The summer shows have started, some of them anyway. And while we still have quite a few to premiere over the next few weeks, I did catch a new Lifetime original series that aired this past weekend: Devious Maids.
I almost missed this new series… I hadn’t heard anything about it. Luckily, as I watched the Lifetime original Jodi Arias story, I caught a commercial for Devious Maids just in time to set my DVR for the premiere.
The story begins with a wealthy wife confronting her husband and their maid for having an affair. Having said her piece, the wife takes her husband back down to their lavish backyard party… while someone murders the maid upstairs.
A murder mystery. Already, I’m intrigued.
Devious Maids follows a group of beautiful Hispanic housekeepers in Beverly Hills and the rich families they work for. First, there’s Marisol (played by Ana Ortiz from Ugly Betty). She’s new to the scene, but has a very good reason for being there… Then there’s Rosie (J. Dania Ramirez from Heroes and Entourage). She’s the sweet one, working diligently to bring her young son to America from Mexico. Next, there’s Carmen (played by the beautiful Roselyn Sanchez from Without a Trace). Carmen landed a maid-ship, working for a Latin recording artist… a lucky coincidence, since she has her own dreams and aspirations of signing a big record deal. And finally there’s Zoila (Judy Reyes from Scrubs) and Valentina (Edy Ganem), a mother and daughter cleaning team… that is if the mother can remind the daughter that she’s there to dust and mop (and that the rich folk don’t date the help).
After watching the first hour, this new Lifetime original series reminded me of Desperate Housewives. There are hot guys (Drew Van Acker—also known as Jason DiLaurentis from Pretty Little Liars, and Matt Cedeno—Brandon Walker from Days of our Lives); familiar faces (Susan Lucci—the Erica Kane from All My Children, Grant Show—from the “real” Melrose Place, Brett Cullen—Harold’s business partner from Person of Interest, Mariana Klaveno—Lorena from True Blood; Rebecca Wisocky—the seemingly untrustworthy Brenda from The Mentalist, Brianna Brown—the crazy Lisa from General Hospital; and Tom Irwin—from one of my old favorites… My So Called Life); plus, gossip, lust, and humor, with both laugh-out-loud moments and backhanded comments.
“You thought my maid had plastic surgery?” ~Taylor
“Poor people like to be pretty too!” ~Evelyn
Oh, and did I mention Devious Maids was created by Marc Cherry? You know, the man responsible for Desperate Housewives? No wonder I saw the similarities… even the music reminded me of our favorite ladies from Wisteria Lane.
I’ll admit; when I first saw the commercials for the new series, I rolled my eyes. Just a little bit. But you know me; I set my DVR to record it anyway. And I’m really kind of glad I did… because Devious Maids is devilishly fun.
So for now, I’m awarding Devious Maids with the JFTV rating. This dramedy is definitely a guilty pleasure. And if you miss Desperate Housewives, this one might be just for you!
Did you watch Devious Maids? Do you plan to? I’d love to hear from you!
Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss today’s review, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.
A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food
JFTV (Junk food TV):It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (NyQuil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech
Inedible TV: Exactly how it sounds…
With the upcoming release of my debut YA mystery novel, Football Sweetheart, I thought it would be fun to use last week’s and this week’s Tele-Tuesday posts to showcase a few of my favorite YA and teen television series on TV today. I may be past my teen years, but these programs have what it takes to keep this thirty-something tuning in week after week.
Last week, we discussed the supernatural—The Vampire Diaries and Teen Wolf. Personally, I don’t think we’ll ever tire of vampires and werewolves and we’ll always have a place for them on the television screen. But what do these shows have besides the supernatural that keeps us coming back for more? The pretty people…
This week, we have ABC Family’s mysteries. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—these stories are both compelling and are filled with twists and turns week in and week out. Pretty Little Liars is perhaps one of the best whodunits on television today, and The Lying Game keeps us guessing as to what Sutton is really trying to accomplish with her games.
And like the supernatural, these shows have plenty of pretty people, but we also have the fashion…
Pretty Little Liars
First, we have the earrings…
Aria always wears the cutest earrings…See? Another pair…
Next, we have the hats…
Spencer can wear any kind of hat…Hanna with her cute new haircut and red hat…Emily… another cute hat!
And what about the clothes?
Then there’s the guys…
Who wouldn’t want a teacher that looks like Ezra?Even Caleb sports an awesome hat…And Toby doesn’t need fashion… he just needs to stick with his construction job. Plus, he usually only wears a t-shirt anyway.
The Lying Game
We all know Sutton/Emma has the closet most girls dream about…
Ah, to dream…
And she puts together the cutest outfits…
But her friends are no slouches either…
Now, the boys are a different story. They may be lacking in fashion sense, but I’ll take a guy who looks like this any day!
Ethan in his usual plaid button down…Justin all sweaty after his morning run in a classic USMC tee…And then there’s Thayer in his V-neck t-shirt…
So, what do you think?
Which show has the better fashion?
Do you watch Pretty Little Liars or The Lying Game? What keeps you coming back for more? The story? The people? The fashion? Which show on television do you think has the best fashion? I’d love to hear from you!
And overall, which is your favorite Topnotch Teen TV program?
While Football Sweetheart doesn’t have any of the supernatural, it does have the mystery. Watch for it coming soon…
This week Amber West and I return to somewhat of a normal Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday review as we take on two of our favorite summer channel’s programs: USA’s new series Common Law and the returning Fairly Legal.
Now in its second season, Fairly Legal follows former attorney turned mediator Kate Reed (Sarah Shahi, Life) as she tries to change San Francisco for the better. On the exterior, Kate appears tough and callous, but anyone who actually knows her knows that she has a bleeding heart for those less fortunate – and by less fortunate, we only mean those that the rich can afford to beat down in a court of law.
Kate lets both sides tell their stories, and she typically sides with the underdog. Actually, even though she works for a large and prestigious law firm (founded by her recently deceased father), Kate doesn’t like much about Corporate America.
