Summer Fun or Summer Dud – NBC’s PERSONS UNKNOWN

I have been curious about NBC’s mini-series event, Persons Unknown, since the first ads arrived heralding its impending arrival. After all, if the man behind The Usual Suspects was in charge of building this mystery town, how unsatisfying could it be?

At times during the pilot, I was reminded of Michael Douglas’ film The Game, the CBS reality show Kid Nation, and my favorite table at Italian restaurant chain Buca di Beppo. That’s a bizarre list, but this show runs the gamut from compelling to cheesy. It is harmless fun, with a premise that appeals to fans mourning the end of LOST.

Because of its limited run, viewers should not have to fear a premature cancellation. Barring a ratings disaster, Persons Unknown ought to complete its run. If you were a fan of “Reunion,” an ill-fated 2005 show that was pulled from Fox’s schedule due to lackluster viewership, you may never trust a network to finish what they started. NBC is going through an experimental phase, so you need not worry about a similar scenario.

If you tuned in to Persons Unknown, and would like to see more discussion of it on GMMR, chime in with your comments. It’s a reasonable summer substitute, especially if you are not a fan of Big Brother and the reality show bandwagon. I am on board for next week’s episode, and we’ll see where it goes from there…

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: The Son

I have played a variety of roles in my life. Before I was ever a student, co-worker, or friend, I was a son. Born into a crowded house with two older siblings, I was fortunate to enjoy the spoils of a childhood filled with love and affection. My parents taught us to value hard work, education, and friendship. Those lessons stayed with me every day, no matter how far I wandered from home.

On Sunday, May 24, 1992, my Mom died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. Losing a parent is a life-changing tragedy, whether you are fifteen (as I was at the time) or fifty-five. There is no better or worse time for it to happen, no paint-by-numbers method to deal with the aftermath. The biggest challenge in the wake of such loss is accepting the realities of your altered universe.

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DROP DEAD DIVA: Get Caught Up for Season Two

The transition into summer TV mode can be tough. With our regular season finales behind us, who has the time and energy to get caught up on new characters and existing plots? Over the past three years, only Army Wives has cracked my DVR during beach season.

The creative folks behind Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva understand our plight, and have produced a video that will prepare you for this Sunday’s Season Premiere in just 71 seconds. That’s less time than it takes Kristen Stewart to look sad about her latest seven figure Twilight paycheck!

Drop Dead Diva debuted to rave reviews last year, and our resident BONES expert Seeleybaby will be recapping the show this season on GMMR. (And Kath is current mainlining S1 in order to get caught up) What more incentive do you need?

Drop Dead Diva: Season Two premieres Sunday, June 8th at 9pm/8c on Lifetime. Will you be watching?

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: A Sort of Homecoming

Who is on your team? If you had to put together a starting lineup of friends, who would make the cut? It is becoming difficult to identify our inner circles, especially when social networks now extend far beyond our hometowns. I relish in the temporary satisfaction of having a virtual friend “like” my Facebook status or retweet one of my jokes. Yet, I can count the number of true confidants in my life on one hand.

On this week’s Friday Night Lights, some of Dillon’s most recognizable faces learned that allegiances can shift instantly. The game of perception cannot be mastered, so you have to go to battle with people you trust. It is as simple as Coach Eric Taylor says. “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.”

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PARENTHOOD: Team Braverman

I am the youngest of three kids. Though I would not describe the bond amongst my siblings as “Braverman-like,” the time we spend together is always eventful. That’s the part about family that serves both as a blessing and a curse. When the habit of filtering yourself disappears, the brutal truth slips out. Without the coating of sugar that we apply to conversations outside our family tree, brothers and sisters can be each other’s worst enemy.

This week’s Parenthood was chock full of squabbles, proving that slow and steady does not always win the race. For Team Braverman, the formula is to be loud and frantic.

The fallout from Amber’s liaison with Steve fueled a host of over the top arguments. From Haddie and Amber’s skirmish on the soccer field to Sarah and Kristina’s kitchen tirade, there was a lot of yelling in the first half of this episode. In fact, it is possible that a lower volume of screaming would have better suited the story. That misgiving aside, I thought each confrontation rang true.

Siblings or not, parents protect their children above all. Sarah understood how disastrous Amber’s actions were, but that did not mean she would stand by as her daughter was ridiculed at school. Kristina took on the world, including her own husband, in order to save Haddie from pain and embarrassment. Though I have mentioned this issue before, I am interested in the way Jason Katims has crafted relationships between the in-laws on the show. Sarah and Kristina are family, but you could not blame either of them for protecting their own.

No matter our age, we never stop being sons or daughters. This episode spoke to the lengths children go for their parents’ approval. Haddie Braverman had no reason to escape from her post breakup cocoon, but she loves her Dad enough to put on those ridiculous pink sneakers and walk. Julia Braverman-Graham has a child of her own, but Erika Christensen played the part of dutiful daughter. She and Bonnie Bedelia had wonderful moments over that crockpot of chicken soup. Julia wants her parents to be together. She felt the same way at thirteen, and it will still be true when she is fifty-three.

