THE OFFICE’s Jim and Pam…Through the Years

Call me fangirl, I don’t care. A number of people sent me the link to this very well made fanvid that examines the relationship of THE OFFICE’s Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly. Since it’s their wedding week, I thought we should all be reminded of how it all began.

Have you seen all the touching OFFICE Wedding Promos NBC has put together? With all this promotion, there’s no forgetting the wedding is this week. But would you really miss it anyway?

DEXTER: Remains to Be Seen

Get it? It’s called “Remains to Be Seen?” Funny, right?

Anyway, this week we had the “Dexter” version of “Memento,” as Dexter tried to go back in time and remember what he did with Benny’s body. The car crash was really the device that got us into a lot of issues this week, mainly through Harry’s watchful guidance. I’m comforted by the fact that Harry is still present in Dexter’s life, since he sort of swore off the code last season for a time. But, Harry was back in numerous forms, giving Dexter the clues all along to find the body. I have to admit, I was very happy with the clever way the reveal was done and how it signified a return to the Code.

But, along the way, and since this season has began, Harry (read: Dexter’s conscious) has been questioning whether Dex can do it all. Can he have the family, the job and keep the Dark Passenger (that term is starting to grow on me this season, as long as they don’t overuse it.) satisfied? Only time will tell, but this week’s ordeal pointed to both yes and no.

On the positive side, he not only figured out where the body was hidden, but he also broke the Vacation Murderer and prompted Lundy to bring Deb in on the Trinity Killer. On the other hand, he lied to his wife, left a body to decompose in an abandoned boxing ring for hours, and almost died in the first place. This storyline is going to keep coming up and, unless something drastic happens (Rita leaves him, Harrison dies, etc.) I don’t see it changing anytime soon.

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Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Monday, October 5, 2009

I was going to sing a little ‘Monday, Monday’, by the Mamas & the Papas to start us off this morning, but it just seems too soon

Here’s to hoping your day flies by. There’s some great Monday night TV to for you to sink your teeth into (perhaps I should have saved that line for Thursday when The Vampire Diaries is on. Damn.)

For all you GLEEkers out there, be sure to tune into The Late Show tonight as Lea Michele get groped interviewed by Letterman.

I’m excited for tonight. What will YOU be watching?

How I Met Your Mother | 8pm on CBS
“Robin 101”
Robin investigates when she thinks Barney is cheating on her, only to find that he is spending his time with Ted, taking lessons in how to date her.

House | 8pm on FOX
“The Tyrant”
The team treats a controversial African politician (James Earl Jones) who has fallen ill; Wilson tries to make amends with a feuding neighbor. [GMMR: HOUSE producing director Greg Yaitanes just twittered “Tonight starts a major story arc for House. Gave me chills when I read it & blew me away when I saw it.”]

Dancing with the Stars | 8pm on ABC
Celebrities are paired with professionals in a ballroom-dance competition, with one pair typically eliminated each week. Competitors include Donny Osmond, Melissa Joan Hart, Michael Irvin, Chuck Liddell and more.

Heroes | 8pm on NBC
“Acceptance”
Hiro focuses on saving the lives of others; Angela tries to help Nathan remember his past; Tracy tries to get her old job back.

(the rest of tonight’s TV spotlight is after the jump)

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Who Went Home on THE AMAZING RACE?

Last week’s season premiere of THE AMAZING RACE certainly didn’t lack drama.  The two hour premiere saw one team eliminated before they even got on a plane.  A non-elimination save in the first leg of the race. An eating challenge. And finally a Philimination. Whew. And you wonder why this show has never lost the Emmy for Outstanding Reality TV.

A new week. New places to be seen. So grab your passport and let’s be on our way.

The first stop for the 10 remaining teams was Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam. The teams had to find their way to the city and grab a clue from a dragon puppet theater before making their way to the post office to get the first Detour of this leg of the race.

I know this race is pure chaos, but it’s amazing to me how some teams don’t take the time to really read through the clues.  Mika and Canaan wasted time dancing in front of the dragons rather than reaching in to grab their clues.  Perhaps they were confused, but since no other team did a jig, it seems they were just a little careless.

