Pass the Remote

Private Practice death

2010-05-13T11:33:00.002-04:00

On tonight's Private Practice season finale, one of the show's main characters dies. Cast members are saying to prepare yourself and have tissues on hand while watching, so I'm expecting a great episode. And if last year's season finale is any indication, we already know PP knows how to go out with a bang. Who do you think will die? Who would you miss the most? Leave it here.

How will your favorite shows end the season?

2010-05-11T12:35:00.002-04:00

TvGuide has this gallery highlighting what to expect from the season finales of all of your favorite shows. It's worth clicking through as a way to prepare for the finales to come in the next few weeks.

TvGuide's guide to promising fall pilots

2010-05-11T12:29:00.002-04:00

Here's the link. Which shows do you hope will get picked up? Are there any you think sound truly awful?

SYTYCD judge shake up

2010-05-11T12:23:00.002-04:00

When So You Think You Can Dance's summer season starts May 27, there will not only be changes to the show's format, but the judge panel will have a new resident. Handing out criticism alongside Adam Shankman and Nigel Lythgoe will be Mia Michaels, which means there will be no Mary Murphy. Here's my thoughts on this change: While Mary's screaming and odd sayings were at times over the top, her presence was always felt. She has been there from the start and was always constructive. As for Mia, she is an AMAZING choreographer. Having her be a judge means we will not get the chance to watch her dances be performed, which, to me, is a loss. I'm not sure I like this idea, but I guess we'll have to see how it works out.

Serena needs to grow up

2010-05-11T12:18:00.002-04:00

I really only have one thing I need to say in regards to the last few episodes of Gossip Girl: Isn't Serena much too old to be wishing mommy and daddy would stop fighting and end up back together? At some point kids realize their mom and dad don't belong together, accept that they are divorced and grow up. Yet in the last few episodes we see that Serena is still living in Neverland and holding on to that childish dream. She even goes as far as to sabotage Rufus. I just hope we have seen the last of William for a while so that Rufus and Lily can work on their marriage without any trouble from nosy teenagers.

The reason I'm still watching Parenthood

2010-05-11T12:11:00.003-04:00

While I have heard from numerous people that they dislike the NBC show Parenthood, I am still watching, and enjoying. It may not be the best show on television and it may not always be original, but the characters are so easy to love. And the foremost reason why I can't stop watching is that I love how the characters say and react in ways you'd expect your best friend to. There was a scene a few weeks ago where Julia thought her daughter may have autism so she went to Kristina for advice. Later in the episode, while talking to Adam, Kristina opened up and said she almost wanted Sydney to have autism because then the two families would have something in common and they could sympathize with one another. Throughout the scene, as the viewer, you couldn't help but think how you would react in the same scenario. While it is awful to want another child to be diagnosed as autistic, you can see where Kristina is coming from and the fact that they wrote that scene to show this side of her makes this show special. Yes, they tackle issues every family drama does, but sometimes the dialogue is so unexpectedly original and true to life that it is refreshing. For me, watching the show is worth it for these special moments no matter how few and far between they may seem.

Apology

2010-05-11T12:08:00.001-04:00

It has been almost a month since I last wrote on this blog and I am truly sorry. For a while there I lost all motivation to continue writing, but I am going to try to get back in the habit. Please forgive me.

The return of one of the best shows on television (at least in my opinion)

2010-04-13T15:22:00.002-04:00

After a hiatus that lasted much too long and left me craving some song and dance, Glee returns tonight following American Idol at 9:28. I thought, in honor of this day, we could take a moment to recap where things left off. Also, I will include a link to this article that reveals some hints about the rest of the season straight from creator Ryan Murphy's mouth. While the article calls the information spoilers, I think of it more as previews. All this does is make me more excited for the next few episodes. And, as always, check back later in the week for a review/recap of tonight's episode. But for now, here is where things left off.

- The fall finale episode included the glee club's sectional competition. While in the audience waiting for their turn to perform, the members realize the other clubs are singing their songs and are even performing in similar fashion. Instead of freaking out or giving up, they decide to come up with a new set list and choreography in a short period of time. They go on stage and perform excellently, receiving two standing ovations. We then see that the judges are in no way qualified to judge this competition, but that doesn't matter because they come out on top anyway!
- The truth about Puck being the father of Quinn's baby is almost common knowledge. Almost everyone knows, everyone except Rachel and Finn. Rachel, without thinking about the best interest of the club and only thinking about ruining Quinn and Finn's relationship, considers telling Finn. In the end, the truth becomes known and Quinn is almost relieved to not have to continue living a lie.
- Figgins confronts Sue about helping the other glee clubs cheat and even fires her. But before she leaves she threatens to return ready to destroy Will.
- Emma pushes back her wedding so she can be glee club's adviser after Will is told he cannot perform the duty. Then, on their wedding day, Ken dumps Emma, apparently realizing he does not want to be her second best. At the end of the episode, Will realizes his feelings for Emma and the two kiss.

Well that's how we left things. A few questions are raised though: With Quinn out of the picture, will it be happily ever after for Finn and Rachel? What will Sue do to get reinstated as the cheerios' coach? Will Emma and Will continue on in bliss, or are we in store for a Terri reemergence? We'll have to watch and see. Anyway, enjoy the episode tonight. I know I will.

What to watch this spring

2010-04-09T23:03:00.003-04:00

The Globe's Matthew Gilbert put together this slideshow highlighting some of the television events not to miss now that it is spring. For me, nothing is more important than the return of Glee, especially since it is so soon. What are you looking forward to? Are there things he missed?

At some point even the parents need to grow up

2010-04-09T22:45:00.002-04:00

Here is a quick recap of this week's Parenthood.

- The paternity test comes back and it proves Crosby is Jabbar's father. Throughout this all Crosby has been leaning on Julia and now she is pushing his to stand on his own and grow up. To prove he is trying, he gets up the courage to tell his parents that he is a father. It was a moving scene, contrasted by Zeek's limited disgust at Jabbar's name, that only became more satisfying when the grandparents met their grandson and he was so flawlessly welcomed into the family.
- Max is now working with a behavioral specialist who is not only helping him in ways his parents have not yet figured out, but she is helping Kristina by being someone she can lean on.
- Julia realizes she has every right to be jealous of Racquel and questions Joel, who admits that she once kissed him. Julia then decides she doesn't want Racquel in their lives. But when she realizes this would do more harm to Sydney than anyone else, she realizes she trusts her husband.
- Things with Sarah and Amber's teacher continue to progress. While Sarah is not immediately willing to just follow her feelings because it is too complicated, by the end of the episode the two share a kiss and agree that they like one another.

Life Unexpected: "I've already messed her life up enough as it is"

2010-04-09T22:27:00.002-04:00

On this week's Life Unexpected, Cate, Baze and Lux go on a road trip to find Cate's father who abandoned her when she was a child. When they find her father, Baze sees through him, realizing that he is not happy Cate found him. So while Cate is walking around excited she has the chance to reconnect with her father, Baze has to be the bearer of bad news. At first Cate rejects his theory, but then her father does not show up to drive them back to Portland. It is then that Baze swoops in to rescue Cate, proving that he is someone she can depend on, despite all of the other times she felt abandoned by him.

Also important, at the end of the episode Lux announced that she loves Cate and Baze and wants to make their arrangement official. They are in the process of legally adopting her.

Next week is the Life Unexpected season finale. The episode is supposed to include Cate and Ryan's wedding, but after recent developments, is it possible that Cate actually loves Baze? We'll have to wait for Monday, but I have a feeling this is the cliffhanger they are going to leave us with.

GG: "Taking what belongs to Chuck has become a hobby of mine"

2010-04-09T21:47:00.002-04:00

As always, here is the link to this week's Daily Intel reality index and below are a few additions of my own following the latest episode of Gossip Girl.

- To explain why Eric has not been on the show in weeks, they quickly mention he was away while he shows Jenny pictures of his vacation and the people he met. But what I want to know is how he could have been away when he should have been in school. Minus two because as bad of a parent as Lily is, why would she allow her son to leave the country in the middle of the school year?
- Why is it that when a guy shows any attention to a girl she immediately thinks he loves her? Plus five because in the case of Jenny and Nate, she is only acting like every other teenage girl who sees a hot guy and wants him to save her. But I do want to point out that while she wants romance, I think Nate is thinking more along the lines of big brother.
- When Nate does not show up at the time he is supposed to, Serena sends out a blast through Gossip Girl. While for most of the world this would seem unrealistic, in the world of Serena van der Woodsen this is almost as practical as calling the cops to report him missing. So instead of this being a minus, it lands on the positive side with a plus one.

By the end of the episode I couldn't help but feel awful for Blair and Chuck. While I think what he did was horrible, the fact that he still has faith that he and Blair will get past this makes me realize how much he really loves her. Neither character is perfect but they work so well together. I hope they find their way back to one another.

Jimmy dons a red dress

2010-04-09T21:41:00.002-04:00

For those who have been watching this season of Dancing with the Stars, you know who stands out and who sucks. And while two pretty awful dancers have already been sent home, one couple that should never dance again remains. If you don't yet know I am talking about Kate Gosselin and Tony Dovolani, then you have been living under a rock. If you don't recognize how horrible they are, just watch the following video and understand that this isn't even that far of an exaggeration.

Good news for SVU fans

2010-04-09T21:33:00.003-04:00

Law & Order: SVU has been really great in recent weeks. I watch all the new episodes and they never disappoint. So when news broke a while ago saying that though the show would likely return, main characters Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay had not signed on, I was saddened. I know the show would be fine without them, but I almost feel like they make the show. So this news, that Meloni does not plan to leave the show, made me happy. Now, let's just hope Hargitay follows suit.

Can Idol continue ratings dominance?

2010-04-09T21:27:00.003-04:00

After years of American Idol being the most watched show on television, Dancing with the Stars beat Idol for the first time, according to this article. The exact numbers are detailed in the article, but for me this begs the question, is AI really as great as it used to be? I stopped watching a long time ago, but from what I hear the talent this year is lacking. Also, with Paula gone and Ellen as her replacement, are people not happy with the judges? And with Simon leaving after this season, is another slip inevitable? If you watch Idol, I'd love to hear your thoughts about this season. Is it still a must-watch show? What could be done to make it better? All suggestions are welcomed.

Grey's doctor expecting child

2010-04-09T21:20:00.002-04:00

According to this article, Jessica Capshaw, who plays the extremely lovable Arizona on Grey's Anatomy, is pregnant with her second child. I find this information important to point out because of her recent storyline on Grey's with on screen girlfriend Callie. With Callie pressuring her to discuss the possibility of having children, will this timing make it almost impossible for the writers to ignore? Maybe Callie will get Arizona to agree to children after all.

The Hills returns for its final season

2010-04-05T12:30:00.002-04:00

The sixth and final season of The Hills kicks off April 27 and it promises to be just as dramatic as ever. I stopped watching after the departure of Lauren Conrad, and mostly because Heidi and Spencer make me want to throw up, but from the looks of this trailer, things are getting exciting. Who knows, maybe I'll start watching again.

PP: The coma mama

2010-04-02T21:11:00.003-04:00

Same deal, this is a two for one. Below are recaps of both last night's and last week's Private Practices.

- Now that Naomi knows about Sam and Addison, Sam wishes they were at least together because as things are now, Naomi is pissed and Sam and Addison are not even happy as they should be. But Addison is still not willing to chance it because Naomi means too much to her.
- The surrogate mother who slipped into a coma last episode is still in a coma with the babies continuing to grow inside her. But her husband wants to take her off life support because he thinks it is cruel to keep her alive and give him and their family false hope. Lawyers are involved and in the end they side with the parents of the triplets. At the end of the episode, against the judge's orders, Charlotte sneaks the husband in to see his wife and he pulls the plug. But then she breaths on her own, shocking everyone.
- Charlotte and Sheldon are still sleeping together but it is just sex. When Sheldon tries to take it to another level, Charlotte pushes him away, which leads to Sheldon analyzing her and telling her to go back to Cooper. But then we have Cooper, who is trying to cut ties with Charlotte. He even paid her back the money she put up to buy him into the practice.
- William left the country and didn't tell Naomi. This is enough to send Naomi into Fife's open arms, especially since she needs a shoulder to cry on after she finds out about Addison and Sam. Naomi sleeps with Fife and things seems to be going well. Then Fife tells Naomi that William is sick and that he went away to get treatment, which makes Naomi feel guilty enough that she gets on a plane and flies to Switzerland to support him. (In the next episode we see that Fife plans to wait for Naomi's return because he feels that strongly for her, but we still have no idea what Naomi is thinking or who she wants.)
- Throughout this episode Lucas is sick. When Pete also gets sick, Addison takes over and does her best to play mom. She struggles, especially when she too becomes sick, but it is a chance for her to bond with Lucas. All the while things with her and Pete seem to be going really well. They seem to have a rhythm going and seem happy together. Then Pete, who has a fever, mutters, while half asleep, I love you, Violet and Addison hears him.

