September 2008
With most of the NCIS team back together in Washington, it's now up to one Anthony DiNozzo to find a way to punch his golden ticket home from what has to be not the greatest of living conditions. Of course, I'm sure some of the Navy types out there wouldn't trade carrier life for anything in the world... I'm just saying it's not DiNozzo's cup of tea.
Last week, House was all about obfuscation. This week, it was duplicity. In a way, House himself is almost always at least somewhat duplicitous, isn't he?
On last week's Privileged, Megan fended off suitors left and right, Rose struggled with her schoolwork, and Sage...well, Sage was Sage. But there were yachts! And daytime sequins!
After two eliminations last week, we're back to the one at a time boots to the behind on Dancing with the Stars. Will we be shocked, surprised, horrified by the results? I wouldn't take that sucker's bet if I were you...
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And now, a (completely fictional) message from the makers of The Biggest Loser: Families: "Hello, friends. As you probably know, we here at BL Central find nothing so delicious and invigorating as the sweet, sweet tears of an innocent and unwilling public. The tears collected from out contestants are a satisfying appetizer, but we want more. That's why we're doing everything in our power to make you, the viewing audience, get all sniffly this episode. Did it work? Did it? You better say it did! Because if we don't collect enough of your luscious lachrymal nectar, next weeks challenge will involve sad clowns holding dead puppies. Thank you, and keep crying!"
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I know that Fringe isn't a comedy, but how many of you laughed out loud when Agent Broyles referred to a potential key to unlocking The Pattern as "The Observer?" I could hear the studio executives at CBS and TNT scrambling to put together a pilot based on that name alone. ("Sarah Michelle Gellar IS The Observer!") Sadly, this wasn't even the silliest thing about this week's episode, which simultaneously provided the richest mythology and yet dumbest "Pattern of the Week" yet.
We're starting The Mentalist recaps here at IHLN. Last week we were introduced to Patrick, Debra from Empire Records Teresa, and their supporting investigation team. The Mystery of the Week (MOTW) wasn't super-exciting, but the running mystery of serial killer Red John, who murdered Patrick's wife and child, hooked me. Patrick isn't "psychic," just observant. Disconcertingly so. Like House, only less misanthropic and more charming.
When we last left our favorite 90210ers, Adriana got Carlotta'd right out of the musical by a Phantom called "smack," I Moan and her mom chose to be independent awesome women, and Annie chose not to surrender her V card to Ty because Wicked Awesome Adriana made it seem like he had just slept with her. Is it because Annie is eventually going to give it to Ethan, hopefully while wearing a black dress with gigantic white bows at the spring dance? I certainly hope so.
The whole "is Lost real or just the figment of someone's imagination" question gets answered definitely in this episode. I personally never held that theory, thinking at the time everything hinged on a frozen elk wheel. (So damn close!) Hurley goes insane in the membrane, Sayid goes gun crazy, and Eko proves that he'd be a horrible designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Action-packed ep, y'all.

