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RSSChecking in to the new season of 'House'
Sure we had our complaints about House last season.
Specifically that the original cast was kicked to the curb in favor of the "Survivor"-like search for House's new team.
But I think we can all agree that House, which returns for a new season Tuesday at 9 p.m. on FOX, ended last season on a brilliant and devastating note. Who even knew we liked Amber that much? Amber's death and repercussions it will have on the friendship between House (Hugh Laurie) and Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) are front and center in the first two episodes of the season.
This tension brings a whole new angle to the series. There will still be the disease of the week (first up an overachiever who thinks she's covered with bugs). But in the first two episodes the medical mysteries take a backseat to how the Wilson/House fall out affects everyone. Sometimes its comical -- the cranky doc does have some great one-liners. And it's very amusing to watch House go on a search for a new best friend. House is searching for someone who will do for him what Wilson did or as Kutner (Kal Penn) puts it "paid for your lunch, liked monster trucks and was your conscience." House also hires a private investigator in the second episode played by Michael Weston (who I remember best as Private Brian Dancer on Scrubs). He's a highly entertaining addition to the show.
But often the two episodes are sad. More than ever House seems like a tragic character and Hugh Laurie so deserves to win the Emmy this Sunday. His performance is deftly nuanced and any actor that can make you laugh and tear up within the same scene is a rare find.
The season couldn't start stronger. The show is in the zone and on top of its game. Once I sat down to watch the first two episodes for review, I couldn't stop. My only complaint is that increasingly seems like the series is trying to figure out a way to include Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) and Chase (Jesse Spencer) in the action. It still feels a little clunky. Because in real life how much interaction do you have with your old boss? I think they need to move Cameron and Chase back on to House's team or give them their own spin-off. Other than this quibble, these are definitely five star episodes, so definitely tune in.
After you watch the season premiere, let me know what you think.
Highlights of the Week Ahead
All times listed are Eastern Standard Time for September 15-21
Next week is the official kick off of the new season (whoo-hoo!). Since most shows will have their season premieres next week, this is a great time to catch up on any season finales you may have missed. Starting with How I Met Your Mother which repeats its season finale Monday at 8:30 p.m. on CBS. The look Barney gives Robin at the end of the episode is enough to give Neil Patrick Harris an Emmy.
Don't miss the season finale of The Closer (Monday, TNT. 9 p.m.). It is a positively riveting episode that ends in a gut-wrenching cliff hanger. It's the performances that really separate The Closer from other crime dramas. Even though we rarely see the other detectives outside of the job, I really feel like I know Detective Provenza, Flynn and Tao. And have you heard there's plans for a spin off of The Closer? There's a rumor that the spin off could revolve around the LA Times reporter but he's been such an unlikable character this season I really don't think that will happen. In a way it seems like Fritz is the most suitable candidate to spin-off but that would probably mean he would have to break up with Brenda and I definitely don't want that.
If you don't want to hear me talk about 90210 (Tuesday, CW, 8 p.m.), feel free to skip ahead to the next paragraph. Okay if you're still with me I think we really need to talk about the Kelly's baby daddy situation. I think we can safely rule out Brandon because I just don't think that would be that interesting to fans and after all Brandon and Kelly only walked under chandeliers they didn't hang from them. I've heard from so many of you who think Steve could be the father because the little boy is definitely sporting some serious Sanders hair and is named Sammy. Could he be named Sammy after Steve's mother Samantha? The producers of the show have been so public about not inviting Ian Ziering to be on the show that, unless they are totally trying to fake us out, I doubt he's the father. Plus I kind of want to think of Steve, Janet and Maddie still living happily ever after somewhere. But Dylan would so fit -- the complicated history Kelly referred to, the disdainful way Jackie referred to the father in last week's episode, and because I believe it would make the most fans happy. Plus I kind of think Luke Perry is totally protesting too much about not appearing on this new version. He came back once before, I think he could definitely come back again. He seems quite loyal to the show that gave him his start. Word is that Brenda and Kelly will get into a fight about the father in this week's episode. I. Can't Wait. Also we'll see a few other familiar plot points in this week's episode. I'm still feeling pretty darn good about this new version of 90210. How about you? For a peak at this week's episode, click here, here and here.
Big changes are coming to Smallville, which kicks off its eighth season Thursday at 8 p.m. on the CW. The biggest change is the fact that Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) is no longer on the show which means a new owner of Luthor Corp comes to town. Cassidy Freeman joins the cast new CEO Tess Mercer. We'll also be seeing a lot more of the Justice League. Will you watch Smallville this year or do you think the show has run its course? Talk about it below.
The season premiere of Supernatural (Thursday, CW, 9 p.m.) promises to be a doozy. It picks up four months after last season's finale which sent Dean to hell.
James Franco host Saturday Night Live this week (Saturday, NBC, 11:30 p.m.) and if by any chance you missed Tina Fey's positively inspired impression of Sarah Palin, check it out by clicking here.
I find it fascinating that Don's life is unraveling on Mad Men (Sunday, AMC, 10 p.m.). I love that he is being called on his behavior from all sides. His most recent paramour let him know he has a reputation. His wife has found out about his affair and kicked him out of the house. His client called him trash. I think it's only a matter of time before that begins to take its toll on his work. I'm also enjoying the slow burn the show has put the Peggy story line on. Peggy keeps so much trapped inside her and to have her priest try to bring her issues to the forefront (because he has insider information) has been fascinating to watch. Plus my heart broke for Joan, who was so quickly tossed aside after being so helpful to Harry.