On to the latest episode:

- The surrogate mother's husband brings in a very famous coma doctor and her team to see if they can wake up his wife. He's looking for a miracle, but the doctor says there is no hope. On the doctor's team is Addison's ex-husband, Derek's, little sister, Amelia. When Amelia is fired for suggesting they perform a very risky procedure, she goes to the husband and presents it to him herself. Though none of the other doctors think it will work, she is cocky and wants to do it. The surgery ends up going badly and Addison has to deliver the babies even though they are barely viable. Because of this set back, Amelia loses confidence in herself, so Sam has to help her get back in the mood, which she does and she completes the surgery. In the end, the babies are OK and the mom wakes up, which to Amelia signals success, but Addison points out that it was too risky and regrets trying it.
- Charlotte wants Cooper to do a sex talk at a retirement home with her because she needs someone to help with the male perspective. The talk does not go well, with most of those in the audience being bored, but a couple does come up to Charlotte and Cooper at the end to discuss a problem. Without going into much detail this leads to Charlotte and Cooper first fighting about Charlotte's emasculating ways and then the two working together in an act that seems to foreshadow a friendship between these two in the near future.
- Addison, while in conversation with Amelia, goes on and on about how things are fine when really she is refusing to admit that things are a mess: she still loves Sam but is with Pete, Sam still loves Addison but is with Vanessa, Pete still love Violet but is with Addison, etc. No one is with whom they want to be and Amelia is not too afraid to point out that Addison is settling. When Addison finally opens up to Pete, telling him about how he said I love you, Violet, he says he is not waiting for Violet and that he loves Addison. And, honestly, I couldn't help but believe him. But then, just when they were looking as strong as ever, Violet rings Pete's doorbell.

Grey's: "Don't ever tell him what to do, just tell him how you feel"

2010-04-02T21:10:00.001-04:00

I owe you a recap of last week's Grey's Anatomy episode as well as this week's, so both follow.

- A lot of what happened in this episode had to do with Owen and in turn Teddy. There was even flashbacks of their time in Iraq. From the very beginning of this episode we see that Owen is having a difficult time sleeping. Then, when Teddy asks for a consult on a case where a cancer patient wants Teddy to help her die in what is called physician assisted suicide, Owen doesn't want to help because he believes every day is worth living and that you should never give up. So we start seeing flashbacks of him in the war and we see that he was in a truck that was hit by a roadside bomb. One of his friends was seriously hurt and the friend asked Owen to give up on him, thus allowing him to die. After disobeying for a while, Owen finally takes away the pressure that has been keeping the friend from bleeding to death and he dies. Seconds later a helicopter with help lands nearby. Owen feels guilty that he did not hold on a little longer because then his friend might not have died.
- Mark and Teddy are dating and getting to know one another. They both seem to be enjoying themselves, and at the end of the episode they finally have sex.
- Callie is freaking, mostly to Mark, about Arizona's confession that she does not want to have kids. After much persuasion, Callie finally tells Arizona that she wants to have kids, but the show ends before we hear Arizona's response.
- Richard is having a hard time fitting in with the rest of the staff now that he is no longer the chief. On the opposite hand we have Derek who misses surgery so badly that he steals Meredith's surgery just so he can spend some time in the OR. At the end of the episode, Richard goes to Derek and gives him some advice; among other things he should have someone forge his signature on unimportant forms, eat lunch with someone so he looks busy and is not approached with random problems during lunchtime, schedule one surgery a day, etc.

And, now onto last night's episode, where everyone seems to be considering having children.

- The episode opens with Derek announcing that he wants to start having kids with Meredith, which obviously sets her into a minor frenzy. We find out she does not want to have kids because she is worried she would be an awful mom, especially since her mom was so awful. But by the end of the episode, and with a little help from Alex, Meredith realizes she would make a pretty good mom so she agrees to have a baby with Derek, but not right now. At least it is in their future.
- Arizona is ignoring Callie's confession that she wants to have kids and is talking about anything but that topic. This is annoying Callie and, in a moving scene between her and Bailey, Miranda gives a speech about how there is no right time to have kids. So when Callie brings up the topic again, Arizona agrees that they must discuss it.
- During a surgery with Owen overseeing, Cristina blurts out that she does not want kids. Things between them were already shaky, with him on edge and blowing up on her after she makes a mistake in surgery, so this news set him off. Cristina wants to help him, but she does not know how. At the end of the episode, instead of having the discussion he wants to have about kids, he realizes he needs to go back to therapy because Cristina is beginning to be afraid of him again.
- Teddy and Mark both thought their sex was mind blowing, which seems like a good thing, but Teddy later confesses that she wants to settle down and start a family, something she probably does not realize Mark wants also. Just as she was about to open up to him though, Sloan appears at Mark's door and is in labor.
- During this episode we learned a lot about Alex, mostly second hand after Alex's younger brother shows up and needs a surgery, which Bailey agrees to do pro bono. We learn that Alex hasn't seen his family in seven years; Alex grew up in foster care because both of his parents were on drugs; Alex spent time in juvie after getting caught stealing food to feed his two younger siblings; his family feels like he walked out on them when he was really only trying to make a life for himself instead of staying home and drowning with them. In the end, Alex's brother's surgery goes well and he heads back home, but we saw, for the first time, why Alex can at times seem so heartless when we know deep down he is actually a good guy. Oh, and in other Alex news, Izzie has filed divorce paper.

Parenthood: "You better not let us down"

2010-04-02T20:40:00.002-04:00

Here comes a recap of this week's Parenthood.

- Sarah is both pleased and shocked when Amber's English teacher praises a paper she wrote on The Sound and the Fury. So when Sarah realizes Amber passed in a paper Sarah wrote when she was in high school, Sarah goes to the school to set the record straight. But when the teacher goes on and on about what a wonderful student Amber is and how much potential he sees in her, Sarah backs down, deciding to not tell him the truth. Later in the episode, the teacher goes to the bar where Sarah works and the two start a friendly conversation. He also tells Sarah that Amber came clean, which impresses Sarah. In the preview for next week, there were hints of a budding relationship between Sarah and the teacher.
- Katie's doctor says she should start trying to get pregnant now since her odds will be higher. This, obviously, freaks out Crosby. So when Crosby finally tells Katie about Jabbar, Katie is heartbroken. She is sad that Crosby lied to her about Jabbar and that he kept him from her. This was what Katie needed to realize she cannot be with Crosby and have to keep pushing him to have kids.
- In other Crosby news, now that Julia knows about Jabbar she keeps talking to Crosby about his financial and other obligations. Julia wants Crosby to get a paternity test, something Crosby brings up with Jasmine. Jasmine then freaks because he is essentially calling her a liar and she tells Crosby he can't see Jabbar anymore. Crosby considers having the test done behind Jamine's back, but in the end realizes he already knows the truth and makes amends with Jasmine.
- Haddie's boyfriend seems almost too comfortable already, which Adam hates. So when Haddie and Steve get in a fight about the movie Love Actually and Haddie proclaims he is not the guy she thought he was, Adam and Christina think he may be gone for good. But before the end of the episode Haddie explains it was a misunderstanding and that they are still together, much to Adam's disapproval.
- Julia whines to Joel about how she hates being such a control freak and that she wishes she was more spontaneous. So, at the end of the episode, and with only a little hesitation on her part, the two break into a public pool and go for a swim.
- Max is invited back onto his baseball team, so Adam takes it upon himself to practice with Max. While Adam doesn't seem to truly have the patience for it, Drew helps out and the three spend a lot of time together playing ball. So when Max freaks out about Adam trying to change their schedule (something that is very difficult to deal with for people with Asperger's), he cancels a date they have with Drew to meet at the field. Drew is disappointed by this and Sarah notices. We find out that Drew's dad often broke plans and never did what he said he would, so when Adam canceled, Drew shut down. But Adam retorts, saying it was hard on him too, since playing baseball with the two boys has been the closest he's been able to get to normal in recent weeks.

Life Unexpected: "You're not an easy person to walk away from"

2010-04-01T21:26:00.011-04:00

This was an episode about rejection. Jones feels rejected by Lux, then Lux feels rejected by Jones; Baze feels rejected by Cate; Abby feels rejected by Baze; etc. In the end, the Abby/Baze relationship ends; we find out Baze really does still have feelings for Cate; Cate and Ryan are getting married in two weeks surrounded by family as planned; Lux was always reluctant to be adopted because she was holding out hope that her mother would come back for her; and a few other minor details. But, for now, all we need to know is that things between Cate and Baze are about to become a completely new level of awkward with Baze's realization that he has feelings for her and the fact that she knows about it. I can't wait.

Castle: "You have the right to remain silent, so shut the hell up"

2010-04-01T21:26:00.009-04:00

This week's Castle episode picks up right where the last left off. As expected, Beckett is alive, thanks to her running to the bathroom, closing the door and jumping into the bathtub. Unrealistic since she had like two seconds to react, but at least they tried explaining something instead of just saying, well hello, she's alive. Anyway, the killer continued to play mind games with the detective and even kidnapped the FBI agent working with Beckett on the case. And, just when they thought they had the killer cornered, Castle points out that the killer has been one step ahead of them the entire time, so why would now be different. That is when Castle tries to think like the killer and figures out that he is not where they think he is, but nearby watching. So Beckett and Castle go in to find him, taking the risk that Castle is Beckett's only backup. In the end, Castle saves the day by firing a shot and taking the killer down.

This was an exciting episode that kept the audience guessing. I look forward to more mind bending episodes like this one in the future.

SYTYCD announces format changes

2010-04-01T21:26:00.007-04:00

According to this article, when So You Think You Can Dance begins airing its seventh season May 27, there will be quite a few noticeable changes. For one, only ten contestants will make it to the live performance shows. In turn, only one dancer will be eliminated each week. And the biggest twist, the new dancers will be paired with returning contestants, thus making it a sort of all-stars of dance competition. Since the announcement, I have been following Nigel Lythgoe on Twitter because he has been making announcements about the change. So far, former finalists who will be featured on the show include: season four finalist Twitch, season six finalist Kathryn and season three finalist Pasha. While at first I was a little confused about why they were doing this, I'm kind of warming to the idea. I'm going to like seeing some of my favorites dance again. I just hope it works out as nicely as I'm expecting. And, just to point out, May 27 is less than two months away! I can't wait.

GG: "I like to see my elves busy"

2010-04-01T21:25:00.003-04:00

As always, here is the link to the New York Magazine Daily Intel blog's reality index for this week's Gossip Girl episode. And, following, are a few additions of my own.

- At one point during the episode, Nate makes a comment about how Blair has no friends. Minus two because he would never say something like that. Mostly because he is one to talk; he has no friends either.
- Let's discuss Eleanor saying she believes in second chances. If your daughter is Blair Waldorf, queen of plotting against and ruining people's lives, there is no way you fostered an environment where people were given second chances. Minus five because while she is giving two people second chances in this episode, her actions don't actually fit her persona.
- In what world would Damien think Jenny would actually return the drugs she was holding for him? Minus only one because who knows what goes on in drug dealer's heads, but really, after he was such an ass to her, why would she do him any favors?

I'm happy Chuck isn't backing down and is ready for a war with Jack. We can look forward to things getting messy before they return to normal. And, as for the Jenny/Nate/Serena love triangle, I'm voicing my opinion now, and I vote that neither deserves him.

Cooler than karaoke

2010-03-29T16:41:00.002-04:00

If you love television like I do, then you probably also know most of the words to the theme songs of your favorite shows. If this sounds familiar, then you might enjoy the following YouTube video by a Swedish guy who put together a medley of him singing some of the more famous TV show theme songs. It's seven minutes long, which may seem like a lot, but once you're watching you'll find yourself reminiscing about the shows he is singing about. It induced a nice trip down memory lane.

Parenthood: Sometimes being accepted is the greatest gift

2010-03-26T22:42:00.002-04:00

On this week's Parenthood episode we saw a new side to the Braverman family, one that is not always perfect and where everyone is just looking to be accepted. Below are a few of these moments.

- When Haddie can't babysit Sydney, Julia decides she just won't go out on her date night with her husband. But then Sarah suggests Amber babysit. From the very beginning we see that Julia is worried about this, so when she cancels on Amber we weren't really surprised. Amber wasn't all that disappointed, but Sarah went to Julia to get her to realize Amber is capable. This proves Sarah's desire to show she, and her kids, are good enough.
- When Crosby has to take Jabbar to the hospital, he tries calling Adam and Sarah but they do not answer, so he then calls Julia. She saves the day and comments about how she was impressed he called her and not one of the other siblings. And when Crosby comments about how she is a good mother, it is enough to make Julia feel like it may actually be true despite all her worries.
- Adam and Kristina find out Haddie has a boyfriend who she has been seeing for more than a month. What makes it worse is that his family knows her and all about them, yet they didn't even know the boyfriend existed until they snooped around her room and on her computer. But at the end of the episode, after rebelling against her parents for a few days, Haddie brings her boyfriend to meet the entire extended family, in the hope that their acceptance would end their feud.

90210: When you get dumped and can't get over it, join a rock band

2010-03-26T22:22:00.002-04:00

This week's 90210 episode was a lot of the usual. No real drama, just the kids acting like adults. Below is a recap.

- At first things between Dixon and his mom are a bit awkward. But once they are alone and can really talk, things start looking up. Oh, and after his mother mentions she gambles online, Dixon starts too. Every mom wants her son to follow in her footsteps and become a gambling addict.
- Jasper is stalking Annie. Everywhere she goes, she turns around and he is there. We already know he is dangerous, but this is a bit extreme. And, in other Jasper news, Dixon's car goes missing while he is surfing and the police find it stripped. Jasper then tells Annie he did it to get rid of all evidence linking her to his uncle's death. CREEPY!
- Teddy and Silver are out on a date and there are constant reminders of what a player Teddy used to be - girls call his cell phone, girls come up to him and kiss his cheek, etc. So after some awful advice from Naomi, Silver reads an email on his computer and has a friend spy on Teddy while he meets some girl. He tells the girl he is in a relationship and that should have made Silver happy, but she felt so guilty for her actions that she tells Teddy about spying on him. Now it is Teddy's turn to not trust Silver and he tells her he needs a break.
- At the beginning of the episode Navid tells the guys he still plans to take down Jasper, while also admitting he is doing it to protect Adriana. Then, after being pressured by his friends, Navid asks out his friend Lila to prove he is over Adriana. He has low expectations, and is obviously nervous on the date, but by the end he realizes he is really into Lila. He also decides to back off Jasper.
- Adriana and Gia keep bonding. So when Adriana is still very obviously heartbroken over Navid, Gia tells Adriana she should audition for this band that is looking for a lead singer. When she gets in, Adriana is happy that she will have a new distraction. Then she finds out Navid's new girlfriend is in the band, which freaks her out. And in a moment where the two are almost fighting, Gia has no choice but to admit she has feelings for Adriana, since not saying it would have been lying. Now we'll see if this lesbian storyline will actually ever happen.