But Kate is good at what she does, and most of her cases are assigned to her by the courts and usually by a judge that keeps a stern fist with Kate (Judge Nicastro, played by Gerald McRaney, Simon & Simon). Trust us; Kate needs someone to keep her in line…
One of Kate’s only confidants is her assistant, Leo (Baron Vaughn), because for the most part, Kate alienates everyone around her: her step-mother/partner/roommate/boss, Lauren Reed (Virginia Williams); her ex-husband/ADA, Justin Patrick (Michael Trucco, Battlestar Galactica); and the firm’s most recent addition, her partner Ben Grogan (Ryan Johnson).
Lauren screaming into an ice bath… clearly she had a day FULL of Kate.
The first season of Fairly Legal was fresh — instead of the traditional TV police procedural or courtroom drama, we see a glimpse into the life of another legal aspect: mediation. Season one follows Kate, a highly flawed character who can fix anyone’s life but her own. We watched as she deals with the aftermath of her father’s death, working with Lauren without her dad around, and her separation from Justin. She lives on her father’s boat, broken from his death and her impending divorce, and really tries to ground herself as best she can.
Kate’s hottie ex-Justin — I’d throw my arms up in the air if dealing with Kate too…
But season two has changed the story – changed Kate in our opinion.
The boat is gone (some sort of leak caused an explosion), forcing Kate to now live with Lauren. Despite the obvious animosity shared between the two in season one, the Reeds really seem to be trying to work it out this season. Why are the two working so hard? To form a united front against the next big change – the new partner.
Reed & Reed (the law firm) is under water (not literally; it’s struggling), so Lauren brings in a cut-throat, no-nonsense attorney as partner along with this finances. Ben represents just the type of person Kate can’t stand – he’s arrogant, he’s successful, and he’ll do anything to win regardless of who or what might stand in his way – he’s the male version of Kate.
The character of Ben also brings a new twist to the show – the love triangle. In the first season, Kate struggles with her love for Justin but realizes she is better off without him. Now, Kate has two successful men vying for her attention. Honestly, this storyline is predictable and boring. Fairly Legal took something that wasn’t broken and attempted to fix it.
Ben, the best part of season two…
But the love triangle isn’t the only facelift to Fairly Legal this season. Something has changed with Kate – she’s borderline annoying. She’s pushy and argumentative, but in a different way from last season – she’s almost bratty. She’ll use anyone or anything to get her way, but then becomes overly argumentative when someone else uses her very same tactics to accomplish their goals. Kate was lovable in season one, and somehow she’s lost this appeal with the show’s new direction.
I figure the creators made these changes to save the show. The USA Network took a long time to announce when a second season would air, something that is very unlike one of my favorite networks (especially during the summer months). But since this is my review, I’m downgrading my rating to a JFTV rating – Fairly Legal is perfect TV viewing when you have what I like to call “boredom hunger” (when you grab that bag of chocolate that you’re only eating because there’s nothing else left to do). Last year, if I had reviewed Fairly Legal, it would have earned the MacTV rating. But the only thing worthy of my favorite cheesy shell this season is the character of Ben.
But keep this in mind, all of the said frustrations with season two don’t stop me from recording Fairly Legal and watching it when I’m caught up on everything else… so it’s still worthy of a watch.
What do you think? Do you watch Fairly Legal? Do you like the changes to the storyline in season two or did you prefer the first season? And since we brought up the love triangle, should Kate be with Justin or Ben? I’d love to hear from you!
Come back next week when Amber and I revisit two of our previously simmering reviews: Amber determines if Smash really is a “smash” hit and I try to give Lifetime’s The Client List the benefit of the doubt.
Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.
A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech
This week Amber West and I revisit two of our simmering reviews on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday — ABC’s Scandal and Missing. Are we still watching? Or have we given up completely?
Well, I may not have given up on Missing completely, but it seems the network has. Missing has officially been cancelled — so I guess it’s missing in more ways than one. But for the sake of today’s review, I’m sticking with it… considering I’ve stuck with it every episode along the way.
What would you do if your child went missing while studying abroad?
This frightening situation is the premise behind ABC’s soon to be missing drama, Missing.
The series begins with Becca Winstone (Ashley Judd) as she witnesses, or overhears really, an explosion that kills her husband (CIA Agent Paul Winstone, played by Sean Bean) while talking to her son, Michael, on the telephone.
Missing then fast forwards ten years when a now eighteen year old Michael (played by Nick Eversman) informs his mother that he has been accepted to an architectural summer program in Rome. Becca’s hesitant at first, considering Venice is where her husband was murdered, but agrees to Michael’s study abroad opportunity. The two only have each other, and they share a very close relationship as apparent with his secret “I love you” code — 235@W’ — “23” is Michael’s soccer number; “5” because the heart is the 5th largest organ in the body; and “@W’” because Becca is the head of the Winstone household, thus making her Winstone Prime.
A little while into Michael’s trip, all texts and calls stop. Causing her to worry even more, Becca receives a phone call from Michael’s architectural program telling her that he has missed multiple courses and has since been withdrawn from school. Becca decides to do what any mother would do — she takes it upon herself to travel to Rome to search for any leads and clues into her son’s disappearance.
Becca first visits Michael’s apartment where she discovers spoiled food on the table and his cell phone plugged into the wall charger. What teenager goes anywhere without his or her cell phone? She’s reading his outgoing call history when she is interrupted by a man with a gun. A struggle ensues, but Becca kicks this man’s booty, grabs his gun, and flees from the window after she hears police sirens.
How in the world can a soccer mom (literally, she’s a soccer mom — Michael’s favorite sport is soccer, and this plays into the story in more ways than one) and flower shop owner disarm and kill a man so effortlessly? Because like her deceased husband, Becca is a retired CIA agent (she retires following her husband’s death).
While on the run from authorities, Becca reaches out to an old ally (Giancarlo Rossi, played Adriano Giannini) who informs her that the man she just killed in her son’s apartment is former Italian intelligence. While hiding out and resting at Giancarlo’s, Becca continues to study her son’s phone and its photographs, and discovers that there is a surveillance camera out on the street behind his apartment. She tracks it across town, breaks in, disables the security alarm, and hacks into the video footage of the day her son disappeared (she knows Thursday was the last day anyone saw him alive). Becca watches the surveillance as two men grab Michael and throw him into the back of a black van with French plates. A mother’s worst fears realized…
Becca manages to track down clues, but constantly runs into more men and women with guns. Not only is she frantically searching for her son, hopping European cities left and right (Missing was filmed on location in Europe — eight different cities, I believe), and dodging foreign police, she’s also attempting to trust other CIA operatives (led by Agent Dax Miller, played by Cliff Curtis). She needs help, but Agent Miller’s team definitely doesn’t trust Becca because of the size of her CIA file — “the thinner the file, the better the agent.” After a few chance encounters with the operatives, Becca also begins to run from her former employer’s new team.
