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RSSNo thanks, I don't want that storyline. . .
It's time for another edition of I'm not picking up what you're putting down . . .
As much as I really really like House, I simply don't think I'm ever going to want House and Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) to get together. They've made Cuddy too smart a character to ever get involved with a man like House. I got excited last night when for an oh-so-brief moment I thought that the show was actually going to go forward with a Wilson/Cuddy romance instead. Not that I want Wilson and Cuddy together either but it does seem like the lesser of two romantic evils.
On a scale of one to the George and Izzie romance on Grey's Anatomy (with the George and Izzie romance being the worst possible idea ever) and Rebecca and Justin on Brothers & Sisters being at about a four, I still put House/Cuddy at about a five or six in terms of bad story line ideas. I just don't see myself liking any of the possible outcomes. I don't think I want a kinder, gentler House who is made more human and compassionate by falling in love. I don't want to watch Cuddy get hurt. The series is having such a strong season but this kiss brouhaha does concern me. On a completely unrelated note, wasn't it so nice to see Chase and Cameron again? There's really no reason we can't have more episodes like that.
Speaking of Rebecca and Justin (Dave Annable), I'm not as upset about this idea as I was last season. It's actually worse. I'm kind of bored by it. I never really rooted for them to be together in the first place so I'm indifferent to whether or not they're in love and whether Justin is the great love of Rebecca's life. Since I don't really care that they are together, I don't think I'm going to care when the break up either. How about you?
And while I'm on a diatribe about things on TV that are concerning me, can we talk about Samantha Who? I still adore Christina Applegate in the role and I still think Jennifer Esposito has the best role of her career, the show seems to be struggling in the story line department this year. It's like they take every potential concept just a tad too far. Sam meeting a young woman in community service and wanting to turn her life around is a potentially good idea. Sam landing in jail as a result isn't. It's too predictable for such a clever show. I think the show would be better served by grounding itself in a tad more reality. I also think it's suffering from a bit of the My Name is Earl Syndrome -- how do you sustain a show's rather unconventional premise in its second season? How can Sam grow and change and still be a woman suffering from amnesia? How does the fact that she used to be bad Sam not become repetitive and tedious? I'm not sure if I know the answers to all these questions but I hope the show figures it out soon because I really want the show to succeed.
What are you worried about this season? Talk about it below.
Ghost Whisperer
Since I've received so much email about what's happening on Ghost Whisperer, I thought I would pass along note from Ian Sander, Kim Moses and P.K. Simonds, the producers of the show, to the fans. My problem is I don't think the Jim (David Conrad) and Melinda (Jennifer Love Hewitt) romance needed a reboot. You all have to let me know what you think after you've seen Friday's episode. Here's what the producers had to say:
This coming Friday night, a new episode of Ghost Whisperer will hit the air -- it is very, very powerful. And, at the end of the episode, there is a big surprise.
But the key to Jim and Melinda's future (and the rest of Season 4) lies in the very next episode titled "Heart and Soul," which airs November 21. It's one of the most romantic episodes we've ever done. You will laugh and you will cry -- tears of joy.
This new voyage of discovery in the Ghost Whisperer world will take Jim and Melinda's relationship to another level. It reboots their love story and gives them something few people ever get -- a second chance at true love. Thanks for taking this journey with us!
Where Have I Seen Them Before?
That was a nearly unrecognizable Vicki Lewis, Beth on NewsRadio, as the art gallery owner on Bones. We've also seen Lewis this season as Melissa on 'Til Death. Jonathan LaPaglia, Anthony LaPaglia's brother, was the rival artist. He's recurring this season as Special Agent Brent Langer on NCIS. Nicole Hiltz, Mary's sister Brandi on In Plain Sight, is Angela's ex-girlfriend Roxy. She'll show up again next week.
Joe recognized the Wireapoolza happening last week on Life on Mars. Clark Peters, Detective Lester Freamon on The Wire, was Sam's mentor Captain Bellows. Chad Coleman, Cutty on The Wire, was Suede. And I almost didn't recognize Chris Bauer in that bad wig. He was the past and present Father Tim. Bauer was Frank on The Wire and currently Andy on True Blood.
Speaking of The Wire, Sonja Sohn, Kima on The Wire, was the birth mother who said "thanks but no thanks" to Kitty on Brothers & Sisters.
I don't think I've ever told you that Jennifer Crystal Foley is playing Taub's wife Rachel on House. She's Billy Crystal's daughter and I remember her most as Christie on Once & Again.
So we all know that's Lily Tomlin is playing Karen McCluskey (Kathryn Joosten) on Desperate Housewives. But DJ was the first reader to point out the most fun part of this casting. Joosten was President's secretary Dolores Landingham on The West Wing and after her character died, Tomlin joined the cast as the President's new secretary Deborah Fiderer.
Kathie caught Tom Verica as Hahn's final patient on Grey's Anatomy (he was the one who needed a heart transplant). Verica was Ed on The Nine and the dad on American Dreams. By the way, can you believe that was Brooke Smith's final scene on the show? It will be interesting to see how they explain her absence tomorrow night.
Robin recognized Gregg Henry as Officer Mark Downey on ER (remember he was so upset that he had shot a teen at a Halloween party) and Cal Task on The Mentalist. Henry is a very familiar TV face. I most recognize him as Logan's father on Gilmore Girls and Hugh on The Riches.