Life Unexpected: "I cannot let her down again"

2010-03-26T22:12:00.003-04:00

This week's Life Unexpected was more of the same, with Baze trying to be a better father and Cate trying to get Lux's approval. Anyway, this time they threw in the possibility of Lux being taken out of Cate and Baze's care, which led to a bit more drama. Below is a quick recap of the episode.

- Bug is trying to change his life for Lux, but to do that he needs a job. Cate tries to get him a job at the radio station, but when that falls through, Baze hires him to work at the bar.
- Lux, Cate and Baze have to go to an evaluation with Lux's social worker. Since things with them are not going well, especially since they are all fighting/mad at one another, their plan is to lie through the evaluation. Of course the social worker sees right through them. The social worker realizes they are not confronting their problems so she pressures Lux to say what is really on her mind. Lux finally opens up and says she is still mad Cate never checked on her or tried to get to know her. The evaluation shows that they are a real family, mostly because they do fight, and the social worker tells Cate and Baze they should file to have their parental rights reinstated, basically meaning Lux could not be taken away from them. They just need to convince Lux that they do not want to lose her again. And, in the end, Cate tells Lux she understands she is mad at her; Cate doesn't want forgiveness, she just wants to make it right.
- Lux realizes that she has more fun with Baze when she is not living with him. She wants to be his friend and when he is trying too hard to be a dad that doesn't work. So she moves back in with Cate, after Ryan tells Lux to give Cate another chance. And, taking a piece of his own advice, Ryan decides to give Cate another chance too. Ryan and Cate are back together and Lux is back home. Things are looking up for Cate.

Castle: Nikki will burn

2010-03-26T22:04:00.002-04:00

This week's Castle episode was the first in a two part event that involved a serial killer whose goal is to kill Beckett herself. The murderer contacts Beckett multiple times, leaving her clues along with dead bodies and trying to lead her to him. He is a fan of Castle's Heat Wave and is murdering people as a way of egging on Beckett. Through it all Beckett is in danger, but then they find the guy and watch as he commits suicide, so they think the drama is done. But then Castle realizes the guy they watched die is not the actual killer. He calls to warn Beckett but she does not pick up her cell phone. Castle is on his way to her apartment and gets there just in time to see the building blow up.

Scenes for next week's conclusion episode do not show Beckett and we are left to believe that she is dead. But in the world of television we know how unlikely it is that they would kill off one of their main characters. Still, you couldn't help but watch that last scene and feel worried. It was a great cliff hanger and I can't wait to see what happens, and find out if they find the real killer, when Monday's episode airs.

GG: "Stop pretending that you care about me"

2010-03-26T21:40:00.002-04:00

Did you all catch the shout out for New York Magazine's Daily Intel on this week's Gossip Girl? I did and the people over at the blog didn't miss it either. Here is the link to their weekly reality index and below are a few additions of my own. And, as always, feel free to add some of your own thoughts in the comment section.

- This isn't necessarily a thought about this one episode, but I am really finding it difficult to believe that Nate and Serena love one another. All they seem to do is have sex and when they are not having sex they are fighting. Minus only one, when it should be much more, because I guess relationships when you are 19 years old always seem like love.
- Even though Rufus and Lily are still fighting, as soon as Rufus saw Jack near Lily he swooped in to stand up for her. Plus two because at least he still has loyalty and knows that Jack is a dick.
- How ironic was it when Damien walked out on Jenny and called her just a kid? What did he think he was getting into when he started dating a 16 year old? I guess this deserves a minus one for Damien's stupidity. And while we're on this subject, would Damien really have been smart enough to rent a different hotel room as a way of hiding from Nate, Rufus, etc.? Did he really want to have sex with Jenny that badly? And couldn't it have waited until the next day? It would have been cheaper that way. Minus two.
- Dan doesn't say all that many funny things, but when he comments about Vanessa's "not friends only" dress, I actually laughed out loud. Plus one because I have to agree with him.
- Jack is a schemer and I know he has a lot to gain from taking control of the company, but are we supposed to believe that this 20-something or even 30-something year old has nothing better to do than sit around and plot how to take down his nephew? Minus ten because I don't think Jack actually cares this much. He is still a Bass and would have been able to find a way to build his own fortune.

The Apprentice set to return, minus the celebrities

2010-03-19T18:31:00.002-04:00

Following a few successful runs with celebrities as the contestants, The Apprentice will return for a sixth season, this time with a format that reflects the difficult economic situation we find ourselves in and starring a cast that consists of people who find themselves without a job in this difficult job market. The full story is here. I see the appeal of celebrity additions, but I think the show works either way. I haven't watched in recent years, but I did watch the first two seasons. Who knows, maybe this revised format will be enough to make me return to watching.

Parenthood: "This kid thing, it's stressing me out"

2010-03-19T18:30:00.005-04:00

While I have liked all three of the first episodes of Parenthood, I have one small problem, I hate how there always seems to be a reason for the whole family to end up together, whether it be a charity dinner, a school recital, swimming lessons, a family dinner or a baseball game. In reality, things like this don't happen, especially with extended family. There is no way all of their schedules are conducive of these spur-of-the-moment family events. And before Sarah moved back home did they all meet up regularly? I think not. But the rest of the show is still entertaining so I'll keep watching. I just hope this doesn't go on in every episode, or at least it becomes less contrived so I can overlook it. Anyway, below is a quick recap of this week's episode.

- Max has a meltdown in school and is kicked out. His parents then go crazy trying to get him into a special needs school where they would be able to assist in his development. By the end of the episode, and after showing that they are their son's No. 1 cheerleader, Max is accepted.
- Crosby has been spending much more time with Jabbar. They play games, go on car rides and hang out. Crosby even takes Jabbar to work with him. While there Crosby's girlfriend asks Crosby who he is and he lies. Crosby then has to later explain to Jabbar why he said he didn't know who he was. This makes me wonder, what is it going to take for Crosby to tell the truth?
- Sarah breaks up with Jim, saying the timing is off. Her car then breaks down and is beyond repair so she has it towed away, reluctantly. When her parents offer to buy her a new car, she refuses, noting that she has already allowed them to help her too much. We also see that Sarah and Amber are sharing a twin bed. Things are much too cramped so Sarah considers sleeping on the couch in her father's office in the backyard. At first Zeek is freaked by this idea, which leads Sarah to ask him about the condoms she found in his desk drawer. Zeek later admits he and his wife are having problems, but he also agrees to allow Sarah to sleep in his office. At the end of the episode we also see Sarah go to Jim's house and give him another chance, but was I the only person who thought this came out of the blue? What made her change her mind? This seemed too unexplained for me.
- Adam and Kristina have been so caught up in Max's situation lately, that they have put their responsibilities as parent to Haddie on the back burner. When they forget about her soccer final, they feel awful, but Haddie has no choice but to forgive them. She also has a heartfelt talk with her father about how just because Max has now been diagnosed, doesn't mean anything has changed for her. She points out how things have always been all about Max because of his special needs and now they just have a name for it.
- Julia continues to be jealous of Racquel, mostly because she keeps realizing how a part of their lives this stranger has become. After Adam points out that Julia needs to make the time she does spend with Sydney count, Julia decides she wants to teach her daughter how to swim in her own way instead of having her attend classes. At first this plan fails and Sydney yells at her mom for almost drowning her, but not too long after Sydney swims on her own, a moment that makes Julia feel especially proud.

90210: "You should punch me"

2010-03-19T18:30:00.004-04:00

After last week's episode where we saw a continuation of melancholy with 90210's characters, this week things changed and we saw the characters take steps toward altering their futures. Maybe from here these kids can actually do something rather than just mope around and be mean to one another. But, then again, maybe I am being too optimistic. Nevertheless, here comes a recap of this week's episode.

- Following last week when Harry and the police found coke in Navid's locker, Navid has been suspended from school and no one has heard from him.
- For most of the show Dixon is still waiting to hear back from his birth mom, but at the end of the episode she shows up at the house wanting to talk to him.
- Gia and Adriana continue to bond, this time over them both having broken hearts. So when Gia's ex girlfriend asks Gia to give her another chance it seems like the thing she really should want to do is say yes. But instead Gia turns her down and goes to hang out with Adriana. It seems like Gia has more than friendly feelings for Ade, so who knows where this relationship is going.
- Ryan asks Naomi how she is doing following the whole Jen incident and while talking Naomi slips about how Jen was only dating Ryan because she didn't want her rich boyfriends to think she was only in it for the money. This leads Ryan to feel even worse about himself. Apparently he has been drinking and while at a bar he is picked up by an older woman. The two sleep together and we then find out that this woman is Ivy's mother.
- Dixon is still hoping there is a possibility he and Silver will get back together. But after she turns him down again, Dixon goes to Teddy and tells him about the lies he has been telling. When Silver finds out, Teddy assumes she will jump into his open arms, yet she still doesn't think she can trust him so she won't give him another chance. Though Silver seemed set in this decision at first, after more pondering she realizes she cannot be too afraid to try and at the end of the episode Teddy and Silver kiss.
- Jasper wants things with Annie to return back to normal, but Annie is so disgusted with Jasper that she can't do this. When they are together she gives him constant attitude and shrinks away when he tries to touch her. After a while it seems like Annie can't take it anymore so she stands up for herself, telling Jasper to go to the police as long as it sets her free of him. But she is also smart enough to through in a disclaimer that if he wants there to be even the slightest chance that in the future they will get back together, then he won't go to the police. So, in the end, that is what they agree on. He wants there to be the chance that they may get back together so he agrees to leave her alone and also not go to the police.
- Naomi and Liam continue to have nothing to talk about. So when Naomi sees how much fun Ivy and Liam have when they are together, Naomi asks Ivy for help. Ivy plans a hiking trip for the three friends, but by the end Naomi has caught on to Ivy's plan. Naomi threatens to make Ivy's life hell if she doesn't back off and before long the two end up in a catfight on the beach. Naomi freaks and yells about how she knows the real problem is with Liam and her and she then storms off. While this may seems like it precludes Liam and Naomi breaking up, think again because this was actually what they needed to reconnect. Now that Naomi is no longer trying to make sure everything is perfect and is actually showing her angry side, they can go about loving one another for themselves and not the people they think the other wants them to be.

Jessica Simpson should stick to singing

2010-03-19T18:21:00.002-04:00

Maybe it was a fluke that Jessica Simpson's reality show with ex-husband Nick Lachey, Newlyweds, was a fan favorite. When Jessica's new show, The Price of Beauty, premiered Monday only about one million people tuned in, which is a dismal turnout for any show, especially one VH1 has tried so hard to promote. Here is the full story. I didn't watch and had no intention of doing so, but even I understand how poorly this did. The UsMagazine.com story points out that a show on the History Channel was actually watched by more people. I'm not sure about exact details, but I think it is safe to say VH1 will probably cancel the show if more people do not show up to watch in the future. And, as for Jessica, maybe she should try something else. Singing hasn't been coming all that easily for her lately, but if she starts showing us again how stupid she is, people may just be reminded why we liked her.

Life Unexpected: "High school dances suck, no matter how old you are"

2010-03-19T18:02:00.002-04:00

Here is a quick recap of Monday's Life Unexpected.

- Lux refuses to even talk to Cate, which is making it difficult for Cate to fix their problems. Cate's plan is to not go away until Lux forgives her. When that doesn't work, Cate makes sure she is within close proximity to Lux, first while dress shopping and then by agreeing to be Math's date to the dance. But by the end of the episode, things between Cate and Lux may be slightly better, but they are still not back to normal.
- Jones and Lux are still friends so when he asks her to the school dance, she says yes. In the meantime, Bug returns and though Lux doesn't immediately forgive him, it doesn't take long for the two to end up in bed together. But when Bug finds out that Lux has gotten close with Jones, he freaks, again making her feel like shit when he should be supporting her. So Lux goes to the dance with Jones and has a pretty good time. Then Jones finds out Bug is back and Lux is with him again and he is crushed. He really likes her and she keeps picking Bug. Then Bug shows up at the dance as a romantic gesture that does not go unnoticed.
- Lux points out that all Cate does is badger and demean Baze. It takes a while, but Cate realizes she has been punishing Baze for 16 years. So Cate makes a promise to let go of the past and move forward, something she hopes Lux will do also.

GG: "I've tried all my tricks"

2010-03-19T17:31:00.002-04:00

As always, here is the link to the New York Magazine Daily Intel reality index posted following Monday night's new Gossip Girl. And as usual, I have a few additions to make. You can find them below.