She can’t trust anyone. TWIST. Or can she? TURN.
Without giving too much away for those who haven’t seen it and still wish to, despite the cancellation — hopefully it will be available on Netflix and worthy of a watch — know that no one is as they seem. No one. TWIST and TURN.
With only the season finale left, the series has impressed me in that the action never slows down. The twists kept me on my toes and impressively answered questions along the way, while of course throwing more twists right back at us. Considering the network’s cancellation, I really hope the season finale wraps things up. I want to see Becca — a woman on a mission, comparable to a female Jack Bauer — beat the living daylights out of the bad guy and wrap her arms around her son.
And despite the network’s cancellation, I can’t help but award Missing with the MacTV rating. Not only do I like Ashley Judd (I can watch Double Jeopardy and High Crimes over and over again), but the non-stop action and numerous twists adds heat to the already rapidly boiling water — perfect conditions for a warm bowl of our favorite cheesy pasta.
If anyone missed the series, Missing may totally be worthy of a spot on a Netflix Queue when available – well, depending on how the season finale (eh-hem, I mean series finale) wraps up. If the episode ends on a cliffhanger, a cliffhanger that will never see answers, I might recommend everyone steer clear of Missing. There’s nothing quite like investing hour after hour in something to only be disappointed at the end. Thanks a lot, ABC…
But if the finale ends with Becca kicking booty and finding Michael, it’s definitely worth a watch!
What do you think? Did you watch Missing? Was this series cancelled too soon? I’d love to hear from you!
Now click over to Amber’s blog and find out if Scandal has passed her DVR queue test… is she still watching?
Come back next week when Amber and I review two of the USA Network’s dramas – the new series, Common Law, and the sophomore surprise, Fairly Legal.
Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.
A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech
This week Amber West and I return to somewhat of a normal Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday review – last week’s sex conversation had me all sorts of flustered.
What do girls do when they’re flustered? We rely on our girlfriends… which is why my TV partner-in-crime and I thought it best to review two television programs that feature women and their ever-important relationships with their girlfriends – Best Friends Forever and GCB.
Originally Good Christian Bitches and later Good Christian Belles, GCB follows a former high school Queen “B” (Amanda, played by Leslie Bibb from Crossing Jordan) after she returns to her home town (Dallas) following the death of her husband. Along with her two teenage children, Amanda moves in with her mother (Annie Potts, Designing Women) and attempts to pull her life back together – not only did her husband die with another woman by his side, but he was also guilty of embezzling millions of dollars from his clients (yet another TV show with a ponzi scheme storyline).
Amanda and her family
Despite the fact that Amanda left her “mean girl” days behind her, the girls she terrorized in high school haven’t quite forgotten the way she treated them. Everyone, including Amanda’s mother, seems to be stuck in the past and the tables have turned on her.
GCB also stars Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies) as Carlene, Marisol Nichols (24) as Heather, Jennifer Aspen (Party of Five) as Sharon, and Miriam Shor (Damages) as Cricket, the girls Amanda terrorized in high school still living in Dallas – the girls she donned the “javelinas” (ugly girls). Of course, not one of these women is physically ugly by any means, but they do mask their true intentions by hiding behind His Word and their church.
THE Christian B, Carlene. Boy, is she not happy to see Amanda…
Each and every one of these ladies are successful in their own right, but for three of them life wouldn’t be the same without their husbands: David James Elliott (JAG) plays Carlene’s husband, Ripp Cockburn (one of the best Texas names I’ve ever heard, and I live in Texas) who owns massive real estate, local businesses, and anything else that makes tons of money; Brad Beyer (Jericho) plays Sharon’s husband, Zack Peacham who played professional football for the Cowboys and now owns a struggling luxury car dealership; and Mark Deklin (Lone Star) plays Cricket’s husband, Blake Reilly, a “real” cowboy who happens to have a Dallas-sized secret of his own (he’s gay).
The Reillys are good at keeping secrets…
When I first saw the previews for GCB, I hoped it was ABC’s next Desperate Housewives. The potential for massive drama is there – Ripp seems to be one of the many that Amanda’s ex-husband ripped off, and he wants his money back – but as the show title indicates, the series is mostly dramedy showcasing the teeny-tiny cat fights the girls always find themselves wrapped up in.
Will Ripp rip Amanda for her husband ripping him off? Sorry, I couldn’t resist…
Carlene always leads the pack, horrified by everything teenage Amanda did and said to her. Sharon is not at all confident and constantly fears that Amanda is going to steal her man, much like she did Cricket’s high school boyfriend (Amanda’s deceased husband). Heather appears to be the only rational member of the foursome, and actually accepts Amanda’s apology and refrains from any of the vengeful games the others launch at her (unless she’s being threatened by Carlene, Sharon, or Cricket for whatever reason).
Amanda’s entrance catches Sharon and Heather by surprise as well…
As usual, the show takes the regular Texas accent and twists it into the hideous Texas TV Twang we’ve grown accustomed to over the years. Seriously Hollywood, we don’t sound like that! And let’s not forget the idealism that everything is bigger in Texas, they play that up to a “T” as well, in addition to the Texan’s love affair with the 2nd Amendment and BBQ.
Gotta have guns…
But bottom line, GCB is fun. It’s not great, it’s not even a series that I would rank in my top twenty – but it’s fun with its over-the-top humor (Annie Potts steals the show, hands down). I do laugh, but I still haven’t decided if I’m laughing at the show or with the show.
I’m torn as to how to rate GCB – it’s definitely not LOTV, nor is it NIV. But what is it? After watching the conclusion of the first season, GCB earns the JFTV rating – but it’s the kind of junk food that we should only reach for when we’ve kept to our workout regimen and there’s nothing left in the cupboard besides that bag of chocolate we know deep down we really should avoid.
