of Nurse Jackie in its second week? Still enjoying it?

Jun 16 2009 09:26 AM ET

Letterman and the Palin apology: 'I understand why people are upset'

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Categories: Television

In an extraordinary gesture of conciliation, David Letterman spent a good chunk of the first half of Monday night’s Late Show apologizing for the jokes that so offended Gov. Sarah Palin, and making jokes at his own expense about the animosity he has attracted over the past week.

Saying once again that his joke about a Palin daughter at Yankee Stadium had been tasteless, Letterman said what many of us had thought: that “I had, honestly, no idea that the 14-year-old girl [Willow] was at the ball game.” “I understand why people are upset,” he said, because by now, it’s “the perception rather than the intent.” In other words, Letterman never intended to be cruel, but that’s how it was perceived. He apologized to “the Governor and her family.” 

(Incidentally, Letterman said he came to this realization after listening to a remark about the controversy made by Mark Shields on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, possibly the biggest media-mention Shields or Lehrer has received in this century.)

Fascinatingly, what preceded this was an opening monologue that was virtually all about the Palin brouhaha. His opening words were a sarcastic, “I’m David Letterman, good-will ambassador… I got a call from Mom today. She told me she was siding with the governor.” Talking about how Bernie Madoff’s wife said recently she felt “shunned by friends and neighbors,” he added, “Hey, tell me about it.”

As I wrote yesterday, I wish Letterman did not feel the need to apologize or explain himself yet again. Letterman’s bedrock decency has prevailed over what he must know is Palin’s bedrock opportunism in prolonging the controversy. But if this is the way he’s choosing to try and end this messiness, I hope it works.

Now let’s see what happens next. Will Palin accept Letterman’s apology? Also, on Monday, it was reported that a protest has been planned for Tuesday afternoon outside New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater, where Letterman tapes his show. It’s being co-sponsored by radio host John Ziegler, a creepy specimen who once remarked that the phrase “a rational woman” is “an oxymoron.” This is the man to whom Palin gave an interview when first expressing her concerns about the Letterman jokes. You wouldn’t think she’d want a guy like that in her corner.

What do you think? Should this controversy end now?

For more on the Letterman apology:
Letterman apologizes for Palin comment

An open letter to David Letterman re Sarah Palin

Jun 16 2009 02:19 AM ET

'Jon and Kate Plus 8' + 'American Chopper' = 'You're sweaty!'

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Categories: Television

Jon-and-kate-plus-chopper_l It’s come to this: the only way to get Jon and Kate Gosselin to share a TV scene is to get them involved with other adults they can talk to, because they sure ain’t talking to each other. Thus this week’s TLC cross-promotion with American Chopper. Let’s hear Kate squeal, “You’re sweaty!” when she takes a ride with Paul Senior! Let’s see Jon help build his own boss hog, while Paul Senior yells at him! “Are you paying attention?” Paul hectored Jon. “Are you learning anything?” If you closed your eyes, you’d swear it was the good old days, with Kate badgering Jon.

Ah, but the good old days of Jon and Kate Plus 8 are long gone, as this half hour proved. The kids, needing a male figure in their lives more than ever, were entertained by Chopper-boy Mikey, who brought along his Charlie McCarthy ventriloquist dummy to “talk” to the tykes. A bit later, Jon spoke of “enjoying something on my own, and hanging out with guys and doing guy things.” This man is now virtually begging for a divorce right on camera.

Kate took Mikey to a spa for some hair-washing and a pedicure. Why? Because they had a half hour of television to kill. No other reason than that. It was all perfectly pleasant, affable, and kinda dull. The Chopper guys were good sports. Kate donated her pink bike to the Ronald McDonald House charity, and we were reminded by Jon that, soon after the sextuplets were born, Jon and Kate stayed at a Ronald McDonald House, because they were overwhelmed, not wealthy, and needed some help. But that was back when this series was truly fascinating, and such personal details weren’t the stuff of tabloid scandal, but the kinds of facts that illuminated their simpler lives.

Oh, well. What’s next, to keep the show going on TLC? A very special crossover episode with 18 Kids and Counting, in which the Duggars adopt Jon because his name, like all their other children’s, begins with a “J”?

Did you watch Jon and Kate this week? What did you think?

Jun 15 2009 09:32 AM ET

An open letter to David Letterman, re: Sarah Palin

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Categories: Television

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Dear Mr. Letterman:

This whole Sarah Palin thing has really gotten out of hand. Did you read the absolutely reprehensible piece written in the Chicago Sun-Times that equated your joke-insults to the anti-Semitic hate-speech of Rev. Jeremiah Wright? The atmosphere has become not merely ludicrous, but in cases like this, poisonous.

So here’s my advice, as you begin a week of new shows (and the nice thing about writing a letter of advice to a guy like you is that I’m pretty sure you’ll do whatever the hell you want to do anyway, so I can speak freely):

Clam up.

Don’t give Gov. Palin any more material to react to. From her Today Show interview alone, it was obvious that no matter how much Matt Lauer tried to raise serious questions about various overreactions to your jokes, she’s glowingly happy to be in the national spotlight again and doesn’t want to give it up any time soon.