- In what world is there a large bowl of freshly whipped cream just sitting on the top shelf of your refrigerator? Minus 10 because this is completely unrealistic, even in Chuck Bass' world.
- As I recall, Nate is a pretty good liar. So when he goes into Chuck's room to get his cell phone so it can be hidden from Blair, why does Nate suck so bad at coming up with an excuse? Minus two for his lack of on-the-run lying abilities. Of course Blair saw right through him.
- Not only was I amazed that Serena was wearing a men's button down that was so obviously not Nate's, I was more amazed with how the costume designers managed to make it look so so slutty without it actually falling off Serena. Plus five because this is exactly something Serena would wear in her world of "I have great boobs and I like for them to always be on display."
- Vanessa and Dan's backward theorizing about how they are actually ruining their friendship by not hooking up almost makes perfect sense. Plus one for them taking something that makes no sense and twisting the words to get what they want. Sometimes these kids are too smart for their own good.
- I had almost forgotten what it looks like for Chuck to actually smile. When he met with his mom at the end of the episode and he smiled, not smirked, but smiled, I couldn't help but smile back. Plus 100 because it was becoming a little unbelievable that this person didn't smile. Everyone smiles and I'm glad Chuck finally did.

Join the I love Betty White club

2010-03-19T17:19:00.003-04:00

I have always been a Betty White fan, mostly because of her humorous presence on Golden Girls, and was reminded after her role in Sandra Bullock's comedy hit The Proposal. And I guess I'm not the only one who enjoys her. Here is a blog post that announces Betty has signed up to star in a TV Land sitcom starring Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick. The show, titles Hot in Cleveland, features White as caretaker of a home shared by the other three women. This announcement follows one that proves with enough Facebook and blog promotion, people can get what they want. After a push from fans, Betty has been announced as the May 8 host of Saturday Night Live. It seems to me we may be seeing a lot more of funny-lady Betty White in the coming future.

PP: "It's up to you to choose"

2010-03-12T20:47:00.003-05:00

In similar fashion, I owe you a post about last week's Private Practice as well as last night's. So here they come.

- William and Naomi are still dating, which is keeping Naomi happy. But then Fife, who we have known has been jealous of this relationship, tells Naomi he loves her. While Naomi is content with William, she can't deny that she also has feelings for Fife.
- Cooper and Violet have been on a vacation and though they were both supposed to return on the same day, Cooper returns on schedule, but Violet decides to stay on vacation because it is helping her recuperate. While Cooper was away, Charlotte kept thinking about their hookup in the bathroom at Maya's wedding. But then Cooper announces he is ready to move on, and Charlotte continues to be mad at him. She even has sex with Sheldon, which Cooper walks in on. Obviously that is going to lead to trouble.
- Addison and Sam have not spoken, but when they are forced to work together on a case she knows he cannot continue to ignore her. But she is equally freaked out when things go almost too well and Sam is almost too polite to Addison. Then Addison finds out Sam has a new girlfriend and she is essentially an Addison clone: she is beautiful, smart and works in the same specialty as Addison. By the end of the episode both Pete and Addison are complaining about how Sam and Violet seem to have moved on, so I am wondering how long it is going to take them to realize that they can be good together.

And on to the latest episode...

- Cooper doesn't think Charlotte really likes Sheldon but that she only slept with Sheldon to get to him. Their tension leads to them getting into a fistfight at the office. For a while after the fight we think Cooper may have been right, but then Charlotte and Sheldon sleep together again and we can't help but think that they may actually have a connection.
- William and Fife are working on an experimental drug and are pushing Naomi to agree to test it even though they should wait for approval by the FDA. But when Pete puts together the pieces, we find out that William is rushing Fife because William himself suffers from the disease and needs the treatment.
- Naomi still finds herself torn between William and Fife. So when, at the end of the episode, we see her kiss Fife, we know more drama is on the horizon.
- Addison is spending time with Lucas and was even mistaken for his mother while at the park. Pete even announces that he thinks they can have a future together, which spooks Addison. Because Addison cannot have children she is afraid to get attached to Lucas just in case things with her and Pete do not work out. But after a while she comes to her senses, realizing that she cannot put her life on hold, and she chooses Pete. She has already made up her mind that she cannot be with Sam, and he has his new girlfriend anyway, so she needs to find happiness.
- Naomi walks in on a moment between Sam and Addison, one that was not romantic but was perceived as such, and Addison blurted out that the two recently kissed. After going to such lengths to save Naomi from their possible relationship, I cannot believe Addison would tell Naomi their secret, especially after finally moving on with Pete.

Grey's: "We just want to remember the view from the top"

2010-03-12T20:40:00.003-05:00

This is going to be a two for one blog post. Below is a recap of last week's Grey's Anatomy episode, followed by a recap of last night's episode.

- Meredith lectures Lexie about Alex, but Lexie swears she is not emotionally involved. On the other hand, Mark is sleeping with tons of random women to deal with his breakup and Sloan leaving. Neither seems to be handling their breakup correctly and things will continue to go downhill if they do not realize soon that they have made a mistake.
- More and more signs are pointing to how Cristina and Teddy are perfect for one another. And in an attempt to make things more comfortable for everyone, Cristina gives Owen permission to be friends with Teddy, though who knows if they are actually ready to take this step.
- We see Richard back at the hospital on his first day after completing rehab. He has to do drug tests daily, which he finds embarrassing, plus he is having a difficult time reporting to Derek.
- Jackson's grandfather is a famous doctor who awards surgeons with a prestigious award yearly, so when he is admitted to the hospital, everyone wants a glimpse of him. He also makes specific requests about who will do his surgery and how, but Derek eventually puts his foot down, acting like the chief he needs to step up and be.

And on to this week, which was an episode about the highly competitive nature of surgeons.

- Right now Mark is jumping from sex with one woman to another though what he really wants is to find someone to settle down with and start a family. With some help from Callie he realizes this is true. But when he asks out Teddy, she thinks he is in it only for the sex and that is the only reason she agrees. It takes some persuasion, but Mark gets Teddy to agree to a lunch date during which they will get to know one another. Alex overhears this proposal and tells Lexie who breaks down because she is crushed now that Mark is moving on even though she was the one who broke up with him.
- Ben and Bailey make dinner plans and it isn't until Callie points out that the third date is the sex date that Bailey starts freaking out. But we also get a glimpse of the couple on their date and we realize that Ben refuses to let Bailey treat him like she treats everyone else and we notice they have potential to be great together.
- Callie is excited that throughout the day she has been approached for relationship advice. She thinks this means her and Arizona are seen as the stable couple everyone emulates. But then in conversation Arizona says she never wants to have kids and we can see that Callie is devastated by this news. Things were going so perfectly for these two that I guess it was inevitable that something like this was going to rear its ugly head and change everything.

Parenthood: "I don't know how to deal with this"

2010-03-12T20:24:00.002-05:00

Below is a recap of the second episode of the new series Parenthood.

- Crosby is reluctant, but he is trying to form some kind of a bond with his son by spending time with him. But he also continues to not tell his girlfriend about the child, instead making up excuses as to why he cannot spend time with her.
- Sarah is applying to jobs now that she is settled back at home. She is applying for mostly bartending positions, but her parents, mostly her dad, want her to aim higher. So she applies for a job she doesn't think she has any chance of getting and gets called for an interview. What she doesn't know is that her dad and brother pulled strings for her to be brought in. But once on the interview she shows her potential and the recruiter seems pleased with her. We see Sarah get her hopes up but then she doesn't get the job because she does not have a college degree.
- The new school wants Sarah's daughter, Amber, to stay back a year because her grades are not that great. At the end of the episode Sarah fights for Amber, giving the principal a heartfelt speech about how he only has to have a little faith in Amber and she won't let him down.
- Julia is jealous of another woman who has been spending a lot of time with her husband and daughter while Julia is at work. At an auction the two bid an out-of-control amount of money on a parking spot and Julia comments, accidentally into the microphone, about how the other woman doesn't even work, which leads to Julia being even more on the outs with moms at her daughter's school.
- Adam finds pot in the woods behind his house and cannot figure out who it belongs to. Later in the episode, and after first denying it, his daughter admits it was hers and we see that even the children who are supposed to be perfect sometimes make mistakes.
- Adam and Kristina get confirmation that Max has Asperger's and they begin to realize just how much work helping him live a comfortable life will be. While at first it was obvious they were scared by this news, by the end of the episode we see that they are beginning to cope and learning to deal with their new situation.

I'm still liking this show. For me to stop watching it will have to get much worse. I still see so much potential. How about you? Are you watching? And, if so, are you liking?

90210: What happens when the chemistry deflates? You dress naked under a trench coat

2010-03-12T19:38:00.003-05:00

Tuesday's 90210 episode was the first since before the holidays and we were supposed to believe that is had only been a few weeks since we last saw our stars. Though I found it difficult to hear while they were all walking around asking how your holiday break was, in California, where it is always sunny and there aren't any real change is seasons, the show could easily slip into this time frame. Anyway, below is a quick recap of the episode.

- Ever since Debbie pointed out to Harry that Kelly has a crush on him, Harry has been avoiding Kelly. So when an annual dinner event comes up, Harry would rather skip it. But Debbie refuses to hide and the two attend, knowing that Kelly will also be there. When they bump into one another at the dinner things are awkward, but instead of moving on, Debbie insists on confronting Kelly. The two talk and Kelly promises she would never have an affair with Harry. By the end of the conversation Kelly and Debbie are making plans to go to yoga together like old pals. Then at the yoga class Kelly points out that the instructor has a crush on Debbie and we see that this is news she finds flattering.
- Adriana is still having a difficult time finding a place to fit in since Silver and Naomi are not meeting her with outstretched arms. Then Adriana helps Naomi when she needs advice and things seem to be back on the right track. At a party later in the episode Adriana takes a sip out of a cup and freaks when she realizes it was rum and coke. She immediately calls Gia, who she recently found out is also in AA. Gia helps her calm down and when Gia's ex girlfriend shows up at the part with her new girlfriend, Adriana repays Gia by kissing her in an attempt to make the ex jealous. If this is all we get after months of Adriana is bisexual teasing, I will be a bit disappointed.
- Naomi and Liam seem like the perfect couple, but then they go on a date and realize they have nothing to talk about. At first both seem freaked by this and Naomi worries they have no chemistry left, but then Naomi decides to conduct an experiment and finds out they still have plenty of sexual chemistry.
- At the end of the last new episode, Dixon and Silver kissed. When this episode started we find out that while Dixon is ready to give their relationship another try, Silver thinks the kiss was a mistake. Throughout the episode we see Dixon continue to lie to Silver and Teddy so that he is, what he thinks will be, one step closer to being back with Silver. But it is only a matter of time before his lies become known and this plan blows up in his face.
- Following finding out that Jasper is a drug dealer, Annie is disgusted with Jasper. But when she sees him at school he threatens to go to the police and tell them she was the one who hit and killed his uncle unless she continues to be his girlfriend. No one can seem to understand why she is still with Jasper and everyone is worried about her, but she can see no way to escape. Meanwhile, Navid hatches a plan to plant drugs in Jasper's locker so that during locker inspections he will be busted. But somehow the drugs end up in Navid's locker instead. Jasper is still dealing while Navid is the one who finds himself in trouble.

This is a show I don't usually look forward to. But after a few months without it, I was starting to miss the drama. While this is far from one of my favorite shows, it is easy to step into the privileged lives of these teens for an hour every week. I just hope the show continues to be as exciting as it has been lately.

Big Bang: "The sarcasm's a little stale though"

2010-03-12T19:28:00.002-05:00

The guys buy a box of "junk" at a yard sale and find some collectible memorabilia inside it. Most of the stuff is rather junky, but then they stumble on a Lord of the Rings ring, which they later find out is real. Each guy has an idea about what they should do with the ring or the money they would get by selling it, but they, of course, can't agree. So they have a contest to see who can hold onto the ring the longest. The next morning Leonard tells them that in the middle of the night, while they were sleeping, everyone must have dropped the ring and he found it on the floor. He tells the guys he put into motion his idea for the ring, mailing it back to the director, but in reality he kept it for himself, a fact Sheldon later figures out and he attacks Leonard for lying. This was a funny episode, as always. This is the one show that consistently makes me laugh, and I appreciate it for that.

Life Unexpected: Nothing like a wedding expo to help Cate get over her failed engagement

2010-03-12T19:07:00.002-05:00

No surprise that things are awkward between Cate and Ryan at work now that the ugly truth is out there and their engagement has been called off. But that wasn't the only excitement happening on Monday's Life Unexpected episode. Below is a quick recap.

- Lux is having a difficult time getting over Bug so Baze takes matters into his own hands and tries to help her make new friends. When Jones shows up at the bar under the veil of dropping off homework Lux has missed, Baze gives him all the means to take her on the perfect date. Jones picks Lux up and drives her three hours to visit Tasha. But once they are back home, Jones ruins things by being honest with her. She walks away from Jones and is rightfully mad at Baze.
- For the sake of the show, Cate and Ryan have to pretend they are still engaged. They also signed up to cohost a wedding expo, something they can not pull out of, so they are stuck doing it. In a moving moment when Cate was trying on wedding dresses, it seemed like Ryan was willing to forgive Cate, but then reality hit and he realized she is, above all else, a liar.
- Baze is still jealous of Ryan because Lux continues to turn to Ryan when she feels like she has something she needs to talk about. Baze even confronts Ryan about this, saying that he will continue to crowd Ryan and show up at work events as long as Ryan is infringing on Baze's turf. By the end of the episode Baze and Ryan come to an understanding and acknowledge that they are both a part of Lux's life.

Castle: "I prefer slippery to sticky"

2010-03-12T18:59:00.002-05:00

This week's Castle episode was filled with sexual innuendos, surprisingly mostly coming from Beckett, but it also was an episode that continued to surprise me. I love that up until the very last second of every episode you don't know who the killer is. And when they finally tell you, it is in no way someone you suspected. In a way, this is something a lot of crime/police shows do, but for some reason on Castle I think it is more appreciated. In your mind you are considering the four or five possible killers, but at the last second Castle has an epiphany and the killer is revealed as someone out of the blue. But then it all makes sense. This keeps the show fresh and helps it not become stale. Thanks, Castle writers, for continuing to hold my interest and for keeping me on the edge of my seat.