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Three Rivers | 9pm on CBS

Series Premiere: Andy tells a young pregnant woman who has had a heart attack that only a transplant can save her and the fetus; unexpected complications with the donor’s family jeopardize the procedure.

Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Sunday, October 4, 2009

Maybe you’re watching football. Perhaps brunch with friends. Whatever you do on this Sunday, be sure to rest up for the onslaught on primetime TV coming your way. Personally, I choose not to think about it all day…I don’t like to be stressed.  I’ll be ready. Count on it.

What will YOUR Sunday night TV lineup look like? Definitely leave a note in the comments so I know which Sunday night shows you are most interested in.

The Amazing Race 15 | 8pm on CBS
“It’s Liked Being Dropped on Planet Mars”
Teams struggle to combat the hectic pace of Vietnam; one team puts its own race in jeopardy by offering to help the competition. [GMMR: Don’t forget – if you are DVRing this show and not watching it live then you’ll probably want to set it to record at least 30 minutes longer than the show. Football usually runs long. I have my DVR set to record THE AMAZING RACE from 8-10pm, just in case.]

The Simpsons | 8pm on Fox
“Barts Gets a Z”
Bart and the rest of his class decide to teach Mrs. Krabappel a lesson when she confiscates their cell phones

The Cleveland Show | 8:30pm on Fox
“Da Daggone Daddy-Daughter Dinner Dance”
Cleveland tries to win over his new stepdaughter, Roberta, by asking her to the school’s father/daughter dance.

Family Guy | 9pm on Fox
“Family Goy”
Lois’ trip to the doctor reveals some news about her heritage; Peter is visited by his father’s ghost.

Desperate Housewives | 9pm on ABC
“Being Alive”
Lynette keeps a secret from Susan; Gaby gives Ana advice on getting a guy’s attention; Bree fears her affair with Karl will impact her friendship with Susan; Angie is determined to protect her family’s past.

Three Rivers | 9pm on CBS | Series Premiere
“Place of Life”
Andy tells a young pregnant woman who has had a heart attack that only a transplant can save her and the fetus; unexpected complications with the donor’s family jeopardize the procedure. [GMMR: Sorry MOONLIGHT fans. I know you love Alex O’Loughlin, but he deserves better than this show.  They reworked the pilot a bit (the original pilot will supposedly air later in the season), but even with the changes they made, THREE RIVERS is one of the weakest shows of this Fall season.]

More of tonight’s lineup after the break…

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PARKS & RECREATION: Beauty Pageant

I apologize for omitting a recap for last week’s Parks & Recreation. Much like Leslie Knope would expect, I have a good excuse and a note to return to class. Last Tuesday night, my car was stolen from my driveway. Because my local PD’s approach to public service mirrors Ron Swanson’s, I received very little help from the men in blue. A few trips to the insurance company, rental car office, and my real job later, my ability to connect sentences was shot.

Fortunately, my DVR delivered a miracle in the form of “The Stakeout.” Any lingering car-related stress disappeared as Ron Swanson tried to eat a hamburger using my strategy for winning “Ring Toss” at the local fair. Nick Offerman and Aubrey Plaza destroyed their scenes together, and the prospect of more Ron/April scenes is reason enough to add P&R to your Season Passes. Veteran stand-up comic Louis C.K. took a nice bow as Officer Dave, giving Amy Poehler a romantic foil that fits Leslie’s values. All in all, last week’s P&R was the best remedy for a victim of Grand Theft Auto.

This week, the selection of Miss Pawnee was a solid premise for generating consistent laughs. Unlike the pit-focused Season One, the writers of P&R have been wise to present storylines that are ripe for comedy, rather than dig for chuckles in the junk yard of local civics lessons. Once Tom Haverford finagled his way onto the judging panel, the stage was set for Leslie Knope to fight the good fight for talented young women who may not have won the genetic jackpot.