Dennis recognized Dan Lauria as Marshall's boss on How I Met Your Mother. Lauria was, of course, the dad on The Wonder Years.
Michelle recognized Michelle Krusiec, who played Brian's wife last season on Dirty Sexy Money, was Edward's new partner on My Own Worst Enemy.
All this week's bonus points have to go to Scott who recognized Winifred Freedman as Melanie on Without a Trace. She was Annette on Joanie Loves Chachi.
That's all for today. I'm back on Friday with quotes of the week. Have a question? Seen a familiar face or want to nominate a topic for discussion? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®
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Zap2it Twitter Talk 
Also on Brothers and Sisters, that was Gypsy from Gilmore Girls - Rose Abdoo - as the fortune teller!
I'm not the least concerned about a potential romantic arc between House and Cuddy. It could be interesting to explore the imperceptible aspects of his persona that make him appealing/attractive to those that stay close to him. Earlier this season we learned a little bit about the strange relationship between House and Wilson. I'd love to see the House/Cuddy conundrum unwrapped a bit.
Also on The Mentalist was Andrea Parker, Miss Parker on the Pretender, as the widow.
I don't like where the show Life is heading with Reese and the precinct captain, Donal Logue's character. I buy him hitting on her, sure, but it seems like they're setting it up for her to hook up with him and I just don't see it and definately don't like it. It's the only negative on an otherwise brilliant show.
I loved all the first three seasons of Ghost Whisperer but this season hasn't been the same. I can't put my finger on why, but maybe it's because they were leading to this HORRIBLE storyline of Jim's dying.
Maybe it's Jamie Kennedy, who was really funny in his own show but stiff as a board in Ghost Whisperer as the professor. I miss Jay Mohr. Why would the same network steal one of the best characters ever for another show on their same network (that's not a spinoff?) But why would they cancel Moonlight, either?
The creator of the show John Gray is nowhere to be seen this season, maybe that's why it went off the rails. Anyway, most of my friends feel the same way, the writers will have to do a lot of spinning to win us back from destroying the best relationship on television.
I am with Josh Man on the idea of Reese with the preceint captain. I don't see her going for someone as cheesey as he is.
On another note, I really hope they something great with Ghost Whisper, I just can't watch without Melinda and Jim having each other. They have great chemistry, but it is the true romance of their relationship that I love.
My thoughts on GW are this.
We did not actually see Jim die. He disapeared because they brought him back. He will be in a coma for an episode and then they will go to pull the plug and he will not die. He will come around and need lots of love and attention and possible the experience will give him some form of esp. Thereby giving him a better understanding of what Melinda goes through.
As far as House and Cuddy are concerned, there has been a sexual tension between them from the beginning. I would like them to explore it some and then decide they are better off as colleages(sp).
Rebecca and Justin. I like them. Great love or not.
Amy, I'm with you: the marriage on the Ghost Whisperer didn't need a reboot. They had a happy marriage, they worked reasonably through their differences, and they shared the joys and pains of trying to conceive. They had a human marriage that was not beset by overblown drama--a marriage that many of us could aspire to.
I don't want to see it but we're going to get it anyway - Jack and Sam on 'Without a Trace'.
I liked these characters once upon a time - now I cannot stand them. They are perfect for each other. Let's see -
Jack: While married, broke FBI regulations and slept with a junior agent; dumped her; made no real effort to be in his daughters lives following divorce; took up with his best friends widow mere weeks after said friends death; got her pregnant and then obviously didn't want to have the child; took the law into his own hands on several occasions and manipulated situations to his own advantage; was annoyed at being forced into therapy and being temporarily demoted in his job; now uses his fists and violence instead of his brains to obtain information from suspects. As of last night's episode, has been reinstated as boss but hasn't learned a thing and still feels he is above the law. Saint Jack.
Samantha: Slept with her married boss against FBI rules; Boss about to leave NY so she sleeps with the Deputy Director's son; strings him along telling him she doesn't want to be office gossip; revealed that when 14 years old she murdered a man; has a one-night stand with a complete stranger and gets pregnant; decides to have the baby but pushes the father away after Malone interferes in the situation; yells at Malone to stop screwing people over; goes all martyr-like and has the baby alone and when Malone makes his appearance, forgets everything she yelled at him, the fact he's mentally unstable and the most unsuitable father for her child (considering he's a lousy father to his own children); the fact that he's screwed her over on several occasions; forgets Bureau regulations about Supervisors and junior agents and obviously doesn't care about being office gossip anymore(!)
forgets that she has a child to support and will be unable to do so when she's fired from her job. Mother Theresa Samantha.
I wonder if the writers will
even remember that whole Supervisor/Junior agent Regulation they took such pains to tell us about in Season 1, when the OPR Agent quoted it, chapter and verse to Agent Spade in Episode 21, 'AYNOHYEB'
And Amy, feel free to p*** my comments right alone to the producers - It's about time they see that not everyone is overjoyed with the direction this once exceptional show has taken into soap-opera-dom.
I agree that the House and Cuddy thing should remain an unopened book. What are the odds of Sela Ward returning for a little while?
I have to admit that when I watching Sunday's Brothers and Sisters, I caught myself in a smile during the Justin and Rebecca thing. There definitely needs to be a curveball in their relationship, just to mix things up a bit, but that relationship is not at all creepy like I slightly feared last season.