RSSStill not high on 'Weeds'
That's why I must revisit again how disappointed I am in "Weeds" this season. None of it is working for me. Well except the scenes with Andy. I seem to enjoy Justin Kirk no matter what he's doing. And I did love the scene this week that had Dr. Audra Kitson (played pretty wonderfully by Alanis Morissette) telling Andy she was cutting their date short and why. But the rest of it? Cecilia selling makeup and then selling makeup and drugs. Doug and Silas in business together. There's been nothing particularly funny or compelling about these story lines. But what's really sending me over the edge are Nancy and Esteban. She escapes his house so she can have her baby in the hospital because she fears him but then is upset with him because he won't put his name on the birth certificate? I'm having a really hard time understanding why Nancy wants anything to do with him at this point. And don't tell me it's love and passion, because I'm not buying it. I just can't get behind a protagonist that is this infuriating. How about you? Discussion Topic of the Day So here's the deal. I think we all like "Royal Pains" and are happy it was picked up for a second season. Star Mark Feuerstein is such a likeable guy I can't help but root for him. But are you hoping for a little more from the show. I can't quite figure out what's missing? More interesting medical cases? A less annoying brother? More romantic tension? Right now the show, while rather charming, is kind of instantly forgettable. What do you think? Ask TV Gal Quick Glee question: Are they going to be rerunning the premiere in the Fall? I missed it, but I do have it on my computer. I would rather watch it in HD on my tv though. Thanks! Anne I checked with FOX and they are going to re-air the pilot of "Glee" on September 2, that's one week before the show's September 9 premiere. The series premiere is also available on hulu.com and fox.com. There are also additional "Glee" scenes available on Hulu. And in case you missed this news, the cast of "Glee" could be coming to a mall near you. Click here for detail. Quotes of the Week "Matthew McConaughey dropped out because I told him he'd have to wear a shirt." Andrea about why Matthew McConaughey wouldn't be at her wedding on the series finale (sniff) of "Samantha Who?" "I thought we'd decided that Betty was just a well-built, worldly woman with questionable fashion sense," Alice about Ben's dad's fiancee, who used to be a prostitute, on "The Secret Live of the American Teenager." "He wrote me up for using curse words and that's bull****." Detective Provenza about a retired detective on "The Closer." "They're multi-hyphenates. Strippers who sing." Kat about the Pussycat Dolls on "10 Things I Hate About You." "The reason I'm in this position is because two houseguests stabbed me in the back. Ronnie, the manipulative dorkapottomus with the God complex. Jessie, the self absorbed, smeedium wearing, ego maniac with a personality and IQ of ironically enough, a banana." Casey on "Big Brother." Thanks to Michelle for the quote. "I'm going to pray all right, so just bow your freaking heads!" Brian when he thinks the plane he's on is going to crash on "Dirty Sexy Money." Thanks to Ryan for the quote. Exchange of the Week "Yeah of course I'm happy. Why wouldn't I be?" Mary to Marshall on "In Plain Sight." "Because you almost never are." Marshall's response. That's all for today. I won't have a column on Monday as I'm heading out first to Vermont for my cousin's wedding and then to Los Angeles for the Television Critics Association (TCA) Press Tour (and no I haven't even begun to pack. For either trip. Stop stressing me out. ). But I'll be back on Wednesday with a look at the season premiere of "Monk" and familiar faces. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Do you have something you want me to find out for you while I'm at the TCA press tour? Write me at 
You know I only tend repeatedly criticize the shows I care about.
amytvgal@zap2it.com or follow me on Twitter. Have a great weekend. Talk to you on Wednesday.
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal®
Amy.... why are your columns getting shorter and shorter? I almost wish you'd go back to once a week where we'd get this LONG column that was always awesome. Everytime I get to the end, I always want about 5 more paragraphs!
I think Royal Pains is fine. The brother could tone it down a bit, but other than that, it is light, fluffy summer fare.
Hey! I love Evan on Royal Pains. Is it wrong I'm already a Evan/Divya and Tucker/Libby shipper? Mark is wonderful as always. The show is a fun summer romp that continues to grow on me. I don't want it to turn all broody and introspective but I wouldn't mind a bit more gravitas. Since the show is about Hank and he's floating through life at the moment so is the story. The mention about how everyone leaves the Hamptons in the Fall is probably the reason Divya's business attempt failed twice and a bit ominous for Hank's fledgling co. We'll probably get more into that in S2.
OMG. I'm so excited for Glee!