GG: "Everyone needs to play games"

2010-03-12T17:53:00.003-05:00

Gossip Girl aired its first of 10 new episodes Monday following a much too long break. Here is the link to the recap on New York Magazine's Daily Intel blog. And below are a few additions of my own. And while we're at it, I have to admit I almost missed the blog recap more than I missed the show these last few months.

- Lily, who has always had a difficult time fitting into her role as mom, actually took Jenny aside and tried to parent her when Damien showed up at the apartment. Plus one for the attempt, but plus five for Jenny completely blowing her off and rolling her eyes at Lily.
- As much as I dislike Vanessa's character, this episode made it abundantly clear that without Vanessa (unless you count Nate) Dan has no friends. Remember when he was dating Serena and he was considered one of the cool kids? Minus one because now I can't help but feel bad for him, especially with him living alone at the loft in Brooklyn.

What did you think of the episode? I loved the scene where Blair demanded all of Chuck's attention, again reminding us that she thinks she is the center of the universe and all must revolve around her. As for Serena and Nate, I'm not sure I believe their relationship yet. I hope it gets a chance to grow though because I'd hate to see Serena end up back with Dan, especially since they are now related.

Dirty old men

2010-03-09T14:49:00.001-05:00

There aren't too many words for the following montage, except, as an introduction, The Price is Right host Bob Barker is a bit of a dirty old man.

Memorable Oscar moments

2010-03-08T12:05:00.002-05:00

For those who missed last night's Academy Awards, here is a countdown of the 11 top moments from the ceremony put together by the people at TvGuide.com. While I agree with them all, I think a few are missing. I loved Neil Patrick Harris' opening performance; Jeff Bridges speech about his parents was very moving; and there was another acceptance speech by someone winning an art award where he told kids to never let anyone tell them to stop creating that seemed so from the heart that it made me smile. Let me know if there are any moments you think I missed. What were the evening's highlights for you?

DWTS cohost named

2010-03-08T12:00:00.003-05:00

Here's a link to the full article, but I have to admit I'm not too disappointed with the decision to have former contestant Brooke Burke cohost Dancing with the Stars with Tom Bergeron. I think she is witty enough to keep the conversation backstage going, I just hope she is better on her feet and has more impromptu talent than Samantha Harris. Former host Harris often stumbled over her words, so let's hope Brooke at least gets that right.

SVU: "It was all part of our game"

2010-03-05T15:32:00.002-05:00

Law and Order: SVU returned to Tuesday nights with a vengeance this week with two new episodes, both featuring outstanding performances by guest stars. In the first, Kathy Griffin played a radical gay rights activist in an episode where the detectives are trying to find a man who is raping and murdering lesbians in an up-and-coming lesbian neighborhood. And the second featured Mischa Barton as a hooker who was attacked and must overcome her fear of confronting him in order to keep him from murdering more and more prostitutes. Both episodes reminded me why this is a much watch show. I'm glad it is back on Tuesdays where it belongs. Now let's just hope viewership picks back up.

Is anyone watching the Marriage Ref?

2010-03-05T15:23:00.002-05:00

When I first heard about the new Jerry Seinfield created show called The Marriage Ref, I thought the show sounded like it would be really stupid. But after seeing previews and hearing feedback from people who have watched, it actually seems like it could be really funny. So I want to hear from you. If you have been watching, tell me the reasons why I should or should not give it a try.

Life Unexpected: "This is the only thing I'll ever ask you"

2010-03-03T16:20:00.013-05:00

On this week's Life Unexpected it became even more clear that Ryan and Baze hate one another, especially when their competitive sides came out. This was also the episode where Ryan learned Cate's secret, which led to Cate being completely alone by the end of the episode. And, in an attempt to prove he could be a good parent to Lux's friend Natasha, Baze actually proved he could be a good parent to Lux, so he received joint custody, thus meaning Lux can live with him if she wanted to.

Next week Life Unexpected moves to its new timeslot, 8 p.m. Mondays to make way for the return of all new episodes of Gossip Girl at 9 p.m. (This is me jumping up and down in excitement.) Here's to many more entertaining episodes of Life Unexpected leading into exciting and dramatic episodes of Gossip Girl.

Hollywood's big night

2010-03-03T16:20:00.011-05:00

The Oscars air Sunday night starting at 8:30 on ABC. Sadly, I will be working so will not watch it until I get home later that night, but for those who want to know what to expect there is this slideshow filled with predictions, as well as information about who got robbed, presented by the Globe's Wesley Morris and Ty Burr. Any predictions of your own? Do you think Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin will do well as hosts? Feel free to leave comments on this post while you watch. I'd be live blogging if I was not working.

Parenthood: Meet the Braverman family

2010-03-03T16:20:00.009-05:00

While I have been hearing mixed reviews from people who watched Tuesday's series premiere of Parenthood, I really enjoyed it. I agree with the two major criticisms I have heard - most of the episode was already shown in previews and they threw so much at the viewers - but I also think they set up the series nicely; there is a lot of room to grow from here. I also already feel like I know these characters, all of whom have believable storylines.

1) There is the adult daughter who is low on money and moves with her two teenage children back into her parent's house.
2) The son who wants nothing more than to have the perfect family, but then learns that his young son may have a kind of autism.
3) The daughter who is a workaholic and whose young daughter openly prefers spending time with her dad, which leads to her actually snubbing her mom.
4) The son who is afraid of commitment and does not want to settle down and start a family with his girlfriend, only to be approached by a girl from his past who introduces him to his 5-year-old son.
5) Then there is these four kid's father who is a perfectionist and thinks he always knows best, butting into his children's lives and feeling as if he has a right to do so.

I know this show isn't perfect, but it did strike the right balance between funny and heartwarming. I know where I'll be next Tuesday at 10 p.m. Will you be watching also?

DWTS season 10 cast announced

2010-03-02T15:18:00.002-05:00

Below is the full list of the stars who are set to perform on the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars, which begins March 22, as well as the professionals dancers with whom they are paired.

- Astronaut Buzz Aldrin is paired with Ashly Costa (DelGrosso)
- Actress Pamela Anderson is paired with new pro Damian Whitewood
- ESPN reporter Erin Andrews is paired with Maksim Chmerkovskiy
- Actress Shannen Doherty is paired with Mark Ballas
- Reality show actress Kate Gosselin is paired with Tony Dovolani
- Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek with Anna Trebunskaya
- Comedian Niecy Nash is paired with Louis van Amstel
- Football player Chad Ochocinco is paired with Cheryl Burke
- The Bachelor Jake Pavelka is paired with Chelsie Hightower
- Singer Nicole Scherzinger is paired with Derek Hough
- Soap opera star Aiden Turner is paired with Edyta Sliwinska

Now that we know the cast, do you already have an idea about who you plan to root for? Or do you already have predictions about who you think will win? Or, better yet, who do you think will fail? And as for the other question everyone is asking, who do you think will/should join Tom Bergeron as host?

Parenthood premieres tonight

2010-03-02T15:11:00.004-05:00

After some casting shake-ups and a pushback of the original air date, NBC's Parenthood premieres tonight at 10. For some background information, the Globe's Sarah Rodman wrote this article about the show. As for me, I cannot wait for the show to air. All of the commercials advertising the show make the show seem down-to-earth and real. I feel like this is going to be a show where almost everyone will find a character to which they can relate. Plus the cast is full of stars who I'm sure will all bring exciting things to the table. I expect the show to be funny yet true to life. I know I plan to watch tonight and I hope you will too. Check back here tomorrow for my thoughts on the premiere episode. Also, feel free to let me know what you think of the show after you watch tonight and whether or not you are looking forward to it.

Jay returns to the helm of The Tonight Show

2010-03-01T15:23:00.004-05:00

I do not plan to purposely snub Jay Leno when he returns as the host of The Tonight Show tonight, but I also do not plan to go out of my way to watch. After everything that happened with Conan, I cannot bring myself to rejoin team Jay. I had always been a Jay fan and watched The Tonight Show nightly, and when Conan took over I was a bit worried. I had not found him funny as the host of Late Night, but after a while he grew on me. Then all that drama happened. Tonight Jay returns and, just like this blog post, I too am wondering how Jay is going to handle things. Is he going to ignore everything that happened? Will he make a few jokes and make light of things? Or will he take it like a man and apologize seriously? We'll just have to wait and see.

What do you do after you have won a few Olympic medals?

2010-03-01T15:19:00.002-05:00

If you are Lindsey Vonn, you are offered a guest spot on Law & Order. According to this blog post, Vonn will be a jury foreman on an upcoming episode. This follows Vonn making it very clear that she is obsessed with the show. So does that mean I only have to win a few medals and then I will be invited to appear on Glee?

Life Unexpected: "You don't need to re-screw the girl you already screwed"

2010-02-24T23:42:00.007-05:00

Below is a quick recap of Life Unexpected.

- Baze is spending a lot of time with Lux at Cate's house, which Ryan isn't exactly thrilled about. After corporate steps in at the radio station because listeners have started hating Cate and they have Baze cohost a show, Ryan begins to doubt Cate and Baze's relationship. So Cate goes to Ryan determined to come clean, but lies to keep Ryan. She does not tell him she slept with Baze, only furthering her lie.
- Bug is facing two years in prison for stealing Jones' car. Lux works some magic and helps Bug out, but when he sees Lux with Jones we see a possessive and almost abusive side of Bug. So Lux tries standing up for herself with Bug, after getting some advice from Cate, and Bug walks out.

OTH: "This is the time to say goodbye"

2010-02-24T23:42:00.005-05:00

Here is a recap of the most recent episode of One Tree Hill.

- Lauren and Mouth agree that they got carried away and that they are better as friends. Lauren tells him she does not want to be his rebound, so things between them return to normal. But after some thought, Lauren agrees that their feelings cannot be ignored so the two kiss, only for Skills to return to Tree Hill a moment later.
- Up until now we have been assuming that Victoria has been dating Julian's father. But this week we find out she is actually dating Alexander. So when she finds out he has been sleeping with Alex, she kicks him to the curb. But then we see a softer side of both Alexander and Victoria and realize they have genuine feelings for one another. By the end of the episode, things with them are back on track.
- At the end of last week's episode Brooke walked into Julian's hotel room and saw Alex asleep naked in his bed. So for much of this week's episode Brooke walks around angry at the world because she thinks Julian and Alex slept together. So when she overhears Alex on the phone in what Brooke takes as confirmation, Brooke punches Alex in the face. Later Brooke finds out Alex is really sleeping with Alexander so she goes to Julian to apologize. She explains herself and the two kiss. It is safe to say that the two are now back together and can work on rebuilding their relationship.
- Hailey's mom's health is deteriorating. For much of the episode she is in the hospital. This episode was very emotional and we saw a side of Hailey we do not usually see, one where she has no control. Their mom dies near the end of the episode, surrounded by family.

One Tree Hill returns April 26 for this season's final four episodes. I'm hoping this is not also the show's series finale, but who knows. And, I was just thinking, we are almost finished with this season and they have yet to tell us where Peyton and Lucas went when they left the show. They mention them in passing at times, but I think this is weird. I still want answers. Anyway, what do you think about the season so far? What do you think will happen in the last four episodes? In One Tree Hill fashion we know we can expect tons of shocking developments in the coming weeks.

When television shows make mistakes

2010-02-24T23:29:00.003-05:00

Here is a slideshow put together by TvGuide.com highlighting some of, what they are calling, TV's biggest blunders. It is an entertaining slideshow so take a look.

The CW announces renewals for next season

2010-02-19T16:29:00.002-05:00

According to this blog post, the CW has already decided that 90210, The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, Supernatural and America's Next Top Model will be a part of their 2010 fall schedule. While I am very happy to see Gossip Girl on this list, mostly because I have been a little worried lately that the low viewership would lead to it being canceled, I am sad about what is missing. One Tree Hill and Life Unexpected have not yet been renewed. I'm sure they are giving Life Unexpected a little more time to find its footing, but with One Tree Hill I think this is the announcement that it is its last season. I had doubts that following two stars - Chad Michael Murrary and Hilarie Burton - leaving the show it would still be watchable, but I find myself enjoying the show this season. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The twisted world of Clark Rockefeller to come to TV

2010-02-19T16:25:00.003-05:00

We all knew it was only a matter of time before the craziness that is Clark Rockefeller became a movie, so I am not surprised that Lifetime jumped on the opportunity. The commercial for the movie is embedded below. It stars Eric McCormack from Will & Grace fame as Gerhartsreiter. I remember following this story closely and being constantly intrigued. I just hope the movie does it justice. Will you watch?

New Tonight Show ad airs

2010-02-19T16:22:00.001-05:00

And this ad in no way makes me want to watch the show. Who was the brains behind this one? Probably Jay himself.

PP: "Sometimes we have to pretend"

2010-02-19T16:14:00.004-05:00

A lot happened on last week's Private Practice episode. Namely, things between Sam and Addison continue to be weird following her rejection of him; Pete and Violet have returned to a level of normalcy, mostly that Pete is done being mad at Violet; Dell removes his wedding ring as a symbol of his moving on; Cooper and Charlotte continue to refuse to deal with their feelings for one another and pretend they are fine seeing other people; Naomi still wants no part in planning Maya's wedding; and Addison and Pete have sex, agreeing that it is for sex's sake and that they don't plan to get emotionally involved.

Then comes last night's episode, which featured Maya's wedding. Below is a recap.

