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RSSDesperately good . . . a look at the season premiere of 'Desperate Housewives'
It works.
That's the answer to the big lingering question about Desperate Housewives, which returns Sunday at 9 p.m. on ABC. Did the five year jump the show took in the fourth season finale work?
I've seen the first two episodes of the season and I'm so relieved to report that the show is back on track. The time travel corrects some of the core problems that had stymied the series and returns the series to its season one entertaining combination of mystery, camp, humor and wit. Gabrielle (Eva Longoria Parker) and Susan (Teri Hatcher) benefit the most from the flash forward.
My main complaint with Gabby had been that she needed a purpose in life. Constantly watching her go shopping and get her nails done had turned her into a character that was so shallow it had become challenging to care about what was happening with her. Now a makeup-less Gabby has two children and is adjusting to a life without a social status. In the premiere, Gabby is struggling with the fact that her daughters are overweight. Longoria Parker hits the exact right note of a mother who loves her children but is somewhat selfishly concerned with their appearance. The story line lets Gabby evolve while keeping her true to her character.
Susan's more serious story line (which I won't spoil here) strips her of her silly pratfalls but you still feel like you're watching Susan. And I think that holds true for all the characters. This reset of the timeline propels them forward but does not totally forget their past or make them into completely new characters.
The best best news is the arrival of Neal McDonough's Dave. He sweeps into Wisteria Lane and brings this season's mystery right along with him. By now we've learned that the season long mystery makes or breaks the show and Dave's looks like it is going to be a doozy.
I'm actually excited to be watching Desperate Housewives again. Four stars.
Now as for Brothers & Sisters I was excited to see the Walker clan again (because after all I want to BE a Walker) but my verdict is still out on the newly discovered Walker brother Ryan and the burgeoning romance between Rebecca and Justin. Both story lines are front and center in this Sunday's premiere (10 p.m. on ABC) but I still can't quite tell if these two controversial storylines will help or hurt the show.
The show really needs to be cautious of how often the Walkers get into a screaming showdown. The viewer has to believe these people would still want to spend time together. But the hour is still entertaining and the series makes a great decision to firmly move Holly (Patricia Wettig) in a definitive direction. We've spent far too long wondering if her intentions are good or bad and by the end of the hour I think we know. Three and a half stars.
After you watch the season premieres of Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters, let me know what you think and talk about it below.
Quotes of the Week
"Remember last week when that girl went missing? Guess whose candles they used for the vigil?" Jan to Kevin about the success of her candle business on The Office. Thanks to Jason for the quote.
"It's my pre-packed disaster evacuation bag. It's recommended by the Department of Homeland Security and Sarah Connor." Sheldon to Leonard about how he was able to pack so quickly on The Big Bang Theory. Thanks to Mark and Michelle who were the first two readers to submit this week's most popular quote.
"It would help if you removed the sarcasm and the facetiousness. It would help me a lot." Tim Gunn to Kenley on Project Runway. And to think she used to be my favorite designer.
"I really want to have washboard abs the first time Angela sees me naked." Andy to the cameras on The Office.
"I wasn't going to tell you this but he said he loved me too." Charlie to Olivia on Fringe after she laments that John told her he loved her. Thanks to Mal for the quote.
"The whole tutor and headmaster thing, it just feels like a whole Andrew McCarthy movie gone to DVD. It's just a bad idea." Megan to the headmaster of the twins' school on Privileged. You can so tell this show comes from someone who was a producer on Gilmore Girls.
"Haven't they been sufficient everybody?" Jimmy Kimmel about the five Emmy hosts on The Emmys. Oh Jimmy you were being far too kind.
"Meredith shut up!" Cristina (Sandra Oh) to Meredith on Grey's Anatomy.
She's got a helluva breaststroke, man. She's a machine." Sam to Michael about Carla (played by Tricia Helfer) on the season finale of Burn Notice. Thanks to Sue for being the first person to submit this popular quote.
"You know who I wish would come to town? Buffy. Or Blade." Sam to the dog on True Blood. Thanks to Barry for the quote.
Exchanges of the Week
"I don't want to be sexy scientist!" Brennan to Booth on Bones.
"That's like me saying I don't want to be the sexy FBI agent. We can't change who we are." Booth's response.
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"Are you gonna eat my brain?" Claire to Sylar (Zachary Quinto) on Heroes.
"That's disgusting Claire." Sylar's response. As TV Gal reader Logan pointed out, it's all about the way he said "disgusting.
That's all for today. I'm back on Monday to talk about the season premieres of Chuck and Life, take a look at what's happening on Greek (I just knew we couldn't trust Frannie!), and check in on if we're happy about the Bones reveal. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.
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Oh yay! I love Neal McDonough! He was great in Boomtown and Medical Investigation (two shows that really should've been allowed to continue, IMO) and he was so awesome in Tin Man!
I, too, loved the "sexy FBI man" comment by Booth! I loved this week's episode. It felt so much more like true Bones. And I don't care how improbable it was that Zack snuck out, it was still a great moment. And this is still Fox, not The History Channel.