Maybe if it makes it to a season two, GCB will redeem itself and move up the scale. I know it has the potential to be better than it actually is. And like I said, now that Desperate Housewives is done, I’m looking for a show to fill the Wisteria Lane gap. I’m not hating here… really, I’m not. I just want more.
What do you think? Did you watch the first season of GCB? Do you agree or disagree with my rating? Who’s your favorite character and why? Do you think the show will be back for season two? I’d love to hear from you!
Now click over to Amber’s blog and see what she thinks about another show that focuses on the relationships between female characters that also happens to form another acronym, BFF or Best Friends Forever…
Come back next week when Amber and I revisit a few of our SSTV reviews… How will Scandal and Missing fare today?
Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.
A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech
Just as most television programs wrap up the 2011-2012 season, a few networks plan to launch new series this month. It’s like a never-ending game of “What’s on TV?”
May is no different. Our revolving door of television is back.
We haven’t introduced any new programs since March because many have accused us of adding too much to their already full TV schedules. For that, we apologize. But that’s not going to stop us from talking about even more! Sorry – but we feel it’s our duty here at Tele-Tuesday.
So sit back and try to relax…
What will you watch?
*****
The L.A. Complex
We’re actually late to this party — The L.A. Complex premiered April 24th on the CW. The show follows a group of twenty-somethings living in the same apartment complex who are trying to make it in Hollywood. Sound familiar? Melrose Place comes to mind…
The series stars Cassie Steele (Degrassi: The Next Generation) as Abby Vargas, a Canadian who dreams of becoming an actress. Abby meets other struggling artists at The Lux Motel, one of the few places they can all afford to live: Nick (Joe Dinicol), a comedian; Tariq (Benjamin Charles Watson), a musician; Connor (Jonathan Patrick Moore), an Aussie actor; Alicia (Chelan Simmons), a dancer; and Raquel (Jewel Staite from Firefly), a television actress. Will they survive Los Angeles?
Most of the cast are relatively unknown, but viewers will see many familiar faces throughout the season in recurring and guest roles, like Krista Allen (Days of our Lives), Alan Thicke (Growing Pains), and Mary Lynn Rajskub (24).
The L.A. Complex airs Tuesdays on the CW.
*****
White Heat
Normally we wouldn’t look to BBC America when searching for new television series, but because of the success of many British television programs here in the United States (Doctor Who, Being Human, and Sherlock to just name a few), we thought we’d change it up a bit.
White Heat follows seven friends (Lilly, Jack, Victor, Orla, Charlotte, Alan, and Jay) who first meet in London in 1965. The six episodes will flash-forward and feature these same seven friends in the years 1967, 1973, 1979, 1982, and 1990 as they maneuver through personal and political times.
Because we don’t frequent British television, most of the actors and actresses are not recognizable by name, however many have a favorable resume: young Lilly, played by MyAnna Buring (The Descent); current-day Lilly, played by Lindsay Duncan (Rome); young Jack, played by Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides); young Edward, played by Jeremy Northam (The Tudors); young Jay, played by Reece Ritchie (The Lovely Bones); and many others.
One aspect of White Heat that really captured our attention was the music associated with each episode, featuring artists Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Queen, The Clash, and Culture Club. The tunes alone make the series worthy, right?
White Heat premieres Wednesday, May 9th on BBC America.
*****
Common Law
Common Law follows two Los Angeles detectives with an immense love for the job – and they’re good at it; they just don’t like each other very much. When a new police captain (Captain Phil Sutton, played by Jack McGee from Rescue Me) moves in, he sends the seven-year partners to relationship counseling or couples therapy as we’re familiar with today.
Common Law stars Michael Ealy (Flashforward) as Travis Marks and Warren Kole (The Chicago Code) as Wes Mitchell – two partners stuck in a “marriage with bullets.”
Viewers can expect to see a few other familiar faces: Sonya Walger (Lost) plays Dr. Elyse Ryan, the detectives’ therapist; Alicia Coppola (Jericho) plays a forensic pathologist; and Nora Zehetner (Grey’s Anatomy) is a new detective on the force, specializing in the digital world.
The USA Network is known for their fantastic original programs: the older and never forgotten Monk and TheDead Zone; the current and favorites Psych and Burn Notice; and the sophomore hits Suits, Necessary Roughness, and Fairly Legal. Because of the network’s track record, Common Law is probably the series we’re most looking forward to here at Tele-Tuesday,
Common Law premieres Friday, May 11th on USA.
*****
Men at Work
Another channel we don’t usually watch for, TBS is launching a new sitcom this month created by the great Breckin Meyer (Franklin & Bash). Men at Work follows four friends who all work together at the same magazine as they help a buddy get back on the dating horse after a disastrous breakup.
The series stars: Danny Masterson (That ‘70s Show) as Milo, the recently dumped friend; James Lesure (Las Vegas – we are big fans of Mike Cannon here at Tele-Tuesday) as Gibbs; Adam Busch (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Neal; and Michael Cassidy (The O.C.) as Tyler.
Rarely do we see a comedy centering around all men, and funny character actors we’ve missed for years at that. Add the funny-man creator to this, and we can’t help but feel Men at Work could potentially be summer dynamite.
Men at Work premieres Thursday, May 24th on TBS.
*****
What do you think? Do you plan to watch The L.A. Complex, White Heat, Common Law, or Men at Work? Which show has the most promise and why? The least? I’d love to hear from you!
It’s almost that time of year when our favorite television programs take a summer hiatus. That previously meant that we would have to wait until fall programming returned to watch anything new, but this isn’t necessarily the case anymore — not with summer series on networks such as USA, A&E, and TNT. But even with these summer hits, we still don’t have the variety of TV shows to watch during the summer, which is why Amber West and I decided to return to our Netflix Queue It Up series this week on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday.