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SUPERNATURAL: The End

Well, if the notion of “President Palin” isn’t a sign of the Apocalypse, I don’t know what is. In the awesome fourth episode of the season, Zachariah was Doc to Dean’s Marty McFly in a disturbing Back to the Future-style escapade where Dean encountered life five years into the future, as it will supposedly be if he refuses to give up his V-card to Michael. V, meaning vessel, obviously – what did you think I meant?

As a major fan of zombie movies, I love, love, loved the scenes when Dean first arrived in 2014 and encountered some fast-moving, genuinely scary undead. I also loved the juxtaposition of watching some soldiers blow the zombies away while blasting “Do You Love Me?” Nothing like a fun song as the soundtrack to extreme violence! In the future, Bobby is gone, and (future) Dean, Chuck, Cas and an assortment of hunters/survivors are holed up at a summer camp, trying to defend their lives against those that have been infected with the Croatoan virus. We first learned about it back in season 2 (mini-recap: The virus took over a town in Oregon, was demonic in nature, and was unleashed as a test to see if Sam was immune to it or not. He was.). I suppose that the test was one of the steps Lucifer took to ensure that Sam was truly his vessel? Or maybe it was Azazel seeing if Sam was one of the “special children? Anyhow, we now know what Sam’s deal is, and the point is that by 2014 Lucifer has taken over and unleashed the virus in an attempt to rid the world of the “hairless apes” that his father valued over him.

We know that Jensen Ackles has great chemistry with Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins, but who knew he’d also find such a great scene partner in…himself? I found myself totally buying the “two Deans” idea, because he sold it so well. Considering he was shooting each half of the scenes individually, they really gelled together well. I couldn’t help but think he must have been TIRED that week – poor guy must have been on set 24-7.

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About Last Night…GREY’S ANATOMY, PRIVATE PRACTICE, FLASH FORWARD and more…

I almost made it.  I almost watched all the shows I recorded on Thursday night.  Sadly I came up a little short and didn’t get to FLASH FORWARD or SUPERNATURAL (the latter because of a MAJOR technology FAIL – luckily Nicole has SPN covered and her review will be posted shortly.) But just because I didn’t get to watch all the show, doesn’t mean we can’t chat about them.

But first let’s make sure you are all caught up on the Thursday night show’s we did watch.

Join in on the conversation…
Seels shared her thoughts on last night’s episode of BONES.  Gretchen entered the scary yet fascinating world of FRINGE and lived to tell about it (although what world she came back to I’m not sure).  I provided an overly verbose look at last night’s episode of THE OFFICE. And SB vamped it up with the teens of Mystic Falls in her weekly take on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES.

Stay Tuned…
Like I said, Nicole is busy writing up her thoughts on last night’s SUPERNATURAL, while Erik fell down into the pit and is working his way out while putting together his take on PARKS & RECREATION.  As for COMMUNITY, well it seems not everyone is on the same page.  Stay tuned to hear what Erik and SB have to say when they duke it out over the new show.

As for Thursday’s other favorites…

There’s nothing like the threat of layoffs to really send people scrambling.  Maybe the diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic wasn’t the only one suffering from that disorder on last night’s GREY’S ANATOMY. The employees of Seattle Grace Hospital were in full on panic mode last night in an effort to save their jobs.  Of course patient care and protocol was being compromised all across the board, but as long as the doctors keep their jobs then it’s all ok, right? I actually enjoyed this episode more than I did last week’s season premiere, but I’m not sure if that’s saying all that much. We all know that the merger storyline is a way to bring fresh blood into the show, and from that angle I thought the episode worked really well.  I’m interested to see who they bring in, especially with the upcoming mini-departures of Ellen Pompeo and Katherine Heigl. Per usual, all the best moments went to Dr. Bailey. Chandra Wilson knocked it out of the park towards the end when she was explaining to the schizophrenic patient how important it was that he have the surgery. Izzie with the wig storyline bored me, but the way Alex took care of her woo’d me.  And there’s nothing like some beer swilling and baseball playing before you head back into the hospital. And Obama thinks insurance is the health care crisis in the country.