I just wanted to say that my favorite new show of the season so far is "Privileged!" It has so much more depth, layered characterizations and seemingly real issues (I am not too familiar with the realities of being a very wealthy young person or that social scene) that certainly set up more realistic plot points and emotional beats then a show like "Gossip Girl" (which I love but for it's totally extreme version of the glamorous life, sex, drugs and VHI-Where-Are-they-Now rock-n-roll. The acting by these, mostly unknown, talented people is pure and natural while the production values are as lush and beautiful as they fit the truth of the happenings at a Palm Beach estate... I ***ume. The producers are at least giving the impression that they are going for a more down-to-earth, literate "GG" and succeeding brightly. "Fringe" completely disappointed and bored me. J.J. Abrams me thinks has too much on his plate and not enough time to eat it all. Between the "Star Trek" movie, this new show and other developing projects, I am not surprised that this new show does not have the same edge, originality or excitement of it's predecessors such as "Alibi" and "Lost." I will not watch insipid sitcoms like "Worst Week" or "Do Not Disturb" and have less affection for the ABC reality shows, inlcuding the new "Opportunity Knocks" as well as the tired "Extreme Home Makeover" and "The Bachelor" Both of those shows need to be cut soon. So , basically the pickings of new shows has been slim. The new "(0210" is only good when the old characters and the parents and grandmother are on. As soon as any of the new "kids" come on, my finger itches for the FF button and I am on my way to the next scene with Kelly and Brenda. It lacks the cool fashion factor and the fabulous city locations of "Gossip Girl" and has none of the humor, individualistic characters and snappy dialogue of "Privileged." Which is why this show is my sleeper hit of the fall. I LOVE it actually. I highly enjoy all of the female leads and the s***y chef and I really hope that the viewers and the CW give this show a chance. If enough people watch this show, they might just find a real gem of a TV show!
I loved so many of those quotes too! I made sure I caught all of The Big Bang Theory, because in the past I'd only caught bits and pieces after I read some bad reviews, but I really enjoyed it! That Sarah Connor quote was absolutely hilarious! Jim Parsons absolutely makes the show for me, but it has a lot of great stuff going on.
Loved the Bones and Heroes exchanges as well, they would top my list of quotes from premiere week too. Another one on a different note that I liked was Barney to Robin on the job she wasn't going to go for - "We both know you're more than that. Promise me you'll apply." Barney was awesome, and I'm intrigued about this potential job story now too.
I have enjoyed Bones this season, but this week's episode was still a relief to me, because it seemed much closer to form for the show.
Great column as usual, Amy! I can't wait to hear about Chuck, Life, and of course more Bones!
"And to think she used to be my favorite designer." Me too! When did she turn into such a pain? I can only ***ume that they are trying to make her into more of a villain: You don't mess with the Gunn!
AMY: Count me in as another Neal McDonough fan who will be checking out this season of Desperate Housewives. He really is one of TV's most underrated actors, so I hope that this role on DH finally puts him in the spotlight. McDonough was especially good on HBO's 2001 miniseries "Band of Brothers".
I really enjoyed the season finale of Burn Notice, and Tricia Helfer was great in her guest star role. I can't wait to find out what happens in January. Also, I have been looking forward to Chuck's season premiere, and I don't think I will be disappointed, judging by what most TV critics are saying. :-)
So far, I have been disappointed by the Knight Rider show, and I think a lot of viewers won't be tuning back in. The new 90210 is cheesy, but I continue to watch every week... must be the nostalgia or something. The Mentalist's pilot episode was pretty good, so I will give it a few more weeks, at the very least. Here's hoping that the U.S. version of Life on Mars turns out well, despite their early setbacks.
ADAM: I have to add that I agree with your opinion of Fringe. I tuned in to the premiere wanting to LOVE it, considering the show had "Pacey" and the J.J. Abrams name on it. Sorry, but Fringe disappointed me as well. It just seemed like a rehash of The X-Files, and didn't have the intriguing characters, like the ones on Alias and Lost. I also think that J.J. has been concentrating more on his film projects than his TV ones. :-(
I'm a sucker for a good "Bad Girl"...
90210 kicked it up a notch this week. They have been missing a good "Bad Girl" and I think Adrianna is it! She's a crazy druggie with an attitude. I've truly become addicted to this show.
I also thought Gossip Girl was especially good this week. I love that S has gone Queen B!
I missed Big Bang's premiere. I'm in Houston and we were without power for 12 days. 12 days with no TV. Serious hurt, y'all. What I find interesting about the quote in the column is that Jim Parsons is from Houston. (We went to high school together.) So interesting timing on that, considering Hurricane Ike just blew through his home town.
Commenting on the CRIMINAL MINDS premiere, which I thought was basically fairly strong. The wrapup of last year's cliffhanger showed some imagination and some very raw emotion.
I only started warming to this last year and am still not all in as there are some things I don't like - such as hokey stereotypical portrayals of local law enforcement and some mailed in acting performances out of the regular cast - but at its best it can be quite riveting.
On CHUCK, I am looking forward to see if they made any constructive changes. I watched most of it last year but found it a bit out of synch. What does it need in my view? More "Chuck" and less of some of the bit players the writers apparently felt obliged to parcel out alot of time to last year.
Another one of my favorite quotes from this week:
Supernatural - Dean to Sam as they try to reach Bobby:
"If you aren't thinking answers, then don't think at all!!"