Has anyone ever had a crush so big on a TV actor or actress that they would watch anything that said actor or actress starred in? That’s how I found Nip/Tuck…
I first “met” Julian McMahon on a fantastic criminal profiling series (Profiler) in the late ‘90s. When the program ended in 2000, I was ecstatic to learn that the actor who played “John Grant” joined the cast of another one of my favorite television shows, Charmed. For three years, I loved McMahon’s dual role as the demon Balthazar and his human counterpart, Cole Turner – especially his love affair with Phoebe (Alyssa Milano). But again after just a few short years, Julian McMahon was leaving the show…
So what did I do? I followed him over to the new FX drama, Nip/Tuck, where he plays one half of the plastic surgeon team of McNamara/Troy.
And let me just say, I was very pleased with my decision to trail him over to the new series. Already established with hit original programming (The Shield), FX didn’t disappoint with its newest drama following two plastic surgeons and friends since college –Sean McNamara and Christian Troy.
"Tell us what you don't like about yourself."
The two doctors are nothing alike – Sean (played by Dylan Walsh) is grounded, logical, and married; while Christian (McMahon) is sexy, charming, edgy and most importantly, single. In other words, McNamara/Troy not only succeeds because Sean and Christian are two of the best in the business, but also because of the dynamic – Sean is the “brains” and Christian the “face” of the practice.
Nip/Tuck not only focused on the practice and aired graphic plastic surgery scenes (some so vivid, even the manliest of men had to look away), but also shared the life of Sean and Christian outside the office… and their personal lives were anything but perfect.
Meet Sean’s family: Julia McNamara (played by Joely Richardson), Matt McNamara (played by John Hensley), and Annie McNamara (played by Kelsey Batelaan).
JuliaMattAnnie
Now meet Christian’s family: Sean, Julia, Matt, and Annie. That’s right – Christian has no one outside the McNamara clan. But that’s okay; they love him — sometimes too much (considering his love affair with Julia that produced… well, no spoilers here) and sometimes not at all.
But despite my ongoing love affair with Julian McMahon, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that the real star of Nip/Tuck is the storyline/s. Each episode usually involves at least one plastic surgery story with a new or returning patient (patients including familiar faces such as J.K. Simmons, Rosie O’Donnell and Joan Rivers), but each season also carries out an ongoing storyline that carried the show.
What made these storylines so special? They were dark, messed up, and some of the best drama on TV at the time. The writers and creators of Nip/Tuck pushed the boundaries, something the regular network channels wouldn’t dream of doing (at least not then; and still not today… not really).
See? Graphic...
Don’t believe me? Season one immediately starts with Sean’s son Matt self-circumcising himself to better please his high school girlfriend. Yea, that’s right – self-circumcision. Also in the first season: a baby is born (it’s no surprise that the paternity is an issue), Christian inherits a stalker, McNamara/Troy is forced into surgically removing heroin from drug mules, and one of the doctors might actually commit murder. Oh, and there’s another paternity issue. I’m trying really hard to not give anything away here…
My favorite season/storyline is hands down season three – The Carver. Sean and Christian (along with new surgeon Quentin Costa, played by Bruno Campos) agree to operate on The Carver’s victims pro bono, further infuriating the serial attacker. One thing leads to another, many fall victim to The Carver (including an entire sorority house) and Christian’s bride-to-be (Kimber, played Kelly Carlson) is kidnapped and later discovered as another completely mutilated victim of The Carver.
Of course, The Carver storyline isn’t the only on-going masterpiece of season three; it’s just my favorite. Other popular and racy stories over the years include: Kimber’s sex doll (Kimber is ultimately the love of Christian’s life, who also happens to be a porn star); trans-gender sex changes; bi-sexuality; white supremacy; extreme religious affiliations; controversial pregnancies due to genetic disorders; and lots and lots of sex.
Kimber and her sex doll
Nip/Tuck featured many famous guest stars over the years (Portia de Rossi, Bradley Cooper, Famke Janssen, Vanessa Redgrave, Rhona Mitra, Brittany Snow, Jacqueline Bisset, Mario Lopez, Sharon Gless, AnnaLynne McCord, Katee Sackhoff, and Rose McGowan to just name a few), but the heart of the story belonged to Sean, Christian, Julia, Matt, Annie, Kimber, and Liz Cruz (Sean and Christian’s gay anesthesiologist played by Roma Maffia).
Liz is really the glue that holds McNamara and Troy together...
I literally could go on and on about Nip/Tuck, it is absolutely one of my favorites of all time. It’s not for those with weak stomachs or those with strong convictions, but to me is still worthy of a GTV rating — fine TV is like fine dining at its best: bone-in-filet cooked to perfection with a side of lobster baked macaroni and cheese, served with a $100 bottle of Cabernet and table-side banana fosters for dessert.
To this day, I will still give FX’s original programs a try because of their “out-side-the-box” way of producing and writing. Seriously, look at their resume since: Rescue Me, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Dirt, The Riches, Damages, and Sons of Anarchy. And what about the network’s most recent hits: Justified, Archer, The League, and American Horror Story? If you haven’t already, give FX a try. But first – queue up Nip/Tuck on Netflix and watch the 100 episodes in order.
What do you think? Did you watch Nip/Tuck? Are you a McNamara or a Troy fan? Which storyline was your favorite and why? Do you have a TV crush that you’ve followed from program to program? I’d love to hear from you!
Now click over to Amber’s blog and see which programs she recommends our WatchWed viewers queue up on Netflix this summer — I smell a few BBC series in the air…
Come back next week when Amber and I review two of TV’s newest dramas starring two of Hollywood’s biggest stars – Touch, starring Kiefer Sutherland and Missing, starring Ashley Judd.
Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.
A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech
This week on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday, Amber West and I review two new programs to the 2011-2012 television schedule whose plots are based on dual realities – NBC’s new drama, Awake, where the protagonist lives in alternate realities depending on whether or not he is dreaming; and the CW’s new mystery, Ringer, where the protagonist is choosing to live in another reality, her twin sister’s world.
Ringer stars Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as twin sisters Bridget Kelly and Siobhan Martin.
The sisters share a troubled past – Bridget is a former narcotics user and stripper, and Siobhan cut ties from Bridget when she married a millionaire New York City hedge fund manager, leaving her normal life and sister behind. But after a few years apart, the girls suddenly decide to move past previously made mistakes and mend their relationship, or so it seems.
