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RSSGood times never felt so good . . . how the Neils saved me from a very bad mood
I think they somehow heard that I was going to a place that technology wasn't allowed and were a little offended. I returned home to find that my cable had been out since I left. It was almost as if the minute my cable heard the door slam, it shut itself down in protest. So instead of "True Blood," "The Closer," "Nurse Jackie," "Army Wives" and "In Plain Sight," there are hours and hours of "Please wait this channel should be available shortly" on my TiVo. While I was still dealing with that fiasco, my computer got a nasty virus that my technology advisor (also known as my husband) is, as we speak, trying to get rid of. I think the takeaway message here is never, ever forsake technology. It is our friend. All of this should make me quite cranky but you know I'm not and it's because of the Neils. 1. Neil Diamond: I love Neil Diamond. He was the first concert I ever went to. My parents took me because they (and, in particular, my father) were huge fans. I have vivid memories of driving around the car with my mom singing "Forever in Blue Jeans." I even chose a Neil Diamond song as the song I danced with my father to at my wedding. Which, by the way, is no easy feat considering that most of Diamond's songs involve love, rocks, and a fire. I chose "Beautiful Noise" which turned out to be perfect. Neil Diamond will be performing with the Boston Pops tomorrow night at 10 p.m. on CBS. Could anything be better? I don't think so. I'm predicting "America," "Sweet Caroline," "Song Sung Blue," "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show," and "I am . . . I said." I welcome any and all predictions. 2. Neil Patrick Harris: It's a done deal. He's hosting the Emmys. We so knew after the Tony Awards that he was the man for the job. I cannot wait to see what he does with the Emmy show. It's going to be the first time I've actually truly looked forward to the Emmys in years. In fact, I may even do an "If I picked the Emmys column" just for fun. I am so feeling the Emmy love right now. Like anything is possible. Like "Veronica Mars" could be nominated for an Emmy. Okay it's too late for that but you know what I mean. If the Emmys can be this clever with their host, maybe the nominations will be a delightful surprise too. High Fives all around. How are you feeling about NPH hosting the Emmys? Are you excited for the Neil Diamond concert? Talk about it below. "The Philanthropist" Since we are now two episodes in I thought it would be good to revisit this show. The more I think about the title, the worse it gets. I can't get this image out of my head of Teddy whipping out his check book and saying "Have no fear, The Philanthropist is here!" The show would be wise to take the playboy aspects of Teddy's character down a few bedpost notches. It doesn't quite gel that this grieving father would continue to cavort around town with a different lady (or ladies) every night. And you know I like Neve Campbell quite a lot but there is something very Julia Salingeresque about her performance. Every time she talks I kind of keep waiting for her to roll her eyes in exasperation and say, "God Charlie!" I also can't stress enough what a bad story telling device it is to have someone narrating Teddy's story. I just makes the episodes so awkward. I'm picking on the show because I really believe there's a good show in here somewhere. We just have to find it. How about you? Will you keep watching "The Philanthropist?" Talk about it below. Quotes of the Week "You know Michael. I'd appreciate it if when you stopped by it wasn't only to lose your police tail." Madeline to her son on "Burn Notice." "This is why I never sleep with virgins. It's just too much responsibility." Ricky to Jack on "The Secret Live of the American Teenager." I continue to be positively flabbergasted by the dialogue on this show. " When suspects lie to us, we have to lie back. For heaven's sake, Fritzy, if we all stopped lying to each other, how would we ever get to the truth?" Brenda to Fritz on "The Closer." Thanks to Sandy for the quote. Where Have I Seen Them Before? I'm so glad that Rebecca reminded me to tell everyone that Todd Lowe who plays Terry on "True Blood" was Zack on "Gilmore Girls." I'm surprised every time I see him in the world of "True Blood" Every time he comes on the screen, I shout "Oh! It's Zack." It still smarts that they killed off Bill Buchanan this season on "24." But I take some comfort in the fact that James Morrison been popping up everywhere since Bill's untimely demise. We saw him offering a job to Naomi on "Private Practice." And he's the head of the hospital on "HawthoRNe" and he was just on "Eli Stone" as the network station manager who fired his anchor. Jamey Sheridan was the fired anchor on "Eli Stone." He was Captain James Deakins on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and we'll see him next season in the new NBC show "Trauma." David Clennon was the board member trying to get Teddy fired on "The Philanthropist." He'll always be Miles Drentell of "thirtysomething" and later "Once & Again" to me. And, fun fact, the episode was directed by Peter Horton, who played Gary on "thirtysomething." Clennon was also Joshua Nankin on "The Agency" and Dr. Martin Cole on the short-lived TNT series "Saved." Anne Ramsey is Dr. Marshall, the doctor who wrote down the wrong dosage on a patient's chart and then blamed the nurse on "HawthoRNe." I'll always remember Ramsey as Jamie's sister Lisa on "Mad About You." She was also Ellen on "Dexter" and Trish on "Related." Callie Thorne, Sheila on "Rescue Me," was the chef who was Hank's patient on "Royal Pains." Thorne was also Pam Mahone on "Prison Break" and Elena McNulty on "The Wire." And I'll always remember her as Detective Laura Ballard on "Homicide." Moon Bloodgood is Detective Paxson, the one determined to bring Michael down on "Burn Notice." She was Livia last season on "Journeyman" and Rita on "Daybreak" (remember the series that starred Taye Diggs). Nicholas Turturro was Tommy the small time criminal Michael befriended on "Burn Notice." He was, of course, Detective James Martinez on "NYPD Blue." Erik Pallidino is currently playing Marty the gymnastic coach on "Make It or Break It." He was the criminal Detective Paxson was after. Pallidino was also Dr. Dave Malucci on "ER" and we've seen him this season as the man claiming to be a social worker on "Fringe" and the boxer on "Reaper." Ask TV Gal Oh Dan it is such tough times, isn't it. There are only two more episodes of "Eli Stone" left (they air July 4 and July 11). Tom Cavanagh will be back for both to reprise his role as Eli and Nate's dad in the final two episodes. It looks like Maggie and Eli's relationship will continue to be tested in these final two episodes with no guarantee of total resolution. Even if watching these final four episodes has made me mourn the loss of this show all over again, I'm still glad ABC aired the remaining episodes. My question for all of you is are you happy ABC has burned off "Pushing Daisies," "Eli Stone" and, starting July 18, "Dirty Sexy Money" or has it just left a disappointing taste in your mouth? Talk about it below. That's all for today. I'm back on Monday with a review of the new series "Warehouse 13" and "10 Things I Hate About You" and to talk about the performances of the summer. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July. Talk to you on Monday.
My technology staged a rebellion while I was away. It was like a really lame version of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."
Look I've come to grips with the fact Eli is gone and initially I was excited to watch the final four episodes the scummy ABC is running off. But what I can't stomach is it looks like the series will end with Maggie and Eli not even remotely friends never mind together. Tell me I won't walk away from one of the best series ever made annoyed or worse. Dan
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Watching these shows that ABC is burning off has just made me more upset that they were cancelled. I think it's because they are surrounded by the summer shows that, for the most part, are of such a lower quality, that the high quality of PD, Eli, etc. stands out even more and makes ABC's decision to cancel then seem even stupider, which I didn't think was possible. I end every Sa****ay night now mumbling, "I hate you, ABC!" under my breath.
In the first quote it should be tail, not tale. He's not trying to lose a story, he's trying to lose someone following him
I'm very happy that ABC is burning off Eli Stone. It would have been far worse if we had to buy the DVDs just to finish out the season.
I don't want to see NPH just host the Emmys. I want to see him win one himself and then make his acceptance speech one lengthy musical number.
Amy, nooooo! That's how they suck you back in. Even NPH can't make the Emmys anything other than the soul-crushing, spirit-breaking, evil incarnate pile of dashed dreams that it is. I fear NPH will lose all of his awesomeness with this blasphemous move. Just say, "No!" to the Emmys and maybe, just maybe, they will turn into a real awards show someday. In the meantime, I'm going to watch my "Sports Night" and "Buffy" DVDs and remember what good TV is like. For God's sake, "The Wire" never got a nomination! WTF?!
I'm happy that they showed the final 3 eps of Pushing Daises, but I had stopped watching both Eli Stone and DSM prior to their cancellations, so I'm neutral there.
Yes, I'm happy they're showing the remaining Daisies and Eli (never watched DSM), even though it also reminds me of my disappointment.
I'm seriously considering getting Daisies on DVD (dare I spend extra for BluRay? ;-), but I probably won't buy Eli, even though I do like it. And I'd be more annoyed at never being able to see the episodes if they didn't show them at all.
I didn't make it all the way through the second episode of The Philanthropist. You may be right that there's a good show in there somewhere, but apparently the people actually writing it don't have a clue where it is.
I think James Purefoy is charming and just deep enough to carry The Philanthropist, however I totally agree that the cheesey narration needs to go! It's a lazy way to tell the story, and distracts from the rather compelling situations Teddy could and does find himself in. If the mode of story telling doesn't improve quickly, I'm afraid the shows potential will never be realized - and that would be ashame!
Pushing Daisies ended as well as it could have, I think. I didn't really have an issue with it other than the "And they all lived happily ever after; here's how in 30 seconds!" finish. But it's a minor quibble and that final, panoramic shot of the locations from previous episodes was kinda neat.
Eli Stone probably should have ended after the Sigourney Weaver episode, but I liked the new firm Eli and Victor Garber started and would preferred to seen more of that, but alas :(
Dirty Sexy Money was great, but unlike these other two ABC shows, I have no interest in watching anymore episodes now that it's dead. Dunno why, it's just a different vibe for me.