Eastbound & Down Review: "Chapter 14" (Episode 3.01)
Kenny “La Flama Blanca” Powers returns in the third season premiere.... read more
Life's Too Short Review: Episode 1.01
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant didn’t create cringe comedy, but with the original Office they might have perfected it. The two return to America with Life’s Too Short, their third live action series and second to be co-produced by HBO. Like Extras, it’s a show business mockumentary starring a middle-aged actor struggling in both his personal and professional lives. Gervais cedes the spotlight to another actor this time, though, and that’s where the show gets its punny title. Warwick Davis, the British dwarf actor best known for costumed roles in various Star Wars films, the horror franchise Leprechaun and the... read more
Fringe Review: "A Better Human Being" (Episode 4.13)
Watching Fringe this season is like doing the cha-cha. For every step forward there’s a step back, you never know when things are going to go sideways, and you’re always struggling to keep things straight. “A Better Human Being” is a microcosm of the season as a whole. What’s good is very good, but there are just enough missteps to keep it from making the jump from ‘very good’ to ‘excellent’. read more
Portlandia Review: "Motorcycle" (Episode 2.07)
This weekend’s episode of Portlandia opens with a hippie gathering in a field, set to the sounds of Joanna Newsom strumming the harp and Fleet Foxes lead singer Robin Pecknold joining Carrie Brownstein, Fred Armisen and other characters in the dancing. We could smell the patchouli wafting from our TV set. read more
Parks and Recreation: "Dave Returns" (4.15)
The return of Louis C.K.‘s character Dave helps Parks and Recreaction’s world feel more real, more cohesive and continuous in a way that I’ve been writing a lot about for the past few weeks. It’s always nice when a character who left a show returns, even if their reason for doing so is kind of obvious and played out. Dave is back in Pawnee to apply for chief of police when the old chief is retiring. At the same time, Leslie and Ben are visiting the chief in the hope of obtaining his endorsement. That they run into each other,... read more
Up All Night Review: "Travel Day" (Episode 1.16)
For the first time in a long time Up All Night failed to impress on such a high level. Sure, there were laughs here and there, but it just didn’t do anything special. Guest star Alanis Morrisette, who played Ava’s former girl band co-member, was underused. Airport/bomb scenarios were shrug-worthy. Reagan’s paranoia and control-issues are finally too much to be cute and are kind of annoying. read more
Archer Review: "Lo Scandalo" (Episode 3.8)
In last week’s disappointing episode “Drift Problem”, _Archer_ received its first speed bump in an otherwise great third season. But _Archer_ more than makes up for that with “Lo Scandalo”, an episode that showcases both the great storytelling and humor that the show offers, while also throwing in some hints into the _Archer_ mythology. read more
Delocated Review: "Midnight Munchingtons" (Episode 3.03)
In which Jon creates a cooking show Hugh Acheson and Richard Blais could never win.... read more
Modern Family Review: "Aunt Mommy" (Episode 3.15)
This week’s Modern Family focused on the issue of surrogate mothers vs. adoption for gay parents. Thankfully, the episode didn’t fall into the trappings of A Very Special Blossom... or an after-school special. It dealt with the issues in a very adult manner: by downing lots of alcohol. read more
Justified Review: "Thick As Mud" (Episode 3.05)
“This is the price we pay for the life we live.” -Ava Crowder Someday Justified is going to be one of those shows that mass communications departments spend an entire semester on. Of course, there’s no need to limit it. Many departments could get involved. Classes could be taught in anything from philosophy to sociology to economics to, this week, basic anatomy. Ethics and the Economy will be taught by Professor Limehouse. Ellstin Limehouse lied to Dickie Bennett. The Bennett fortune still exists (though Limehouse claims it is nowhere near the $3 million that Dickie suggested). The most interesting thing... read more
New Girl Review: "Valentine's Day" (Episode 1.13)
For _New Girl_, Valentine’s Day represents change. Jess wants to have a one-night stand since it has been a while since she has spent February 14th alone. Nick and Julia, two people who have never cared about Valentine’s, try to give it their best shot with actually caring. Winston, trying to not use his new girlfriend, Shelby, as a one-night-stand anymore, spends a night in with the girls. Schmidt even does his best to get someone else laud on this night of romance. But _New Girl_ has one of its best episodes by playing off type and succeeding greatly at it. read more