The series begins as Bridget runs to her wealthy sister, Siobhan, after she witnesses a mob hit and escapes protective custody just before testifying in court. A few days into the happy reunion, Siobhan disappears herself (making it look like an apparent suicide). Bridget panics, like most would, but then realizes that this is her perfect opportunity to escape her past and assume her sister’s identity.
And so the story begins….
Bridget’s first matter of business is to convince Siobhan’s husband (Andrew Martin, played by Ioan Gruffudd) that she is her sister. She learns rather quickly that the two share a rocky, tumultuous marriage, and her new husband doesn’t seem to like her very much. Andrew’s teenage daughter from a previous marriage really hates Siobhan (Juliet Martin, played by Zoey Deutch), and she lashes out constantly by skipping school, doing drugs, and destroying things around the penthouse.
Siobhan's husband, Andrew
As if Siobhan’s life at home wasn’t enough of a disaster, Bridget soon discovers that her sister was also having an affair with Henry Butler (Kristoffer Polaha), the husband of her best friend (Gemma Butler, played by Tara Summers).
Siobhan's boyfriend and best friend's husband, Henry
Just as Bridget begins to manage all of the lies her sister is living, the FBI agent tasked with protecting her during the trial (Agent Victor Machado, played by Nestor Carbonell) arrives in New York with a few questions for Siobhan.
The FBI agent tasked with protecting Bridget, Victor
Meanwhile, Bridget’s Narcotics Anonymous sponsor and apparent lover (Malcolm Ward, played by Mike Colter) is abducted by the drug lord/mob boss looking for her back home, beaten within an inch of his life, and reacquainted with black tar heroin. Malcolm might just be the hero of the show; despite the torture, he doesn’t disclose Bridget’s secret and he still manages to escape and travel to NYC to protect her.
Bridget's NA Sponsor and one-time lover, Malcolm
Everything is just too much, so Bridget (aka Siobhan) seeks out a new NA sponsor in the city and meets Charlie (Billy Miller). Charlie seems eager to help, not only with her constant battle with relapse, but also with the many matters surrounding her double life. People can trust sponsors, right?
Bridget's new NA sponsor and dirty former cop, Charlie
Oh, and did we mention the “real” Siobhan (who is camped out in Paris under an assumed identity) is pregnant? That’s an interesting twist…Bridget gets the call from Siobhan’s doctor and has to pretend she’s pregnant; meanwhile, Henry thinks the baby is his; Andrew of course thinks the baby is his; and Siobhan’s new Parisian lover (Tyler, played by Justin Bruening) now thinks the baby is his. This lady is a mess.
Siobhan's Parisian boy-toy and her husband's business associate, Tyler
To make matters worse, Bridget doesn’t do a bang up job keeping her secret – Gemma discovers the truth: that the “real” Siobhan is sleeping with her husband, and that Bridget is assuming her sister’s identity. When Gemma threatens to blow the top off Bridget’s lies, she disappears. Henry comes home to find blood all over the walls and a broken vase, and immediately cleans the mess up to protect Siobhan. But when he confronts Siobhan (aka Bridget), she of course thinks he did something to Gemma – why else would he cover up the evidence?
Confused yet? Remember, the “real” Siobhan is the puppet master pulling all the strings; Bridget is only trying to survive in Siobhan’s world.
And this ladies and gentleman is just the beginning…
Because of the non-stop twists and turns, I must award Ringer with the JFTV rating – it’s the perfect Junk Food Television. I sat and watched the entire first half of the season in mini-marathon style. See, I record the series each week, but wasn’t intrigued enough at first to watch; but once I started the episodes, I couldn’t stop – just like when I pick up a bag of Hershey’s miniatures from Costco — someone needs to pull the bag of chocolate away from me in order for me to stop popping the delicious delights in my mouth one right after the other.
I enjoyed my mini-marathon of the first half of the season so much, I’m currently stock-piling the second half of the season for another marathon-style viewing party. I’m just waiting for that perfect Saturday…
What do you think? Do you watch Ringer? Which of Siobhan and Bridget’s men is your favorite and why? I’d love to hear from you!
Now click over to Amber’s blog and read her thoughts on the masterfully creative dual realities of Awake.
Come back next week when Amber and I review two new (or maybe old) TV shows. We like to keep everyone on their toes.
Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.
A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech
This week Amber West and I review two of TV’s top dramas on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday: a returning NBC favorite, Parenthood, and the new ABC smash hit, Revenge.
Revenge has been called the return of the night time soap opera, and the critics and viewers may be right. The new drama loosely based on the Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, stars Emily VanCamp as Emily Thorne, a young and beautiful addition to the rich and prestigious Hamptons. However, Emily’s arrival isn’t her first trip to the neighborhood…
"Our" Emily
When she was a little girl, Amanda Clarke and her father lived in the quaint beach house next door to her father’s boss and his mansion (known as Grayson Manor). Late one night, Amanda’s father was ripped away from her for crimes that later sent him to prison for the rest of his life. Not necessarily believing in his innocence, Amanda rebelled and spent time in incarceration herself. The day Amanda was released from prison, she was greeted by a stranger with life changing news: her father was dead, he had been framed, and she was now filthy rich.
Amanda’s father had believed in and secretly invested in a young man named Nolan Ross (Gabriel Mann) when no one else would. Nolan awarded Mr. Clarke forty-nine percent of his company in return for the investment, and his investment was now worth millions. When Amanda’s father died in prison, all of his assets were awarded to her. But something greater came with these riches – a map and an explanation to each and every person responsible for framing her father and sending him to prison. Amanda assumes a new identity as Emily Thorne (the name of her closest friend in juvenile detention) and spends the next eight years of her life setting her plan in to motion, vowing revenge against those responsible for her father’s downfall – primarily the Grayson family.
"Our" Emily hard at work, researching her next target...
After establishing herself around the world as an educated and philanthropic young lady, Emily returns to the Hamptons and rents the beach house where she spent time with her father; the house where he was so abruptly taken from her. In practically every episode, Emily destroys someone involved with her father’s demise: her father’s assistant and current mistress to Conrad Grayson, Lydia Davis (Amber Valletta); her father’s closest friend and a corrupt hedge fund manager, Bill Harmon (Matthew Glave); and the district attorney and current state senator, Tom Kingsley (Yancey Arias) to just name a few.
