My favorite tv show, possibly of all time is "The Shield." Despite the hotness of the male leads -- which is what initially attracted me to the show, it is by far the best written, acted and produced show on television. What other show sports such talent as CCH Pounder, Michael Chiklis and Forest Whitaker? The fifth season ended last Tuesday. It was a very intense season that seemed to go by quickly. The much hyped season finale was good. I didn't think it lived up to the hype of the "You knew it would come to this...." tagline, but it was still pretty damn good. And one moment on the show blew me away. Forest Whitaker is so good at his character that I want to reach through the scene and punch him repeatedly. Rumor has it that next season will be the last. This show continually challenges the boundaries of prime time television. And it being on the FX Network, it's granted a bit more leeway. I'm anxiously awaiting it's return in January.
The L Word also came to a season's end. Most people think it's funny that I hated Queer as Folk, but am addicted to The L Word. This is the third season of the show, but not the best by any means. It had a very odd and weak start, but built some great momentum with the story line of Dana's battle with breast cancer. The episode where she finally succombed to the disease was heartbreaking. The show is so well written and acted that I actually felt as though someone I knew had passed away. I actually wrote a song to Alice about Dana called "She Went Away." I honestly don't think the show will be the same without Erin Daniels who played Dana. I felt the season should have ended with Dana's death. It would have been a great place to stop, as it reality it is something that would have changed everyone's lives. But the producers felt the need to stretch it out one more episode. I found the season finale to be completely unbelievable and an overall cop out. Helena paying for the entire wedding and taking everyone up to Canada in a stretch hummer limo for Shane's ultimately doomed wedding was ridiculous. I don't care how rich you are, it's completely unfeasable. Also, Carmen's family shut her out when she came out to them and somehow Helena was able to coax them into not only coming to the wedding, but being very happy about it as well? I don't think so. I dealt with a catholic family not too keen on me being gay and there is no way in hell they'd have gotten over that quickly just for a free trip to Canada. To add insult to injury, it had Shane getting back in touch and on good terms with her good for nothing Dad. And by sheer coincidence, the minister of the wedding happened to be an old flame of Helena's mother. We all knew Shane would leave Carmen at the alter, no surprise there. So that's not even a cliff hanger. And my God, would someone please cut Shane's hair? At this point, I don't even care where Shane is or if she even comes back. Her character stopped being interesting about mid-season. Which is sad, she was one of my favorites from seasons one and two. The entire Bette and Tina situation, which provided cliff hanger number two, has gotten so pathetic that I've also lost interest in both characters. They've both become horribly selfish and crass people that I can hardly imagine their group of friends continuing to embrace them. At the very end, Helena's mom cuts her off from the family fortune. And for good reason. So......my final thought on this show is that I hope the writers all get together and watch the dvds of season one and two and get this show back on track while it still stands a chance. This was the most-watched season yet, so they better make it good while they still have an audience. Side note: I wonder if Carmen is leaving the show. The actress who plays her is a regular on the new NBC sitcom "Teachers." Which I hear is by far one of the worst sitcoms to come out in years. And remember that breast cancer can touch each and every life, so for more information on breast cancer go to http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp.
Another show I really liked this year is Related. A hour long show that follows 4 Italian sisters through their lives in NYC. I totally believe them as sisters because of the acting, but only two of them even look like they could be sisters and one of them looks latino. Regardless of the fact that two of the sisters live in impossibly nice apartments, I still liked it. I look forward to seeing it next season and see where it goes. I thought it was especially strong considering it was it's first season.So....now what? My 3 favorite shows are gone for the year. I guess that means I can get off my couch and get some work done. Its tough though considering that Russ just bought a 42 inch Panasonic Plasma High Definition TV. You can get sucked into even the worst tv show or movie just because of how damn clear the picture is. But....there are a few guilty pleasures still on for at least a few more weeks. American Idol boasts it's most talented contestants yet. There are 3 people on the show now who could easily win it: Chris (hottie), Madisa (yo go girl) and Paris (talks like Minnie Mouse, sings like Aretha). I cannot stand Ace. He is so freakin' generic. And all he does is make love to the camera. It's disgusting. That and he has a mediocre singing voice. Kick off Bucky (what the hell kind of name is that??) and then get rid of Ace. Next, and I know I'm one of the few who hate him, but PLEASE vote off Taylor Hicks. He's nothing more than an epileptic Michael McDonald knock off. I agree that he can sing, but I find him to be completely unwatchable. And will someone please put Kelly Pickler out of her ignorant misery? "I got tarantulas on my eyes." Puh-lease. The rest of the singers are talented enough to keep the show entertaining down to the end.
Two and a Half Men is a show that I'm surprised I like. Not the biggest fan of Charlie Sheen or Jon Cryer, but man is this show funny. If the kid playing Jake gets any fatter they'll have to call the show Two Men and a REALLY Fat Kid. With that said, the kid who plays Jake is a hoot. Jon Cryer's character should have been gay. It's an Odd Couple for 2006 and it works. And finally, Julia Louis Dryfess has broken the Seinfeld curse. Her show The New Adventures of Old Christine is actually quite funny. Though I'm sure if it is picked up for a second season, next year it will be called either Old Christine or just Christine. It really is pretty funny and Wanda Sykes has what may become a reoccurring role. I love that none of the actors are model perfect, though I'm oddly attracted to the guy who plays her ex husband. The kid playing her kid seems to try too hard at being precocious. He's no DJ from Roseanne. :-)
And we all know I'm a huge fan of America's Next Top Model. Russ and I became addicted to it in it's second season. I like that they seem to run 2 of these seasons a year. I love the photoshoots and I think that the judge model turned photographer Nigel Barker is so hot. *Sigh* I'm interested to see what happens this season. Jade won't win, but they'll keep her around because she's good tv. Furonda won't win because out of hair and make up, she's not pretty at all. I think it's between Danielle and Nnenna. Please get rid of Gina, she is annoying beyond annoying. "Tyra Mail!"Happy Watching.