Smash Review: "The Callback" (Episode 1.02)
“The Callback” focuses on Karen and Ivy battling each other to win the role of Marilyn Monroe. Karen, a relative novice at auditioning for this top-notch of a musical, struggles at the beginning and is still shaken from Derek the director’s sexual advances. At first it looks like she is going to debate whether or not she should cave and allow him to take advantage of her. read more
How I Met Your Mother Review: "The Drunk Train" (Episode 7.16)
In a perfect world How I Met Your Mother would contain two types of episodes. The first would be non-stop comedy that somehow manages to push the semimetal story forward. Last week’s episode had the first part of that down, but failed at developing any of the characters or plots. The second type of episode would contain one ridiculous off the wall plot along with a heartwarming or tear jerking storyline. read more
Alcatraz Review: "Paxton Petty" (Episode 1.06)
With last week’s episode of _Alcatraz_, “Guy Hastings," the show took a turn from the formulaic nature the show has taken of adding a new villain, catching him, then having a few minutes at the end of the show’s basic mythology. With this week, “Paxton Petty," the show returns to that formula, and is lacking because of it. read more
House of Lies Review: "Our Descent Into Los Angeles" (Episode 1.06)
Let’s check in again on what’s destined to be one of the more embarrassing IMDB entries for almost everybody involved. It’s probably too late for House of Lies to turn itself around. “Our Descent Into Los Angeles" is the halfway point for the first season, and even though it wasn’t as actively obnoxious as last week’s episode, it’s still a deeply conflicted half hour of television that tried both my patience and intelligence. The writers don’t seem to understand the show’s strength, which is the great cast, and instead of ever finding an authentic voice they defer to “outrageous” situations... read more
Shameless Review “Can I Have a Mother” (2.06)
To live up to its reputation as fresh and inventive, _Shameless_ continuously brings in new characters and new subplots. The downside is having to be patient while these multiple stories develop. read more
Luck Review: "Episode Three" (Episode 1.03)
You know when a movie is the middle segment of what will be a trilogy, so it doesn’t really have a wholly independent narrative arc of its own? Like, you know, in The Empire Strikes Back and The Matrix Reloaded? The filmmakers get so caught up in the idea of a third and ultimate installment that they forget the second one needs a beginning, middle and end with resolution and closure (if you’re into that sort of thing). read more
Napoleon Dynamite Review: "Pedro vs. Deb" (Episode 1.4)
When it comes to character, animated television shows live and die by it. Looking at a show like _Family Guy_, character is even more important than something as integral as plot. A show like that can twist and turn and by the third act, you can’t even remember what happened in the first, but it’s the characters that keep audiences coming back. After a movie and four episodes, it would seem that _Napoleon Dynamite_ should have some form of character that can contain an episode, but still the characters remain one dimensional and not worth the time. read more
An Idiot Abroad: "Whale Watching" (2.4)
Part of the fun in An Idiot Abroad‘s second season comes from the surprising way Ricky and Stephen—or whoever it was that actually planned out Karl’s agendas—go about getting him to his bucket list destinations. The show has always enjoyed throwing random surprise hurdles in Karl’s path, but the second season seems more intent on screwing with the formula. We saw a huge twist of this last week, when they switched Karl’s “swim with the dolphins” item into swimming with sharks, but it’s an important part of the show every time out, particularly because the items Karl chose were largely... read more
Fringe Review: "Welcome to Westfield" (Episode 4.12)
The phenomenon at the start of the show is determined to be magnetic in nature, so the team scatters to look for clues. This leaves Walter open to look for pie. With Peter and Olivia in tow, they head to the nearest town which is Westfield, population 584. The town seems friendly enough until the counterman at the diner tries to kill Walter with a butcher knife. The really creepy part is that the counterman also has two irises in each eye and doesn’t seem to know where he is half the time. read more
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