- Cooper spends the entire episode trying to prove that Charlotte's new boyfriend is a drug addict and once he does he pushes down the wall he and Charlotte have built between one another and the two have sex.
- At the beginning of the episode Addison tells Sam she is seeing someone else and it does not take Sam long to figure out this person is Pete. Sam is visibly angry about this and says what they are doing is no different than Addison being with Sam, since Pete is Sam's friend just like Naomi is Addison's friend.
- The whole episode we wondered whether or not Naomi was going to pull it together enough to attend Maya's wedding. I had my doubts but then Sam cornered Naomi and gave her a speech about how she has to be a mother and be there for her daughter and I knew Naomi would not be able to reject Maya and not attend. In the end, the wedding was beautiful and both Maya and Dink seemed very happy.

Grey's: "The biggest influences in your life are sitting next to you"

2010-02-19T16:14:00.003-05:00

On last week's Grey's Anatomy we saw Meredith having a difficult time coming to terms with being the chief's wife; Mark's daughter Sloan decide to give up her baby for adoption even after Mark offered to adopt the baby himself; and Teddy tell Owen she takes back saying she loves him if it means they can go back to being friends and she and Cristina can continue to work together.

Then there was last night's episode, which took place mostly in flashbacks, following stories told through the eyes of Bailey, Richard and Callie. These doctors were giving lectures as part of a lecture series Derek reinstated. It gave us the chance to see a little about where they came from and what makes them great doctors. More importantly, it gave us a glimpse into Richard's relationship with Ellis Grey when it first began. Overall, I think the episode was well done and very interesting. A friend mentioned that he would enjoy an episode like this one once a season as a glimpse into other doctor's pasts and I have to say I agree. Who knows if it will happen, but I wouldn't be disappointed if this formula was used again.

Life Unexpected: "I don't know how many more times I can say that I'm trying"

2010-02-16T13:31:00.003-05:00

I wrote this blog post before watching last week's episode and was pleased when Cate gave Lux the speech at the end of the episode essentially giving her an ultimatum. Cate notices that Lux keeps running away when things get tough or leaving her to go to Baze when they fight. Cate told Lux she is trying and doing the best she can and that Lux has to accept this, which I think Lux has. And then there was last night's episode where Cate continually showed how jealous she is that Lux would rather hang out with Baze than her. This goes back to Cate's need to always feel accepted and in future episodes I'm sure we will continue to see Cate and Lux's struggle to bond. But I think this makes for good television. The tension between mother and daughter and even father and mother is what makes me want to watch each week. Now that Lux is getting settled and seems to be attempting to make friends at school, maybe she will start to realize that she belongs not only to but with Cate and Baze.

OTH: "Just remind him of the girl he fell in love with"

2010-02-16T13:19:00.002-05:00

On last week's episode of One Tree Hill, Hailey, Quinn and Taylor's mom stopped by for an unexpected visit to drop a huge bombshell. She has pancreatic cancer and has decided to not further pursue treatments. Instead she wants to spend what little time she has left with her family. This is the message she continued to send on last night's episode, but her daughters are having a difficult time accepting that she is so close to dying. Hailey, Taylor and Quinn all feel like she is giving up and are almost angry about this decision. But by the end of last night's episode everyone seemed to start realizing that they should cherish the time they have left together.

In other happenings, Julian and Alex's movie has started filming, which has everyone a bit worried. Julian's dad is worried because Julian has so much at stake with the movie and Alex is worried she is going to let Julian down. And then there is Brooke standing on the sidelines. During last night's episode Brooke and Julian admit to other people that they still love one another. And just when Brooke was about to forgive Julian and work on their relationship, she goes to his hotel room and sees Alex asleep in his bed.

Also on the last two episodes, the record executive, Miranda, after much persuasion and embarrassment, got bartender Grubbs to agree to make a record with her despite his belief that it is too personal; Millie is trying to prove herself at Clothes Over Bros and continues on her road to recovery, even going to meetings for support; Just as Millie realizes she wants to be with Mouth again, Mouth goes to Skills' girlfriend Lauren and asks her on a date.

It seems like next week's episode features a downward spiral for Hailey's mom. For people who are constantly surrounded by heartbreak, another death may be too much for them to handle. Especially Jamie who is much to wise for his young age.

I know, I've sucked at keeping the blog updated

2010-02-16T13:10:00.002-05:00

I know the last thing you want is excuses, but I have been busy working extra shifts lately and have found little time to write blog posts. I always watch the shows right away, but then I have a difficult time finding a spare minute to write about them. Honestly, my desire to post as often as usual is lacking. I have little motivation to spend an hour a day doing research and writing blog posts. But I do not yet want to give up on this blog. So I will try harder to post in a timely manner. Please forgive me and keep reading. And as for the posts themselves, I think I've already said it, but don't be shocked if the posts seem to be getting shorter. I'm starting to realize that every little detail isn't actually all that important. Instead I will just be recapping the highlights. Stay tuned.

Apparently people like watching football

2010-02-08T15:55:00.002-05:00

I guess I never really thought anyone would take down MASH as the most watched television show in history, and I definitely didn't expect it to be a sports event that dethroned the leader. But here we are and, according to this article, 106.5 million people watched last night's Super Bowl between the New Orleans Saint and the Indianapolis Colts, slashing the 27 year record MASH held. I'm a little shocked by this and want to hear from you. What made this Super Bowl so special? Why did you watch?

Castle fans get a deeper look into their leading lady

2010-02-08T15:51:00.002-05:00

If you enjoy Castle, then you will like reading this article that features an interview with Stana Katic, who plays detective Beckett on the show. She talks about tonight's episode and also about opening up her character's past, which hinting to more Castle/Beckett flirtation in the future.

People are still watching Life Unexpected

2010-02-08T15:44:00.004-05:00

When Life Unexpected aired its series premiere three weeks ago, it became an instant hit. People enjoy the down-to-earth feel of the show and how it steps apart from other CW shows like Gossip Girl and Melrose Place. On Life Unexpected, the characters are real, which gives it the chance to become the next Gilmore Girls. Anyway, TvGuide.com has this article featuring what they are calling "scooplets." The stars hint at what's to come for the characters and, in turn, peak my interest even more.

As for me, I did watch last week's episode but never got around to blogging about it. So for now I just want to air my opinion on something. I agree that this show has potential, but I think the characters need to hit some consistency. The "will she stay or will she run away" theme needs to end soon. It is clear that Kate and Baze love her, so Lux needs to get comfortable if only to then be able to grow as a character.

Which Super Bowl commercials made you laugh?

2010-02-08T15:41:00.002-05:00

Boston.com put together this slideshow highlighting some of last night's funniest Super Bowl ads. I was at work last night so did not get the chance to watch the big game, but I'm sure I'll catch the ads when they begin playing during regular television. But for now, are there any that are must sees? Advice is welcome.

In the middle of a heat wave, the cops just keep on working

2010-02-05T17:05:00.003-05:00

When I heard that the novel the character Rick Castle wrote on the ABC television show Castle was actually a book, I was intrigued and actually bought it. The book is not very thick and the suspense keeps you turning the pages, so I finished reading it not long after I started. The idea is that this is the book Castle actually wrote himself, based on his time following Beckett. The book, titled Heat Wave, follows main characters Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook as they solve a crime. The book is very similar to the television show, with Castle's wit being an essential part of the novel. But one large difference is that in the book Nikki and Jameson have a few sexual encounters. This aspect is great for those who want nothing more than for Beckett and Castle to end up together.

I'm an avid reader and enjoy everything from suspense/thrillers to romances and the classics. This book may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy the show than it may be worth checking out. I had low expectations and really enjoyed it. I hope you do too. And, if you do read it, let me know what you think.

PP: "I didn't get my way"

2010-02-05T16:49:00.002-05:00

Last night's Private Practice episode tackled another difficult medical dilemma while also furthering the storylines at the center of this season. Below is a short recap of the episode.

- Dink and Maya decide they want to get married and attempt to raise their child as a family. Naomi is still refusing to deal with the problem, so Sam is stuck handling things on his own. Sam does not want the kids to get married, but then he sees them together while Maya gets her first ultrasound and he sees that she is truly happy. So by the time Naomi is ready to become a part of the discussion, decisions have already been made and Sam had already given them permission to get married.
- Cooper is dating around again and he is also mad that Violet is taking sides by letting Charlotte live with her.
- While talking to Naomi, Violet finally opened up about why she put up a wall between her and her son, Lucas. Violet was not dismissing her child, in fact she loves him dearly. Instead, Violet understood how damaged she was and she gave Lucas to Pete to care for him because she wanted to protect him.
- While Sam is drunk, he and Addison kiss. The next day, they analyze the kiss and almost repeat the event, but Sheldon interrupts them. Later, Addison drops hints to Naomi who laughs about the idea of Addison and Sam together, even going as far as to say it would make Addison a horrible person. So when Sam tells her he wants to be with her, Addison denies him even though we know she really wants to be with him. Addison says she needs to show allegiance to Naomi and tells Sam she can't listen to her heart.

As for the medical drama at the center of the episode, this week was about a family that had a baby so his cord blood could save their twin daughters who both have leukemia. But when there is only enough cord blood to save one child, the family wrestles with having to decide which daughter deserves to live. It was heartbreaking to watch, especially when Cooper had to tell the girls that only one of them could get better.

Grey's: "The way to win, the way to beat them, is to stop fighting"

2010-02-05T16:38:00.003-05:00

On last night's Grey's Anatomy episode we saw the staff at Seattle Grace take sides in the Derek vs. Richard debacle. While most of the staff is mad and thinks Derek stabbed Richard in the back just to take his job, those who know the truth know Derek was looking out for Richard's best interest. Anyway, below are a few other key points from the episode.

- Richard has two options: 1) He can sign a form retiring from medicine and essentially saying he will never practice medicine again or 2) He can sign a different form that enrolls him in rehab while also promising he will be able to resume his job once he has recovered. While the obvious choice is to go to rehab and sober up, Richard has a difficult time coming to this conclusion. After thinking about it the entire day, Richard finally chooses the later option.
- At the beginning of the episode Teddy essentially tells Cristina she no longer wants to work with her. Then Teddy finds herself in a bind during surgery, she pages Cristina because she knows she will be of great assistance. But Cristina is with Owen and he asks her not to answer the page. Later Cristina realizes this was a stupid idea and she gets mad at Owen, which also leads to her opening up to Owen about Burke. Cristina refuses to give up who she is and she tells Owen she will never again choose him over her work.
- Arizona takes Alex under her wing and has him work for the day in pediatrics. We already know he has a knack for it, but seeing him learn more was great. Arizona's main role was teaching Alex how to advocate for his patients since when you are working with kids they often cannot advocate for themselves.

This was another great episode and one that reminded me how much I enjoy Jessica Capshaw as Arizona. This show continues to get more and more interesting as time moves on. After some boring points last season, I think this season is reminding us why we watch. I hope it continues.

OTH: "We may be in a high school, but we're not in high school"

2010-02-02T14:26:00.003-05:00

This week's One Tree Hill episode was dedicated to the late, great John Hughes and scenes from his movies were recreated throughout the show. Everyone forgot Hailey's birthday, Nathan and Clay are stranded on their way back to Tree Hill, Jamie plots his way into being left home alone, Quinn has to cut the hair of a mean girl after she gets stuck in a locker, Brooke and Julian have a heart-to-heart in the pieces of a soon-to-be car in the garage, etcetera. While the episode did not further the show's storylines all that much, it was an entertaining one. Plus, the 80s themed dance Hailey and Quinn put together gave us the chance to see all of the characters dressed in awkward 80s clothes. Julian and Alex's movie will begin shooting in next week's episode and we can expect drama to ensue from there.

Former teen stars join forces for new ABC Family sitcom

2010-02-02T14:21:00.002-05:00

According to this article, Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence are set to star in a new ABC Family series aptly titled Melissa & Joey. The show centers on Hart who is forced into taking care of her sister's kids when her sister is sent to jail and Lawrence who she hires as their manny. While I'm not usually one for the shows on ABC Family, this has potential. I like both of these actors and it seems like it could be funny. The show is set to begin airing later this year.

DWTS star departing and I'm not even all that sad about it

2010-01-28T18:09:00.002-05:00

According to this article, Samantha Harris is leaving Dancing with the Stars. She will not be co-hosting with Tom Bergeron when the new season premieres this spring. No word yet on who will replace her but this change definitely does not leave me in tears. Samantha said more awkward things than witty things so ridding the show of her may actually be a positive. Now if this were new about Tom leaving, then I would be in tears. How about you? Are you upset by this news or do you think this may be a blessing in disguise? Also, who would you like to see replace her?

Things at ABC won't be 'Ugly' for too much longer

2010-01-27T21:04:00.002-05:00

According to this article and others like it, ABC has announced that this season is the last for Ugly Betty. Though I never watched the show, I know that it has a rather cult-like following. After initial success, the show has been struggling, especially since it has been bumped around the ABC line-up. After unsuccessfully airing on Friday nights for a while, the show now airs Wednesday nights. I've already heard from a few friends who are going to miss the show. Are you one of them? What makes this show special? How to you want things to end?

Castle: "Things just spun out of control"

2010-01-27T11:51:00.007-05:00

On this week's Castle episode, Castle is named one of the top 10 most eligible bachelors in New York. In the blurb accompanying his picture it is implied that he is in a relationship with Beckett. This obviously pisses off Beckett, but it also pushes her into going on a date. Then when Beckett and Castle end up on dates at the same restaurant, things go downhill. The two are so caught up in solving the murder case they are working on it is all they can talk about on their respective dates. When they figure out the missing link they have to abandon their dates, but neither seems too disappointed.