Don’t give the TV cable news analysis shows, whether they lean right, left, or “objective,” any more fodder for what has been, for the most part, an ever-higher tower of Babel-babble without any useful insight.

Where the first few days of this controversy probably helped you in the ratings, I can’t believe that you, a tough but fair competitor, want to win against the Tonight Show on the back of this kind of controversy.

Have a good week. Oh, and on Friday, be sure to ask Michael Cera about the possible Arrested Development movie, will ya?

Best,

Ken Tucker

For more on the Letterman-Palin controversy:
Palin attacks Letterman again

Jun 15 2009 02:14 AM ET

'True Blood' season premiere: Did you bite?

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Categories: Television

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What a great way to get a second season of True Blood going. Sookie, Bill, Jason, Tara, Sam — all the major characters charged into new story-lines with some fresh-blood supporting characters to jump-start the action.

I liked the way that bratty, new-vampire Jessica has returned and is already getting in the way of Sookie and Bill’s relationship. “I had to create a vampire as reparation for the one I destroyed to save you,” said Bill to Sookie, coming perilously close to adding, “Don’t blame me, girlie — I did it for you.” Good thing he didn’t, because our Sookie would have given him a piece of her mind. 

Meanwhile, one of the most heartening aspects of True Blood‘s new season is the way Tara has become a more fully-rounded character. She’s not just the angry, grumpy gal she was most of last season. Grappling with her mother’s alcoholism and coming to terms with her own unhappiness has made her more vulnerable. And thus susceptible to the charms of Maryann. Who also has a past with our beastie-boy Sam. (By the way, how great is it to see Michelle Forbes in a role that really shows her range?)

As for Sookie’s brother, I’ve seen the first few episodes of the new season, and I can tell you: the subplot about Jason getting religion in the Light of Day church that started off so cracklingly tonight only gets better. This story-line enables the series to use actor Ryan Kwanten’s babyface-devil expressiveness very effectively. 

Finally, regarding Alexander Skarsgard, who plays Eric as one of the most egotistical, vain, purely enjoyable vampires since Bela Legosi’s, and a heck of a lot sexier: Give this man a raise. His increased visibility this season can only help.

Oh, and really finally: Tell me what you think about Lafayette in the dungeon. Freaky-scary or what? 

What did you think of True Blood‘s season opener?

For more on True Blood:

True Blood season two review by Ken Tucker

True Blood exclusive: Lafayette speaks!

Jun 14 2009 03:50 AM ET

'Pushing Daisies' finale: goodbye and 'Kerplunk'

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Categories: Television
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And so Pushing Daisies has ended. (In a way.) (That’s your hint that spoilers lie ahead.) 

The episode, entitled “Kerplunk,” was a dizzy doozy, one that focussed on some of the series’ most crucial subplots. It was largely a Vivian-and-Lily episode, in which we learned more about their past career as The Darling Mermaid Darlings — “the Serena and Venus of water ballet,” as Chuck called them. The synchronized-swimming duo had a rival: Coral and Blanche, the Aqua Dolls, played with madcap glee by Wendy Malick and Nora Dunn. 

If the episode’s crime was the death of Dunn’s Blanche (swallowed by a shark), the pleasure as always arose from the main characters’ emotions and the clever supporting players. Chief among the latter for me, at least, was the welcome sight of Wilson Cruz — Rickie from My So-Called Life! — looking fit and sly as a fellow aqua-show performer, a suspect in the murder, and possessor of what the show called with its usual arch euphemisms an impressive “banana hammock” of a Speed-o.  

Vivian and Lily’s rivalry with the Aqua Dolls lured them out of their house to watch their enemies perform. (Vivian uttered my favorite line of the night: “This is an unanticipated stresser.”) The result was a spilling of more than water. Coral’s infidelity reminded Lily of her own indiscretion (she’d had a fling with Vivian’s fiance), and eventually everyone finally knew: that Lily is Chuck’s mother, not her aunt. Lily and Vivian learned that Chuck (their Charlotte) was still alive. 

The series did a necessarily hasty but satisfying wrap-up of its subplots. Emerson was reunited with his daughter. Olive, emboldened by her love for Randy, left the pie shop to open a macaroni-and-cheese emporium called The Intrepid Cow. 

And narrator Jim Dale gave this lovely, graceful, witty, and mischievous series its farewell by coming full-circle (a pie-shape), by uttering the final, fairy-tale words of Pushing Daisies: “Endings are where we begin.” That’s what I meant at the beginning of this piece: It ended, in a way. But in another way, it began again, for now we can imagine the lives these characters are leading with their new knowledge of each other.

How much are you going to miss Pushing Daisies? Did you like the way it ended?

Jun 12 2009 03:38 PM ET

The music moment of the week: Craig Ferguson's take on 'I'm Yours'

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Categories: TV Last Night

Did you catch the opening of the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson last night? It was one of those great, out-of-nowhere, wittily absurdist moments Ferguson does so well:

Never thought I’d enjoy a Jason Mraz song so much.

How about you?

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