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Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Friday, October 2, 2009

Congratulations my friends. You’ve made it to Friday.  And for doing such a great job all week long I’m going to reward you with new episodes of SMALLVILLE, DOLLHOUSE and the adorable Jenna Fischer on with LENO. (BTW, this will mark the very first episode of the new Leno show I’ve ever seen. The things I do for the people I love). You’re welcome.

Where are all my SMALLVILLE fans?!  We need to hear from you.  Are you there?  Speak up!

And how are we feeling about DOLLHOUSE?  Is there any interest in a weekly rundown of the show? You let me know and we can make it happen.  I finally got around to watching last week’s episode, and while a lot of my carryover issues from last season are still there, I must say…and are you sitting down, because this is shocking…I rather enjoyed Topher.  Crazy, right?  Is my least favorite character perhaps winning me over?   Talk to me DOLLHOUSErs, would you be chatting along with me if I covered the show?

On Fox you’ve got the season premiere of ‘TIL DEATH. Um, yeah.

Tonight is the much buzzed about series premiere of STARGATE UNIVERSE. I’ve never watched any of the STARGATE franchises, but I will probably give this one a go.  How about you?

Ok enough of that, let’s get down to tonight’s TV schedule.  I’m not going to say that all the scripted shows on tonight are worth your time, but there are certainly a lot of shows to choose from.  I don’t remember a Friday night ever this crowded with new episodes.  And next week UGLY BETTY joins the mix.

Smallville | 8pm on The CW
“Metallo”
After being hit by a truck, John Corben wakes up with a Kryptonite heart and superhuman strength; Lois gets kidnapped after involving herself in one of the Red-Blue Blur’s investigations [GMMR: How I wished I loved ‘Smallville’. I do love me some Notorious BAG. Brian Austin Greene should be a great addition to the show.]

Brothers | 8pm on Fox
“Mom at a Bar/Train Buddy”
When another bartender quits, Adele takes over the open position; Coach enjoys his freedom while Adele is out of the house.

Dollhouse | 9pm on Fox
“Instinct”
Echo’s maternal instincts kick in when she is imprinted as the mother of a newborn baby; Adelle visits November.

Stargate Universe | 9pm on SyFy | Series Premiere
“Air”
A soldier leads evacuees through a stargate onto an unknown, but somewhat familiar spacecraft in the debut of the third series in the “Stargate” franchise. Dr. Nicholas Rush: Robert Carlyle. Col. Telford: Lou Diamond Phillips. Col. Everett Young: Justin Louis. Directed by franchise veteran Andy Mikita.

Medium | 9pm on CBS
“Who’s That Girl?”
When Ariel begins to exhibit strange behavior, Allison suspects the spirit of a murdered stripper is to blame.

Numb3rs | 10pm on CBS
“Friendly Fire”
Don’s team investigates when two members of a unit led by his former mentor are killed during a shootout with bank robbers.

Crash | 10pm on Starz
“The World’s a Mess: It’s in My Kiss”
Ben’s investigation into his daughter’s murders leads to a source for black market surveillance tapes; Inez and Jimmy pay Jimmy’s gambling debts.

Also playing…

• Ghost Whisperer | 8pm on CBS: When an e-mail chain goes viral and threatens the citizens of Grandview, Melinda investigates.

• Law & Order | 8pm on NBC: Detectives find that DNA evidence seems to link the murder of a CSU investigator and an attack on a young journalist (Camille Chen).

• ‘Til Death | 8:30pm on Fox | Season Premiere: Daughter Ally returns from a trek in the Ecuadorean rain forest with her husband, Doug, and they set up camp in the Starks’ backyard.