A few quick thoughts before I turn the discussion over to you:

*Crosby Braverman should not be hard to figure out. I remember guys like him in college. They lived down the hall, and their dreams revolved around legalizing marijuana and finding the right recipe for home brewing. Dax Shepard has taken full advantage of this character, and lends Crosby enough innocent swagger to charm Jasmine, Jabbar, and the audience.

*Kristina may be Parenthood’s most demanding character to play, and Monica Potter is performing at All-Star levels. In this episode alone, Potter showed tenacity in defending Haddie, confronted self-doubts while speaking with Max’s doctor, and radiated love as she watched Adam find the right spot for the trophy. With the season finale a week away, Ms. Potter is the actor I will miss most during the summer.

*Peter Krause and Craig T. Nelson are brilliant together. Their scenes are difficult to describe, because the father/son dynamic is the one I understand best. Though I am not a fixer, my father can be a tough man to know. He has a big voice and a blue collar background. Feelings are not his favorite topic, and it is difficult to meld our differences. Krause and Nelson play those moments with great care.

How are you feeling about the show? Has it become a favorite in your household? Should Camille let her husband come home? Will Amber start spiraling downward? What would you like to see in the Season Finale?

GREY’S ANATOMY Season Finale: WOW…Just WOW!

This post probably counts as cheating against the other medical drama in my life. I hope the team at Princeton Plainsboro understands.

If anyone thinks TV producers are any less competitive than elite athletes or politicians, I offer this theory. ABC has been promoting this Sunday’s LOST sendoff as the biggest of their season finales. The Internet is abuzz with conflicting ideas about how it will end, who will live or die, etc. If you are looking for the hottest topic in scripted TV, look to the island.

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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: After the Fall

This episode began under the most dire of circumstances. Coach Eric Taylor had thrown in the towel, ending East Dillon’s first game of the season via forfeit. Principal Tami Taylor was caught squarely between an angry mob of parents and the arrogant boosters running her athletic department. Tim Riggins arrived home seeking the comforts of his hometown, but was left without a roof over his head or an identity to cling to.

The dividing line between Friday Night Lights and the rest of prime time television becomes crystal clear when times are toughest. In Dillon, heroes do not cry out for attention or perform miracles to make themselves whole. They pull up their sleeves, get their hands dirty, and work to earn the respect of their neighbors. Want to know who is a good guy or a bad guy on FNL? The answer is common courtesy. Follow the “pleases,” “thank you’s,” and “yes, ma’am’s,” and you will find the folks worth rooting for.

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HOUSE Season Finale: Help Me

Earlier today, I fessed up to having a sneak peek at House’s season finale. Now seems like an appropriate time to reveal another secret. The screener provided to TV critics did NOT include the final scene of the show. My preview faded to black as House decided what to do with his secret stash of Vicodin.

In order to jump start the conversation about “Help Me,” I prepared this review in advance. I am eager to read your theories and opinions, and will jump feet first into the discussion thread with thoughts about the closing minutes.

Intense.

My first look at House’s Season Six finale was ten days ago, and that term has dominated my thoughts ever since. By opening the story with House cradled in defeat, this episode kept me planted on the edge of my seat. Any hopes of a happy ending were dissolved. Instead, I spent an hour wondering how he had reached rock bottom. Was it Cuddy? Wilson & Sam? Someone on the team?

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HOUSE Season Finale Preview…Are you Ready?

I have a confession. Due to the benevolence of Fox’s publicity department, I received a sneak preview of tonight’s HOUSE season finale. Since GMMR has always been a spoiler-free zone, I want to be very sensitive to discussing specific events or themes in the episode.

Before I ask whether you want to take the blue pill or the red pill, this bit of news for all fans of the show. Please set your DVRs to run long tonight. The finale will exceed its normal running time by a few minutes, so be generous with your TiVo.

If you would prefer to watch the show completely unspoiled, DO NOT click on the “Read More” button. However, if you are curious about my overall thoughts on the show, feel free to read on. I promise not to reveal anything that would take away from your enjoyment. That would ruin the fun, and that’s not my style

Ready for more? It’s up to you…

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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: East of Dillon

Dillon, Texas is a special place. From a distance, it can be mistaken for a truck stop on the highway to suburbia. When the fanciest restaurant in your town is an Applebee’s, locals have to live with being judged as simple or unsophisticated. The uniqueness of Dillon cannot be measured by economic indicators or census data. In fact, for six days a week, the naysayers could point to this speck on the map and rightfully ask, “What’s all the fuss about?”

All that changes on Friday.