This episode makes it clear that both Beckett and Castle's lives have changed since meeting the other. They are also beginning to understand that the other is not going anywhere so they depend on one another more than they did initially. This episode was humorous as always and the police drama was equally entertaining. Overall it was a great episode.

I still love this show and it seems like I may not be the only one. According to this article, Castle hit a series high in ratings this week, beating other 10 p.m. shows like They Jay Leno Show and a CSI: Miami repeat. I would be sad if this was the show's last season so news like this makes me happy. I hope the audience continues to grow. And if you are not watching, I think you should give it a chance.

Life Unexpected: "You've got a shot at a new life"

2010-01-27T11:51:00.005-05:00

This week's Life Unexpected episode starts with Cate being very worried about whether or not she and Baze will be approved as temporary guardians for Lux. And before the final result is announced a lot happened. Here is a recap, broken into three parts.

1) The radio station wants Cate to lie about having a child because it will taint her reputation and the reputation of the station. So they have her read a statement on air. Lux is not supposed to hear it, but of course she does and she takes it to mean that she is unwanted. It takes some work, but with some help from Ryan, Cate proves to Lux that she is ready and willing to be her mother.
2) Lux is dropped off at school but doesn't attend. Instead she goes to her boyfriend's house. It is then that we meet some of her friends, one of whom was also trying to get emancipated from foster care. The friends make it very clear that they feel abandoned by Lux and talk shit about Cate and Baze, saying they probably don't even want her. These friends are the opposite of supportive and I was glad when Lux stopped listening to them and made up her own mind.
3) On the outside, Cate seems like the perfect parent. But she admits she has a difficult time committing to things and people, which may be her biggest fault in this instance. Then there is Baze who lives above a bar and continues to act like a teenager. After things with the social worker do not go well, Cate accuses Baze of trying to screw up on purpose because he does not really want to take on the responsibility of being a parent. Then he realizes he needs to step up and both parents say they do not want to bail on Lux again.

In the end the parent are approved, obviously or there wouldn't be a show. Anyway, I again enjoyed the episode but I'm waiting to see where the show is going. With the introduction of Lux's boyfriend and more impending drama between Cate and Baze, I can see the show continuing to be intriguing. I just hope it keeps holding my attention.

OTH: "Just tell me you know how messed up this is?"

2010-01-26T16:43:00.003-05:00

The highlight of Monday's One Tree Hill episode came from a catfight between sisters Hailey, Quinn and Taylor. But before we get there we should start at the beginning. Here comes a recap of this week's episode.

- Julian and Alex are about a week away from starting production on their movie. For now, they are practicing with the director and things are not going well. The director tries taking advantage of Alex, thinking she is a slut. When that does not work he is really rude to Alex, yelling at her and saying inappropriate things. When the director comments crudely about Alex's suicide attempt Julian knows he has taken it too far and punches the director. Julian then also fires him. So with not much time left, Julian is without a director. That is when Brooke appeals to him and makes him realize he should direct the movie. When Julian asks his father for permission, his father says he was at the top of the replacement list.
- Mouth is back and he is worried about Millie. As for Millie, initially, Brooke is unpleasant to her while at work. But then Victoria points out to Brooke that she really needs a friend right now so Brooke tries giving Millie another shot. And Mouth decides he will stay in Tree Hill instead of returning to LA because he knows Millie shouldn't be alone.
- Hailey is obviously - and loudly - upset with Taylor for dating Quinn's recent ex-husband David. At first it is assumed that Taylor is just a bitch and that David is trying to hurt Quinn, but by the end of the episode it seems like the two just enjoy spending time with one another. Quinn and David both handled being divorced badly - David with jumping into his ex's sister's arms and Quinn with lying about sleeping with another man - but they begin to understand that they are allowed to be happy with other people.

The whole Taylor/David/Quinn drama was really funny mostly because Hailey handled it so poorly. From making tons of noise, to calling Taylor names, to hiding the cookware, it was all very Hailey. Then there was Quinn who seemed to handle the situation too well. Even when Taylor and David decided to make out at the kitchen table right in front of her, she kept her cool. While Hailey was very verbal and schemed the entire time, Quinn refused to let it bother her. How these two are related is beyond me. I just hope to see more catfights in the future, especially because I agree that Taylor is a slut and an awful person.

SYTYCD welcomes back a friendly face

2010-01-26T16:40:00.003-05:00

No word yet as to what exactly this means in the long run, but Mia Michaels joined Nygel and Adam at the taping of next season's New York auditions. The full story is here. Honestly, I agree that there is a great diversity in choreography on So You Think You Can Dance and one choreographer is not really missed, but Mia is such a gifted choreographer that it is recognizable when she is not a part of the show. I would love if this means she will be back for season seven, but I am not yet getting my hopes up.

PP: "Your body, your choice"

2010-01-21T23:20:00.002-05:00

While there were a few other things that happened on this week's Private Practice episode, the only thing that mattered was the drama surrounding Naomi and Sam's 15-year-old daughter's announcement that she is pregnant. Here comes a summary of what happened following the news being let out of the bag.

Following Maya telling her parents, Naomi withdrew while Sam confronted her with questions. After a few minutes of consideration, and after admitting that she feels like she failed at protecting her daughter, Naomi storms into Addison's office with Maya and demands Addison give Maya an abortion even though Maya doesn't want one. Naomi doesn't even believe in abortions, which is a belief she has passed along to Maya throughout her life. So even when Maya reluctantly agrees to the abortion, she questions whether she will go to hell or whether everything her mother has ever told her about abortions is actually untrue. In the end, Maya decides not to have the abortion.

We'll have to see what happens from here, but I can only imagine that this will be a part of the show's storyline for much of the near future. Everyone on the show will have to learn to live with this predicament and it will be interesting to see how their friends are there for Sam and Naomi.

In other happenings: Charlotte and Cooper are still feuding, Violet lied to a stranger and let him believe her son was dead, Sam confronted Maya's boyfriend who had not yet found out Maya was pregnant and Violet invited Charlotte to move in with her while she is searching for a more permanent place.

Grey's: "I choose my gift"

2010-01-21T23:13:00.002-05:00

Here comes a recap of tonight's Grey's Anatomy episode.

- Derek wants to report Richard now that he knows he is drinking again but that would mean ending Richard's career. Meredith pleads with Derek not to while also voicing her opinion that the only reason he wants to tell is because then Derek would be named chief. The problem is that Derek no longer trusts Richard and for most of the episode he debates whether to go to the board with the information he has or to wait until Richard hurts someone. In the end, Derek goes to the board, with Meredith's reluctant permission, and Richard loses his job.
- Izzie is coming home and at first it seems like it would be for the long haul. Meredith walked in on Alex and Lexie in bed together but the three decided to keep it a secret. Later, Alex tells Izzie he slept with someone but not who, which seemed like the smart thing to do. In an out-of-character moment, Izzie tells Alex she is willing to work past his misstep. Later, Izzie realizes she is on the road to being herself again now that the cancer is gone, she is looking for a new job and she is willing to work on her relationship with Alex. So she goes to Alex, but he tells her he knows he deserves better than to be abandoned. He cannot forgive her for leaving when things got tough and he tells her to talk a job elsewhere and leave him behind. As she is packing, Izzie tells Meredith she is leaving and that she needs to start over.
- Teddy tells Cristina the chief wants her to finish up her contract, which means she will be sticking around for a few more weeks instead of leaving immediately. During this conversation, Cristina explains that she did not mean it when she traded Owen. From then, and for much of the episode, the question posed, mostly by Cristina, is would you give up the person you love for the thing you love? While responses are mixed, Cristina decides, in the end, that she could not live without surgery and after Teddy shows she has the same feelings, Cristina tells Teddy she cannot leave. Teddy then gets rather drunk and tells Owen Cristina was willing to trade him to Teddy if Teddy agreed to stay in Seattle. It seems like the correct response would have been for Owen to get angry, but instead he goes to Cristina and tells her he won't let her toss him aside because he matters.

Overall, this was an episode that was dramatic under the covers. Nothing crazy happened and no one bled everywhere. But it did examine love and the relationships the doctors at this hospital share. I liked it. Agreed?

The Deep End: "Until you learn how to swim..."

2010-01-21T23:04:00.003-05:00

Before I start my official post on tonight's series premiere of The Deep End, I want to say that all of the "deep end" and pool innuendos were quite stupid. By the time they pushed Dylan into the pool I wanted to scream and/or turn the channel. But I did neither. Though I do want to say, on the record, that I probably will not continue watching this show, mostly for the fact that these stupid comments existed and despite the cast of rather hot guys.

Anyway, here is what I thought of the ABC show's premiere: It's a washed up idea. I know ABC has had lots of success by putting pretty people in a work environment and watching them hook up, but the idea is getting old.

The one aspect of the show I liked was that much of the drama unfolded out of the courtroom. The episode showed out of court settlements and meetings in judge's offices, which is a side you don't usually get to see on other law shows like Law & Order. That said, throwing so much inter-office sex at the audience up front removes some of the suspense.

The show is intriguing, but I can see people getting bored. What did you think? If you watched I would love to hear your opinion or the pilot.

Two 90210 stars leaving the show

2010-01-21T19:07:00.002-05:00

According to this article, Rob Estes and Jennie Garth are no longer steady cast members of the CW's 90210. Estes will leave as of the end of the season and, apparently, there will be an explanation that makes sense. As for Garth, in a recent interview she mentioned that she is not really doing the show anymore. And in other 90210 news, this article announces that Gilmore Girls alum Scott Patterson will appear as Liam's father for a multiple episode stint when the show returns this spring.

NBC finally confirms future of late-night

2010-01-21T18:44:00.002-05:00

Here is the TvGuide.com article confirming what we kind of already knew. Conan and NBC are parting ways, the Jay Leno show is no more and Jay is returning to the Tonight Show. There are still lots of questions, many of which are asked in the article I linked to, but the one I really want to ask is What happens when Jay returns to his 11:30 p.m. spot and the Tonight Show's ratings do not return to their previous glory? Also, am I alone is feeling badly for Conan who seemed to be royally screwed by this whole deal? And, to end on a lighter note, did you see the skit Conan performed last night as a way to screw NBC and cost them tons of money? See it below.

Big Bang: Apparently, there is crime everywhere

2010-01-20T18:41:00.001-05:00

On this week's Big Bang Theory, Sheldon and Leonard's apartment is broken into and it kind of freaks Sheldon to the point where he can't sleep and doesn't want to be in the apartment alone. At first their response is to install a high-tech security system, but after Sheldon gets caught under an electric net, he decides to do some research and move to a low-crime town in another state. So he packs some things and goes to Montana. As soon as he gets there, a man asks him if he would like help with his bags and takes off with the luggage. Sheldon realizes there is crime everywhere and gets right back on a bus to California.

Life Unexpected: Another in a long line of predictable CW dramas

2010-01-20T17:59:00.003-05:00

I don't know if you know this about me, but up there with Sex and the City and Friends, two of my favorite television shows past and present are Dawson's Creek and Gilmore Girls. So every time the CW comes out with a new show, I secretly hope it will fill the void left after these shows were discontinued. While One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl do a pretty good job of keeping me satisfied, I couldn't help myself and had pretty high expectations for Life Unexpected, which premiered on the CW Monday night. It may still be too early to make a complete judgment, but this show is lacking the wit of Gilmore Girls, so it is already falling a bit behind. But it does contain some ultimate drama, and it promises to be heartwarming, so it has that going for it.

Anyway, here is a short synopsis of the first episode. Lux, a soon-to-be 16 year old, has been bounced around foster homes for most of her life. But on the eve of this all important birthday she goes searching for her birth parents in the hopes that they will sign release forms and she can become emancipated. But then a judge refuses her emancipation request and, in a turn of events, leaves Lux in the care of her biological parents, radio talk show host Cate and never-to-grow-up bar owner Nate.

The show definitely has potential and did well in ratings, apparently beating all Gossip Girl airings from so far this season. I already knew Gossip Girl was in trouble, mostly because the fan base that seems large in number doesn't actually watch the show. We'll have to see if Gossip Girl will be able to find its footing when it returns in a few months, but for now I want to know if you watched Life Unexpected and if you agree that it is a show worth watching? I'm pretty sure I will follow the show, at least in the coming weeks, but one misstep and I will find other ways to spend my Monday nights.

Castle: "I have a hard job, Castle, and having you around makes it a little more fun"

2010-01-19T22:53:00.008-05:00

Two important things happened in this week's Castle episode: 1) Beckett got one step closer to finding her mother's murderer and 2) Beckett finally acknowledged that she enjoys having Castle shadow her. Here come a few more details about exactly what happened in the episode.

An Irish mobster is found dead and from the wounds the medical examiner realizes that the person who killed him was a highly trained contract killer. They then realize there are patterns between this murder and four others, one of which happened to be Beckett's mother. By the end of the episode, Beckett finds closure on half of the equation. She found the hitman who physically murdered her mom, but he was shot because he had taken Castle hostage and he died before he could tell Kate who hired him.

At the end of the episode, Castle goes to Kate and apologizes for ruining her chances at finding the person who was responsible for her mother's death. He even says he will stop shadowing her, but she admits she wants him to stick around.

The second half of this week's episode was heart wrenching. The usual laid-back attitude of the show stopped the moment Beckett found out she could possibly find her mother's killer. But that only made the episode more enticing. This episode proved that there is a time and place for both the funny and serious sides of this show.

OTH: "Don't let this taking space be a long way to goodbye"

2010-01-19T22:53:00.005-05:00

One Tree Hill picks up after a winter break six weeks in time from where we left off. This is just enough time for Alex to recover, Hailey to finish her tour, Clay to go out on the road scouting and Brooke and Julian to grow further apart. Below is a recap of what happened in Monday's episode.