10 things i hate about had a number of good lines this week. The one about Bono and introducing the GBF (Gay Best Friend). LOL
Hey! I love Evan on Royal Pains. Is it wrong I'm already a Evan/Divya and Tucker/Libby shipper? Mark is wonderful as always. The show is a fun summer romp that continues to grow on me. I don't want it to turn all broody and introspective but I wouldn't mind a bit more gravitas. Since the show is about Hank and he's floating through life at the moment so is the story. The mention about how everyone leaves the Hamptons in the Fall is probably the reason Divya's business attempt failed twice and a bit ominous for Hank's fledgling co. We'll probably get more into that in S2.
OMG. I'm so excited for Glee!
10 things i hate about had a number of good lines this week. The one about Bono and introducing the GBF (Gay Best Friend). LOL
The only problem with Royal Pains is Jill. There's just no chemistry between her and Hank. And to me, she's just kind of dull and doesn't add anything to the show, nor do their "romantic" scenes or disagreements. If they lose her, the show would be much better.
I think Jenji Kohan is trying to make Nancy come across as "conflicted" about Esteban, but she just comes across as incomprehensible. I'm not having fun with this season of "Weeds" at all -- not even Andy.
The series is written to be too episodic even though it's ostensibly a continuing storyline; all the "development" just seems to melt away. Andy finagles his way into a financial windfall -- but then the writers made it go away with his expensive toy obsession. Celia gets kidnapped -- and then ends up right back in retail sales. I'm expecting the new baby to be very quiet and mostly ignored when it's not a handy plot device -- whereas in real life babies are enormously needy, requiring huge time commitments to deal with.
Amy, you have hit the nail on the head for me with Royal Pains. I love it, but something is missing, and I just can't put my finger on it? And I love "Even R. Lawson, CEO of HankMed," but he vacillates from being super annoying to extremely loveable. I wish they would settle on a tone for him--and not the annoying tone.
And I'm sure that when you said you'd be back Wednesday with a look at the season premiere of Monk, you meant "and Psych," right? RIGHT??? ;-)
Have fun at the wedding and (especially) the TCA press tour.
"Right now the show, while rather charming, is kind of instantly forgettable."
Ditto!
Royal Pains is a pleasant summer watch, but very little about it is memorable. It's turning into a standard medical procedural with soap opera elements.
#1: I'd say less annoying brother to start. He reminds me of Chuck's best friend Morgan in that show's first season. Very childish, immature and bothersome. Are we supposed to believe this guy Evan is really a CPA and has done extensive work in NYC for a few high profile clients? He certainly doesn't behave that way.
#2: Some kind of overarching storyline aside from HankMD his on and off again romance with the hospital administrator. I thought the Boris character might provide some mystery and drama, but so far it's been very minimal. How about inserting a bad guy into the mix??? Either a competitor who wants to put Hank out of business (and out of the Hamptons), a local law enforcement/medical officer that har***es the HankMD trio, or even a criminal type or con man that suckers Hank into a deal that he can't back out of with dangerous threats. Something. Anything.
#3: What happened to the "less fortunate" patients that Hank was supposed to be helping??? He's not doing much of that pro bono work he mentions in the show's opening sequence. Add a few interesting and colorful recurring local characters that can't afford health care who live and work in the Hamptons.
Does that help?
I must agree with Amy & Anna on Royal Pains. As I was crawling out of the shower late last night, I was thinking to myself, "Royal Pains is cute, but I don't know how long it will last with me." It seems too formulaic and predictable.
As Anna points out, the show needs something to mix things up. Jill's ex Charlie will be back this week, so that may do a little something for the romance angle, but I would like to see some biz complications show up, or some personal problems for Divya or Mr. CEO. The closest thing we have had so far is Divya's sorta-engagement, which seemed like it was with a guy she didn't want to marry until the closing scene where she got all p***ionate with him. Ruined all chances of something good happening with that part of the storyline!
I mostly agree that Royal Pains is highly enjoyable but instantly forgettable, except that last night's episode rankled so much that there's NO WAY I would put it in the forgettable category.
Did it bother anyone else that the character who wanted to see Hank rather than Divya was portrayed as an unforgivable lout with zero understanding. I'm sorry, but Divya's NOT a doctor. She may know her stuff, but there is a difference. If I were to call a premium "concierge" doctor for the first time and get a visit from his ***ISTANT (sans M.D.), I'd be seriously unhappy. Divya can do follow-up visits--but the first visit should always include Hank. I'm actually surprised Evan didn't make an issue of that.
Sorry for the rant, but this really bothered me. Why in the world should whats-his-name have taken on faith that Divya was qualified? I would have insisted on a visit from the doctor, too.