I know Army Wives is a soap opera but I'm beginning to get concerned that the show is ripping a page from every single Lifetime movie. It's Pamela's stalker and the attempted (I hope) rape of Claudia Joy that I think took the drama to an unnecessary level. Claudia Joy has already had her daughter die this season and been the victim of a bombing -- she's suffered enough for one season. It's a hard balance to strike with a show like Army Wives (Sunday, Lifetime, 10 p.m.). You want to keep in interesting and have things the characters have to go through but too much and it becomes hard to watch. How are you feeling about Army Wives this season? Talk about it below.
That's all for today. I'm back on Wednesday with familiar faces and an early look at the season premiere of Heroes. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.
Amy, I am one who LOVES it when you talk about 90210 and I have to say: Ditto! I agree with everything you said exactly!! From your mouth to the producers/writers' ears!
Amy,
We don't mind you writing about 90210; the one 9021Over-the-top column was a bit much, but I admire your loyalty and enthusiasm. ;*)
The Tina Fey/Amy Poeller bit was brilliant; it was also the only thing remotely funny in the entire SNL premier. This does not bode well for the coming season... Did they fire all the writers? If not, maybe they should.
With no Cameron or Chase. I break up with House.
The show was sooo boring last season, with the exception of Frozen and the season finale.
I couldn't care less about what happened to House's patient.
I still don't know the names of the new team. I go by boring guy, older boring guy and unlucky 13. Amber was the best written character last season and guess what? They killed her.
I don't want to see Wilson complain and whine for the first half of the season.
So I give it 2 more episodes and it better be good episodes cause I'm done. Anyway, I can break up with house, or just take a break. Catch up on DVD's if I regret my decision.
Bottom line, Jennifer Morrison is a damn fiiiine actress and she deserves more than walk-on role after all she did to the show.
90210 is the worst show I've seen in a long time. I've never before seen such a combination of sorry writing, laughable acting, and plain and simple stupid storytelling. It's beyond me how an actual television critic could not only like this show but talk about it as much as you do Amy. A high schooler could put together a better show.
I'm not hating 90210, but I'm only giving it a couple more weeks to make me care about the characters. So far the ONLY character I'm interested in is Silver - I especially love scenes with Silver and Kelly. However, I have a feeling the only ones who care who Kelly's baby daddy is is those who watched the original series. My biggest disappointment is in the character Naomi. I think they tried to go too fast with making us hate the rich spoiled girl and then show her life's not perfect storyline. It didn't give me time to hate her and the plotline with the father blowing her off and cheating was so predictable that it didn't move me in the least. I like the actress, but I feel completely indifferent to the character. And Adriana has to go - that scene where she runs into the bowling alley to get Ethan was so BAD and then she completely disappears when everyone runs out there to Naomi. What's up with that? OK, and one last nitpick - can't the writers clarify to their own actors whether the character's name is Naomi (NAY-o-mee) or Naiomi (NIE-o-mee) - they all keep pronouncing it differently. Petty, I know, but it bugs me.
I'm still watching Smallville out of curiosity. I've been watching through the good years (Clark discovering his powers) and through the bad ones (Lana is a witch) and I just want to know how it all ends. I keep hoping they will do like Lost and pick an end date so they don't simply get canceled abruptly. I have to say though the loss of Michael Rosenbaum will be a major blow to the series. He was by far the best actor on the series and made me appreciate the character of Lex in a way I didn't think possible. He was getting out of control though and I'm not sure how they could have kept him interesting. I miss the early days when Lionel was the real villain and Lex was on the fence.
The only one I really care about on the new team is Kutner. I liked Amber much more than 13, and hated to see her cut, although I loved how they brought her back into the story, and I definitely teared up when they killed her off.
I wasn't real fond of Jennifer Morrison's character that last year she was on the team--or maybe I should say I didn't like the changes to her character.
YAY for Supernatural. This is the premiere I have been waiting on. I can never seem to get enough of the Winchester boys, and I can't wait to see a Dean/Sam reunion.
Ane keep up the 90210 talk. As a fan of both the old and new show, I love the scoop and the speculation!
Smallville is like a batch of pancakes. It sounded like a really good idea when it first came out about 8 years ago, just like pancakes always sound like a good breakfast. It had a lot of good potential. Then, something didn't go quite right with the batter, but I thought I'd keep going and see what happened. Before I knew it, the kitchen's a mess, the plot doesn't make sense, the pancake is burnt and falling apart...but I've put so much into it now, that I have to keep going and see how it tastes. I don't have high hopes for this season...But I'm with the show until the bitter end that inevitably leaves a horrible taste in my mouth.
Although I'm sad about Lex leaving the show, a happy bonus is less having to deal with Lana Drama. You win some, you lose some.
I hate Lana. I love the Justice League episodes. I was going to stop watching Smallville this season when Justin Huntley was slated to be on another show which to me equaled the end of the Justice League era. Apparently that didn't work out since they are coming back in full force. So I'm going to do a trial run for a while... and hopefully this means more of Lois, because I also quite enjoy her.