On the late night couch…

• The Jay Leno Show: Jenna Fischer
• The Late Show with David Letterman: Larry David, Tom Russell
• The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien: Joshua Bell with Tiempo Libre
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Tim Gunn, Cathy Ladman, Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Jimmy Kimmel Live: Woody Harrelson, Whitney Port, Shinedown
• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Drew Barrymore, Tim Schafer, Universal Record Database
• Chelsea Lately: Sofia Vergara, T.J. Miller, Jen Kirkman, John Caparulo
• Last Call with Carson Daly: Emmanuelle Chriqui, Yo La Tengo

Which shows will YOU be checking out tonight? Leave a comment here or send me a message via Twitter.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: Family Ties

Man, you guys, I REALLY enjoyed last night’s episode. A lot happened, but it was focused, which I liked. And there were parts that were seriously, SERIOUSLY funny. And cool. Shall we … sink our teeth in? (Sorry, I had to.)

I was hooked on this episode before we even got to the title card. It was fun to start the show without a kill of the week, and instead go for Stefan having a nightmare about Elena. And I love how that transitioned straight into brotherly bitchiness.

Damon KILLED me this week (no pun intended, although you know I’ll never apologize if it is). I am usually not into the super pretty boys, which he undoubtedly is, but I’m also a sucker for villains, as we’ve discussed. Every time the camera panned between Stefan and Damon, I couldn’t decide who I had a bigger crush on, so way to go, casting department! It’s a good problem to have. Anyway, Stefan throwing the knife at Damon was pretty great, but the real pay off there was when Damon jabbed it between Stefan’s ribs, telling him, “Dude, this shirt is a [blah blah designercakes]. Dick move.” Hee! I love those two.

The first part was loaded with Damon goodness as he watched Caroline picking out a dress for the founders’ party. I love how she’s so strong-willed and sassy with him, but then he finally gets irritated and gets in her head to get his way. They have such a great dynamic—not as a functional couple, obviously, but a real treat for the viewer. Like when he finally made her invite him to the party, and he just turned back to his book, and was like, “Not if you’re wearing that dress.” Hilarious!

And speaking of hilarious, that’s a perfect segue into Damon reading Twilight. GENIUS. Of all the characters on this show to pick that one up, he is THE ONE you would want to see do it. Loved the complaining about Edward being whipped (Damon would hate that) and the sparkling (“I live in the real world, where vampires burn up if they go in the sun,” and, “I have a ring. It’s complicated.”), and saying how he missed Anne Rice and how she really got it right, which I’m thinking may provide some insight into the mythology (and I have GOT to get my hands on a paperback of “Interview With the Vampire”—I am too into vampires and it gets referenced way too often for me to put that off any longer—we really need a TV book club, no?).

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FRINGE: Fracture

After a seemingly un-Pattern related episode last week, “Fracture” brings us back into the thick of things.

Fringe Science – The Cliff Notes Version
A Philadelphia police officer receives a mysterious call, instructing him to walk into Suburban Station and meet a man in a trench coat. He takes the briefcase from the man and walks away. Seconds later, he explodes.

As the team investigates, they learn that while serving time in Iraq, the police officer had been exposed to a harmful chemical weapon. He was one of only a handful of soldiers who survived, thanks to a classified experimental military project, code named Tin Man. Tin Man involved daily injections of a serum into the body. The serum was able to counter the effects of the synthetic neurotoxin, but it had a harmful side effect. When exposed to radio waves at a particular frequency, it caused the body’s tissue to crystallize and then explode. Project Tin Man was discontinued because of it.

Colonel Raymond Gordon, who had been a part of Tin Man, became a rogue agent. Colonel Gordon believes that there are others among us, making observations and gathering data about our advancements in science that they will later use to exterminate us. To prevent these observers from receiving their data (via the briefcases), Gordon was using the four soldiers who had been saved by Tin Man as unwitting suicide bombers. The team apprehends him before he can carry out a second attack in DC. They do not, however, get to the man who had been carrying the second briefcase and we see him successfully deliver it to the Observer! As the voice-over of Colonel Gordon describes what is in the briefcase, something that will “destroy us all”, the Observer opens the briefcase and pulls out several pictures of Walter!!!!