But these are not Emily’s prime targets. Enter Conrad Grayson (Henry Czemy), the CEO of her father’s company who spearheaded the entire take-down, and his not-so-loyal wife, Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe).
Victoria may be smiling, but rest assured she is up to something...
To make matters worse, Victoria idly stood by and watched her lover (Amanda’s father) taken away in handcuffs. Yes, that’s right – Victoria and David Clarke actually loved each other. And little Amanda witnessed the entire thing – the love affair and Victoria’s standing outside the door as the police arrested her father. Oh, and just wait and see what this secret romance created…
The look says it all...
How will Emily destroy the Graysons? Will she involve their son, Daniel Grayson (Joshua Bowman); the man she’s slowly but surely seducing? The pilot episode begins at Emily and Daniel’s engagement party with Daniel’s lying bleeding on the Hampton beach from gunshot wounds….so probably.
Sweet, sweet Daniel...
Or will the “real” Emily Thorne, assuming the identity of Amanda Clarke (played by Margarita Levieva) expose the entire charade before “our” Emily has the chance to exact her revenge on the Grayson family?
And what about Emily’s childhood friend, Jack Porter (Nick Wechler), who adopted her puppy when she and her father were ripped away from their beach house? The same love-sick boy turned man who named his boat Amanda? “Our” Emily has worked feverishly to protect Jack, but couldn’t stand in the way when the “real” Emily also fell in love with the bar owner. Will he remain in the dark? Will he learn the truth? And when/if he does, how will he respond?
And then there's sweet, sweet Jack...
Oh, I could go on and on. As if the title of today’s blog wasn’t clear enough, Revenge scores the highest of the highest WatchWed scores – the GTV rating. It’s not gourmet because the series showcases what life in the Hamptons is all about – money, prestige, lavish homes, elaborate parties, and endless wardrobes, but because the storyline each and every week leaves such a sweet taste of revenge in our mouths that we simply can’t wait until the next episode.
If I could award Revenge with an even higher rating, I would. How’s TBMIEH TV – The Best Meal I’ve Ever Had Television? So that’s not a real rating here at Watch Wednesday, but it gets my point across. I often say Revenge is my favorite of all of the new programs this 2012 season, but it may just be my favorite series that I’m watching today. Period.
Revenge is infinitely sweet…
There's that look again...
What do you think? Do you watch Revenge? Who’s your favorite character? If you had all of Emily’s resources and a similar childhood story, would you exact revenge on those responsible? I’d love to hear from you!
Now click over to Amber’s blog and read her thoughts on Parenthood, the show, not her motherly experiences.
Come back next week when we review two new (or maybe old) TV shows. We like to keep everyone on their toes.
Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.
A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech
One of Tele-Tuesday’s favorite programs returns this week – the USA Network’s Psych. What is Psych? This one hour television series masterfully combines the classic police procedural and detective drama with quirky laughs and top-notch pop culture references.
To celebrate the mid-season premiere, Tele-Tuesday has decided to list our top 10 Psych episodes to help everyone get ready for the much-anticipated return of “psychic” Shawn Spencer (James Roday), his right-hand-man, Burton “Gus” Guster (Dule Hill), Detectives Carlton “Lassie” Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) and Juliet “Jules” O’Hara (Maggie Lawson), and Shawn’s retired detective father, Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen).
This selection process was difficult, considering how many times the Psych writers and actors have knocked the ball way out of the park. But we selected our top 10, nonetheless.
Sit back, relax, and grab a cup of coffee or another favorite blog reading snack – this is a long post, but couldn’t be avoided. Enjoy!
*****
10. “Extradition II: The Actual Extradition Part” (Season 5)
Because we love our readers, we have to rewind to season four for just a minute. In “Extradition: British Columbia”, Shawn and Gus begin tracking an art thief (Pierre Despereaux played by Cary Elews) in Canada; an art thief that Lassie has tracked for years but never successfully captured.
Fast-forwarding to season five, Despereaux needs Shawn and Gus’ help and pays for them to travel back to Canada, just before his extradition to the United States. In the meantime, the suave criminal escapes prison and is wrongfully accused of murder, leaving Shawn no choice but to investigate.
Shawn, Gus, and Despereaux
The Despereaux storyline is a fun one to return to, but “Extradition II: The Actual Extradition Part” is perhaps included in the top ten because Shawn finally professes his love to Jules at the end of the episode. And when we say finally, we mean finally. It took us five seasons for him to admit his feelings for her.
9. “Last Night Gus” (Season 6)
“Last Night Gus” (Psych’s version of The Hangover) may have been one of the most enjoyable hours of the first half of season six. After a night of apparently partying too hard, Shawn, Gus, Lassiter, and Woody (the coroner) wake up not remembering the night before. Why is Lassie’s gun missing bullets? Why did Henry wake up across town in a hotel room, sans pants? What is the white powdery substance on Woody’s face? Why is Shawn wearing a dead man’s sandals? Why is “The Blueberry” (Gus’ car) dented?
Using Shawn’s “psychic” ability and Henry and Lassie’s detective skills, the group of men follow one clue after another, leading them to discover what really happened… and that “last night Gus” was a bit out of his element.
8. “The Devil’s in the Details… and the Upstairs Bedroom” (Season 4)
Shawn and Gus take the case of a college girl’s apparent suicide after one of her professors (Father Westley, played by the great Ray Wise) pleads with them to investigate, believing the girl to have been possessed by demons. Why not? It’s a Catholic University…
Shawn never believes the girl’s death to be more than suicide, but “plays along” until he actually discovers there was indeed foul play involved. And when the Father is suspected of killing the girl, Shawn dedicates himself to prove the Holy Man’s innocence.
This was a bit of Heaven for former Twin Peaks fans… Leland Palmer (Ray Wise), playing a priest, accused of murdering a young girl? Too fun…
7. “This Episode Sucks” (Season 6)
What more needs said about “This Episode Sucks” besides: vampires, Corey Feldman, and Kristy Swanson? Exactly… but we will, just because.