- Brooke is launching a new line called Clothes For Bros. Victoria hired a male designer to help Brooke with her sketches and his name is Alexander. The two spend a lot of time together and though Alexander seems mighty willing to have a more personal relationship with Brooke, Brooke wants to keep it professional.
- Victoria, who has always been the bitch of the show, is starting to show a softer side. Just when it looked like Millie was going to have to face serious consequences after drunk driving, Victoria shows up to the courtroom and speaks on her behalf. Victoria also offers Millie her job as an assistant back, which she at first declines. It also becomes clear that Alex really wants to help Millie. Alex even goes as far as to go to a party, where she is surrounded by temptation, to drag Millie home. Millie, at first, doesn't understand why Alex is helping her, especially since Millie feels responsible for Alex's suicide attempt, but Alex is only trying to do what she wishes someone had done for her. Millie, with Alex's help, realizes she needs to take steps toward recovery and starts by accepting Victoria's job offer. At the end of the episode, Mouth also returns to Tree Hill so things may be looking up for Millie.
- Quinn's divorce is now final and things with Clay seem to be going well; They even go on their first official date. Clay also decides that he does not want to flaunt their relationship in front of Nathan, which leads to a few awkward moments. Late in the episode, Nathan acknowledges things are a bit awkward between them and says he not only wants his manager back, but that he also needs his friend back.
- Julian and Brooke are still on very rocky ground. Julian tries to talk to her, but Brooke pushes him away. He even goes to Victoria for support, which is when she realizes he is doing everything he can to mend their relationship but that Brooke needs to let him in. Brooke and Julian finally talk at the concert, but they end up fighting and Julian essentially throws in the towel. He realizes Brooke will never accept his working with Alex, which cannot be ignored now that they are filming. (In a side note, we found out that the reason the movie is being made is that Julian and his father fronted the money because Julian believes that much in Alex's script.)
- In other, and oh so random/only in Tree Hill, news, Hailey and Quinn's sister Taylor shows up at Hailey's concert and asks to stay with them while she's in town. Nathan, who if you remember correctly, lost his virginity to Taylor, was reluctant but didn't really have a choice but to say yes. When she shows up at the house we find out that she brought her boyfriend with her. And guess who her boyfriend is? Quinn's ex-husband David. We can expect some catfights out of this one.

Seth Myers says it like it is

2010-01-18T13:49:00.002-05:00

Of all the jokes about the NBC late-night shuffle, Seth Myers had one of the best. He did a pretty great job with the "analogy" in the video below. Take a watch.

Which television shows were awarded gold last night?

2010-01-18T13:37:00.003-05:00

Below is a list of the television shows and actors that won Golden Globes at last night's award ceremony. I was working, so didn't get to watch the ceremony, but here is a recap written by the Globe's Matthew Gilbert.

--Series, Drama: Mad Men

--Actor, Drama: Michael C. Hall for Dexter

--Actress, Drama: Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife

--Series, Musical or Comedy: Glee

--Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock

--Actress, Musical or Comedy: Toni Collette for United States of Tara

--Miniseries or Movie: Grey Gardens

--Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Bacon for Taking Chance

--Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Drew Barrymore for Grey Gardens

--Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: John Lithgow for Dexter

--Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Chloe Sevigny for Big Love

And, for those interested, the people over at New York Magazine's Vulture blog put together this 20 second recap video that is supposed to summarize last night's show. It doesn't really say or show much, but it is worth the time it takes to load.

PP: "It doesn't matter now, does it?"

2010-01-14T23:52:00.002-05:00

Before I get to the recap of this week's episode, I need to apologize for never writing a recap of the two hour Private Practice event that aired in early December. By the time I got around to it it was too late to be of any importance so I put it off permanently. So let me tell you the extreme highlights:

1) Naomi and Sam's daughter, Maya, is acting out and when Sam gives her a little space to act her age, she takes advantage, which leads to them pulling back on the reigns.
2) Addison's father was still in town and he starts an affair with Violet, which pisses off Addison who is thinking about her mother's well being. Just as Addison is beginning to trust her father, mostly because he showed interest in her work, she realizes he doesn't deserve her affection and confronts him. She wants to know why he treats every other woman in the world well, but treats her and her mom like trash.
3) Heather was cooking meth in the house with Betsie there and it blew up. Heather has a 30 percent chance of survival and, luckily, Betsie only has carbon monoxide poisoning. Dell is so angry with Heather for ruining their lives that, even when he knows she is going to die, he refuses to allow Betsie to see her so they can say their goodbyes.
4) Addison knows something is up with her family, especially when her mom shows up in LA. Then she walks in on her mom kissing her female assistant and Addison realizes her entire life has been a lie. She always thought her father was cheating on her mom, but now she knows it was all part of a scheme to keep her mother's sexuality under wraps.

Now onto a recap of this week's episode.

- Cooper and Charlotte are still not speaking. He tells Violet he can't forgive her. This also leads to some misplaced anger throughout the episode, but Violet makes Cooper realize that he needs to talk to Charlotte instead of letting it stew. The two finally confront one another and their fights starts with her secret, but blows up from there. They end up arguing about everything and say some pretty harsh things to one another. Then Cooper announces that they are breaking up because he is done. Charlotte tells him this is just a fight and that he can't dictate when their relationship ends, but he continues to spew insults and she walks out obviously also done trying.
- Betsie is visibly angry with Dell. Even though she is only 7 years old, she knows she had a right to say goodbye to her mom. But Dell still doesn't understand why he is being made into the bad guy. Naomi finally stops lying to him and tells Dell Betsie has a right to be mad. She even suggests he apologize. So he does, first apologizing to Pete and then talking with Betsie.
- Mark and his daughter, Sloan, are in LA for Addison to finish the surgery. While Sloan is being helped by Pete, Addison and Mark are alone in her office. They are both having a hard time - she just found out her mom is a lesbian and he has just been dumped. They need to numb the pain and end up having sex, which Pete and Sam both walk in on. Later, while at dinner with Sam and Naomi, Mark talks about moving to LA and having a future with Addison. He mentions this possibility multiple times, which has Sam putting up his guard. Anyway, Addison performs the surgery and things do not go as planned. Everything works out in the end, but it was up in the air for a minute. When Sloan wakes up after the surgery, Addison is there and Sloan breaks down. She cries about wanting her mom and not wanting the baby. It is then that Addison realizes Sloan needs to understand her options. Even though Addison knows Mark wants a chance to raise the baby, Addison talks to Sloan about the possibility of adoption. Later, when Mark again mentions moving to LA, Addison asks him if he wants this for the right reasons. She opens up and admits she cannot allow herself back into a relationship with a man who loves someone else. Without actually saying it, we realize Mark was settling for Addison and she realizes he wasn't thinking about her, but instead the stability she could provide.
- Naomi knows something is wrong with Maya and she tells her that she should talk about what's bothering her. So Maya goes to Addison and tells her she is pregnant.

Definitely a cliffhanger. Plus, did you see the preview for next week when Naomi slaps Maya? Next week promises to be a dramatic episode. And this week's wasn't too shabby either. I liked seeing Mark and Addison together, even if it was only for one episode. Plus, I like that we are seeing how invested Sam is in protecting Addison. This show still keeps me on the edge of my seat. Until next week...

Grey's: When the ones you love become the afterthought

2010-01-14T23:27:00.002-05:00

After a pretty long holiday season break, Grey's Anatomy returned tonight with a new episode that also housed the beginning of a Grey's/Private Practice crossover. Below is a recap of the episode.

- The chief is still tutoring Meredith, but Derek is becoming a bit suspicious. He also, inadvertently, figures out that Bailey is covering for the chief. It doesn't take long for Derek to realize the chief made a mistake during a surgery, but he has a hard time figuring out the bigger picture. At the end of the episode, Meredith tells him Richard is drinking.
- Alex is back to his womanizing ways, specifically with Reid. When Meredith figures this out, she confronts him, reminding him that he's married. But he says he is done with Izzie and is moving on. At the end of the episode he tells Reid he does not trade sex for passes into surgeries, but that doesn't stop him from sleeping with someone else. Read on to find out who.
- Even though his daughter is taking advantage of his generosity, Mark is going out of his way to help Sloan. He also asks Lexie to help her, particularly by performing a sonogram for her. Lexie does the ultrasound, but finds something wrong. She calls in another opinion, but Mark knows who he needs if he wants the best. He calls Addison and she comes to Seattle to perform a surgery on the baby. During the surgery there is a complication and instead of allowing Addison the chance to fix everything anyway, Mark makes her stop the surgery. Before the end of the episode he decides to take Sloan to LA so Addison can finish what she started. During this episode we also saw Mark finally become a father. He even offers to help Sloan raise the baby, which is a decision he should have consulted with Lexie on first. Lexie realizes she is too young to become a grandmother, among other things, and breaks up with Mark. She moves back into Meredith's house just in time to meet Alex, who is also lonely and upset. The two, without thinking, have sex.
- Teddy gives Cristina a solo cardio surgery, which is a huge step and something Cristina is very pleased about. Then Cristina meets the patient and realizes she is eccentric to say the least. The patient makes Cristina bend over backward for her, but Cristina does it because she knows the end payoff will be worth it. In the middle of the surgery, while Teddy sits on a stool in the corner reading a magazine, the patient crashes. Cristina asks for help, but Teddy tells her she is on her own. Owen is mad at this, but Teddy knew what she was doing. Teddy forced Cristina to save the patient herself because Teddy knows Cristina needs to be pushed. Following the surgery Teddy and Owen talk. This is when Teddy realizes she needs to find another job because working with him is too difficult. When Cristina finds out she is leaving, she runs after Teddy and pleads with her. And, in a decision and discussion that happened so fast neither really thought about it, Cristina offered Teddy Owen if it meant she would stay in Seattle.

The show definitely came back with a bang. I enjoyed the episode and am looking forward to Izzie's return next week. Agreed?

NBC's new schedule

2010-01-14T21:33:00.002-05:00

Though NBC released a post-Leno primetime schedule for the weeks following the Olympics (it is pasted below), they are still staying tight-lipped about their late night shake-up. Tmz.com is claiming that Jay Leno has reached a deal to retake over the Tonight Show, but no word yet on what happens to Conan.

Mondays
8-9 p.m. — Chuck
9-10 p.m. — Trauma (beginning March 8)
10-11 p.m. — Law & Order (returns March 1 with two-hour episode, 9-11 p.m. (ET); resumes in regular time slot March 8)

Tuesdays
8-10 p.m. — The Biggest Loser
10-11 p.m. — Parenthood (premieres March 2)

Wednesdays
8-9 p.m. — Mercy
9-10 p.m. — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (encores beginning March 3)
10-11 p.m. — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (originals beginning March 3)

Thursdays
8-8:30 p.m. — Community
8:30-9 p.m. — Parks and Recreation
9-9:30 p.m. — The Office
9:30-10 p.m. — 30 Rock
10-11 p.m. — The Marriage Ref (premieres March 4; sneak preview February 28)

Fridays
8-9 p.m. — Who Do You Think You Are? (premieres March 5; Friday Night Lights returns on April 30)
9-11 p.m. — Dateline NBC (begins March 5)

Saturdays (all beginning March 6; all repeats)
8-9 p.m. — The Biggest Loser
9-10 p.m. — Law & Order
10-11 p.m. — "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Sundays (all beginning March 14)
7-8 p.m. — Dateline NBC
8-9 p.m. — Minute to Win It
9-11 p.m. — The Celebrity Apprentice

The powers that be realized what we already knew

2010-01-13T23:27:00.002-05:00

According to this article, Dancing with the Stars' tenth season, which will begin airing March 22, will feature about 11 or 12 contestants, down from the 16 who competed last season. I already voiced my opinion about the large number of contestants and am happy they realized the mistake. With the show airing two seasons per year, there are simply not enough second-rate celebrities to fill the spots, plus it is too difficult to get to know 16 contestants in such a short amount of time. I think 11 or 12 is a pretty good amount, especially if that leads to one person being sent home per week. I hope this is a retreat that sticks. Agreed?

Castle: "He heard wedding and probably got cold feet"

2010-01-12T23:34:00.002-05:00

In an episode where a murdered bridesmaid led to the postponement of a wedding, we got the chance to see a softer side of Castle. The bride, whose bridesmaid was murdered the morning of the wedding, was Castle's "one who got away." The two met in college, had been in love for three years and broke up because he did not follow her when she left. Throughout the episode, the attraction between Castle and Kyra (played by Alyssa Milano) was obvious.

We also saw Beckett continue to deny her feelings for Rick, yet it was also obvious that they were percolating. I honestly feel so torn about the chemistry between Castle and Beckett. On the one hand, I would love to see them romantically involved. But on the other, the dynamics of television shows always change when the two main character start a relationship. Regardless, I continue to enjoy this show and hope you are watching too.

Palin no longer just a politician

2010-01-12T23:25:00.003-05:00

Sarah Palin can now add TV news contributor to her resume. The former vice presidential candidate signed with Fox News yesterday and will be a contributor to numerous programs as well as occasionally host shows on her own. For more information, click here.

While I dislike Palin, if this means her chances of running for president in 2012 are slightly lower, than I support the move. But honestly, the Fox News channel is exactly where she belongs. She makes ridiculous comments that have no basis in the truth and she will soon find herself at home. She needs something to keep her in the spotlight, and this was the move she needed to make to ensure she wasn't forgotten. I just hope people will continue to see past her propaganda and see her for the unintelligent person she truly is.