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THE OFFICE: The Promotion

I’d imagine that if you are a casual fan of THE OFFICE then “The Promotion” probably wasn’t your favorite episode.  The laughs were scarce and the awkwardness was off the charts.  As a devoted fan of THE OFFICE from way back in Season 1 I can tell you that this week’s ep wasn’t my favorite either.  But I would imagine the distinction between the casual viewer and the die hard OFFICE fans is that some of us in the latter category can find other enjoyment in the show besides the laugh out loud moments. (Or maybe we are just much better at making excuses for the show we love.)

And with that intro, let me launch into my self indulgent, over analytical take on a half hour comedy.

Please allow me to explain. I don’t mean to say that they show can do no wrong in my eyes and that I’ll find the funny even if it’s not there.  It also doesn’t mean I can forgive the writers when they clearly miss the mark.  But after years of being fully committed to the show, maybe I am more open to finding the enjoyment in the emotions and the growth of the characters. I know this is a cheap way out for me, but at the core, the show is a documentary about the sullen and mundane lives of people in an office.  On that aspect the episode delivered. But like you, it’s not the reason I watch “The Office”.

Last night’s episode was short of truly comedic moments, but to an extent I thought some of the choices the writers made, especially when it came to the portrayal of Jim, were very interesting. If “The Office” has a hero, it’s Jim Halpert.  He’s the voice of reason. One of the only sane voice in a den of crazies. So to have an episode that shines the spotlight on the flaws of the hero was slightly daring.  But it wasn’t forced and out of the blue.  We’ve seen glimpses of Jim’s inadequacies as a manager a few times over the years. He thinks he’s a better manager than the is. But now that he’s in a true position of power, his shortcomings are on display.

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BONES: The Plain in the Prodigy

Holler back at me, BONES fans!

I asked you last week if you thought Season Five was BONES + goodness, and most of you agreed. I think this episode was no exception to that. I’m not going to say it’s my favorite BONES episode ever, but the case was good, the characters were used properly, and Booth and Brennan got closer together. I will never complain when that happens.

Oh, and another thing. My homies agree I really look good in black, fool!

The Case:

Human remains are scattered along a railroad, and it’s up to Booth and Brennan to identify the victim. A great moment between B&B was back in the lab. They are trying to ascertain the ID of their body. Booth says, “I don’t get it”, and Brennan replies, “Well, neither do I.” But of course, she figures it out ASAP, and finds out the bones belong to Levi Yoder, a member of the Amish community. The rest of the episode brings Booth and Brennan into contact with a wonderful selection of minor characters (the piano teacher, the parents, the fellow musicians, the ‘courted’ Sarah) as it’s discovered that Levi was a prodigy at the piano. One thing I love about the show writers for BONES is that they tend to respect different viewpoints (for the most part).

On the other hand, it kind of felt like the writers didn’t want ANYONE to be the bad guy, so they invented one at the last minute. Am I wrong in feeling that way? Could have been the brother, or the dad, or the jealous music scholarship student…but no, we don’t want any of those people to be bad. I guess “wrong place at the wrong time” seemed kind of like a cop out. But…what do you think? I guess crimes like that happen all of the time, right? Cop out or plausible? Vote below!

Squint Squad:

Clark: His whole subplot did nothing for me. I guess it was for comedic effect? I didn’t laugh.

Angela & Hodgins: Yeah, you know what? I AM going to lump them together this time. Because, I don’t care what anyone else says…I was watching Santa in the Slush the other day, where they talk about making ornaments and how two people are a ‘family’…from that moment, to where they are now is a bunch of BS ratings driven…just…boo! Don’t even get me started about them breaking up at the DINER! But yeah, okay…they were great tonight, very science-y and fun to Cam.

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THE OFFICE Wedding Promos (Spoilers)

UPDATE:
For all of you that have waited years…next week’s it’s here. The wedding of Jim and Pam. The promo that aired at the end of this week’s episode kicked me in the gut. Oh Halpert. (WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!)

I wonder what Jim Halpert will be up to the night before his wedding? Stay tuned.

Two adorably sweet non-spoilery promos after the jump.

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