On Friday nights, the religion of high school football holds open mass across the state of Texas. For generations, Dillon has been a unified congregation. Sermons of past gridiron glory have been passed from fathers to sons, with the expectation to carry on the values of faith, family, and the Panthers. The rings commemorating state titles from years ago are as sacred as wedding bands. For the alumni of Dillon High School, nothing comes between their team and decades of future dominance.

Except for redistricting.

Welcome to Season 4 of Friday Night Lights, the best show on television. If you have been here since the beginning, the events of this year will feel like a show reborn. If you have jumped onboard based on sparkling reviews or word of mouth, do not fret. This is a world that you can jump into today, and never regret it.

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PARENTHOOD: Namaste No More

In a culture consumed with immediate gratification, we rarely think about the long-term consequences of our decisions. Whether you feast on the laughter elicited by an off-color joke, the bliss of ignoring financial hardships, or the warm affection of a new love, it is easy to ignore the consequences of building a legacy. Multiply these factors by the number of people in a large family, and there is no wonder we find so many ways to avoid eating dinner together!

In sticking with Parenthood’s mission to explore the family unit on all fronts, this week’s episode raised life altering questions for all three generations. This was tough to watch, but in the best way possible. This was not my favorite episode of the season, but I think it was the most powerful.

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HOUSE: The Choice

Even in a tough economy, most of us would not apply for a position as “Third Wheel.” The tricky job of being the odd man out at a dinner party or movie is far more taxing than a depleted bank account. Even experienced “plus ones” struggle to balance their obligations to contribute just enough to the conversation, then to say good night at the proper hour. At the ripe not-quite-old age of 33, I am experiencing this phenomenon in hyper speed. My closest friends are all married or in committed relationships, and I believe that they genuinely want me to find the same satisfaction.

Here’s the dirty secret to being a third wheel, one that Gregory House must accept. There is no conspiracy to leave anyone behind. It is not anyone’s fault. People have to move forward on their own terms. To wish less for your friends is selfish. To want more for yourself is natural. The worst thing we can do is to react to our loved ones’ maturation with resentment or jealousy.

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PARENTHOOD: Perchance to Dream

Sorry folks. I went away on a mini-vacation and wasn’t able to post Erik’s review of “Parenthood” until now. It’s a fantastic read so don’t miss out. — Kath

“Once you unleash the fever, it doesn’t stop.”

If this warning were splashed across bulletin boards and city centers in an undeveloped country, residents would fear a pandemic sweeping across their homeland. In the Braverman family, it means that Adam has to dance, and he will not be denied!

Parenthood has been acutely consistent over the past three weeks. Each sibling in the Braverman clan has been handed a distinct story to carry, and each cast member has injected a different energy into his/her character. The result has been a series of authentic and creative examples of family life.

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HOUSE: Open and Shut

Though stand-up comedy has fallen from its peak of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Chris Rock has defied convention and continued to sell out theaters around the country. What does his brand of humor have to do with this week’s House, you ask? In 1999, Rock made an assertion about infidelity in his HBO “Bigger & Blacker” special that launched a million uncomfortable conversations:

“A man is basically as faithful as his options.”

Whether you agree with Rock’s premise or not, Dr. Christopher Taub could easily be Exhibit A for any attorney looking to prosecute men for being guilty of that foible. Taub’s betrayal of his adoring wife Rachel was hardly a shocking twist. It was sad, however, to see a person who could easily be seen as a good guy exposed as simply bad people. More on Taub later…

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HOUSE: Knight Fall

Amidst the chain mail and corsets of the Middle Ages, this week’s House sought to answer long-standing questions about honor. What are the boundaries of its impact among friends, family, even thieves? As the close of Season Six approaches, we are on the verge of a seismic shift at Princeton Plainsboro. Between the return of a lost love, a new potential pairing on the Diagnostic team, and House’s struggle to manage his pain, change is in the air.

Outside of the character-centric episodes that were the creative high points of this season (“Broken,” “Wilson,” and “5 to 9″), loyal viewers have not seen enough forward momentum during Season Six. New storylines have disappeared as quickly as they were written, Foreman’s brother being the most obvious example. That’s why the opinion that I am about to share is accompanied by cautious optimism.

“Knight Fall” was the most significant episode of Season Six, as much for what its events could lead to as for what actually took place. If you have been waiting for a single event to “shake up” House’s world, Cynthia Watros’ introduction to the cast may be just what you’re looking for. Since I attempt to be careful with language, I would point out that the term “significant” does not necessarily have a positive connotation.

Before we get to the Wilson/Sam/House implications, viewers need to prepare themselves. Though I have absolutely no spoilers about this topic, it seems obvious that Chase & Thirteen are becoming a couple, and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Since “Foreteen” was such a divisive topic in Season Five, I anticipate that every glance or flirty aside that Jesse Spencer & Olivia Wilde exchange will be met with visceral reactions. Fans of Thirteen will be excited to see her with a nice guy, closer in demeanor to Wilson or this week’s patient. The anti-Wilde factions will be frustrated that her screen time will be enhanced for romantic expediency.

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