When a body is discovered drained of blood in a parking lot, Shawn immediately believes vampires were involved. He and Gus dress the part and visit a cult-like bar where all of the patrons dress and perhaps believe that they are indeed vampires.
Shawn and Gus "undercover"
Remember the pop culture references mentioned above? Again, fantastic writing and attention to detail comes into play as Shawn and Gus approach the bartender to question him regarding the murder. As the bartender turns to face the “Psych” detectives, “Cry Little Sister” (the theme song from The Lost Boys) plays louder and louder until – Duh Duh Duh DUNNNNNN — Edgar Frog (Corey Feldman) turns to face them.
Also in this episode, Lassie meets a woman (Kristy Swanson) who the rest of the gang believes is involved in the murder. Is she a vampire? Probably not… but has Lassie finally found love? Maybe…
6. “Yang 3 in 2D” (Season 5)
The Yin and Yang storyline is hands down one of the top highlights of the Psych era. Since our first introduction in season three, we’ve watched multiple episodes featuring Shawn’s biggest nemeses. Sorry to throw a Yang storyline in here at number six (essentially out-of-order if one is not familiar with the series), but we’ll provide more detail below in the top five.
After a woman (Mena Suvari) claims to have escaped the elusive Yin (Peter Weller), Shawn cannot help but investigate, knowing that Yin is responsible for Yang’s (Ally Sheedy) psychopathic nature and her years of tormenting him. Shawn uses Yang, against everyone else’s better judgment, to face the evil behind the deranged.
Yes, this summary is cryptic but we didn’t want to give too much away…
What could go wrong when Shawn and Gus attend their high school reunion? Well murder, of course. But there’s only one problem – there’s no body. Without the body, no one believes Shawn. So Shawn does what he does best – he pushes forward until he uncovers all of the necessary clues to solve the case.
Oh, and he reconnects with a girl he dissed in high school (Abigail, played by Rachael Leigh Cook) which begins an ongoing relationship for Shawn.
4. “Scary Sherry: Bianca’s Toast” (Season 1)
We love when Jules gets more involved in the cases, and our favorite episode of the entire first season follows Jules as she goes undercover in a sorority house. She invites Shawn and Gus to help as she investigates a series of bizarre events seemingly related to an earlier suicide at an insane asylum.
Sorority house, undercover assignment, insane asylum, alleged ghosts – who could want more in an episode?
See, even Shawn and Gus are spooked...
3. “An Evening with Mr. Yang” (Season 3)
We could almost say this episode is where it all begins, but that would be a lie considering we’re in season three. This is, however, the introduction of Yang (Ally Sheedy). Yang is a serial killer who has set her sights on Shawn and those dearest to him. Shawn mistakenly suspects a psychologist (Mary, played by Jimmi Simpson) as Yang, but soon discovers that he is dealing with another deranged madman (or woman in this case) all together.
Things intensify on Shawn and Abigail’s date at the drive-in when Yang kidnaps Shawn’s mother (Madeleine Spencer, played by Cybill Shepherd). Will Shawn’s astute attention to detail save his mother’s life and allow him to capture Yang before it is too late?
2. “Mr. Yin Presents…” (Season 4)
As reminded by the Ion Television Psych Saturday evening marathons, “Mr. Yin Presents” is by far one of the best episodes to date. The episode begins when Shawn and Gus are reminded of a former foe – Yang. After she releases her new book, a book she has written from her new home inside an insane asylum, another familiar face returns (Mary, Jimmi Simpson). Mary insists that Yang was working with a partner, so Shawn and Gus agree to interview her hoping for answers.
Yang gives them what they ask for – confirmation that she has a partner: Yin. Everyone is drawn into Yin’s game – a game consisting of scenes from classic Alfred Hitchcock movies. Shawn, Gus, Henry, Lassie and Jules are separated into different Hitchcock scenes, when both of Shawn’s loves (Jules and Abigail) are kidnapped. Who will Shawn choose to rescue and who will die?
Who will Shawn choose - Jules or Abigail?
And Number 1… Drum roll please…. “Dual Spires” (Season 5)
Shawn and Gus travel to Dual Spires looking forward to a cinnamon festival they learned about via a mysterious email, but instead find a murdered teenage girl wrapped in plastic down by the water. Together they join forces with the town’s sheriff to solve the murder.
We could go on and on about this episode. James Roday outdid himself writing this piece: he perfected the oddities of the characters from Lynch’s bizarre murder mystery from the ‘90s, Twin Peaks; he mimicked the eerie music and peculiar dancing to a “T”; and he incorporated a few of the Twin Peaks iconic elements such as the diner, the log lady, the caged bird, and the pie. Even better yet, Psych cast a few of the Twin Peaks alumni for the episode: Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer), Dana Ashbrook (Bobby Briggs), Ray Wise (Leland Palmer), and Sherilyn Finn (Audrey Horne).
Every once in a while, Psych adjusts the opening theme song to appropriately fit the night’s episode. Needless to say, “Dual Spires” was one of those episodes – and the show’s creators invited Julee Cruise to sing the opening (that’s right! She also sang the Twin Peaks’ opening).
“Dual Spires” inspired those of us at Tele-Tuesday (me) to write a “thank you” note to the producers of Psych at the USA Network. While we didn’t hear back from James Roday himself, we did receive an email from one of the producers thanking us for the kind words and assuring us that our note would please Roday, considering this episode was one of his creations. Maybe she never shared our note, but it doesn’t matter. We felt better expressing our gratitude for an episode VERY well done.
*****
The mid-season premiere “Indiana Shawn and the Temple of the Kinda Crappy, Rusty Old Dagger” airs this Wednesday, February 29th on USA. Will you watch? Let’s just say one of our favorite bad guys is expected to return in this special extended episode of Psych, and a familiar face for those of us Twin Peaks fans guest stars.
We’ve already seen so many of our favorite faces from the ‘80s and ‘90s during the first half of season six: Molly Ringwald(Psych loves the “Brat Pack”, Joey McIntyre, Jason Priestley, Danny Glover, and William Shatner. Who’s next?
Just two besties playing 'thumb-war'
Do you watch Psych? What’s your favorite episode? Who is your favorite guest star to date? I’d love to hear from you!
Tiffany A White's Ooo Factor 