Your 21st Century Digital Boy has had quite a weekend: ham, potato salad, green bean casserole and plenty oÁ¢€â„¢ gleaning and gossip on the boobtube front. In lieu of a lengthy dissertation, this weekÁ¢€â„¢s episode is meant to keep you (and me) from a food coma. Sound bites of soundbytes, if you will:
A House Shocker: Kal PennÁ¢€â„¢s character (Dr. Lawrence Kutner) offs himself, leaving the rest of Dr. House and staff to deal with the ramifications for the remainder of the season. Of course, the thrice Á¢€Å“Kumar PatelÁ¢€Á¢€”he of White Castle, Guantanamo Bay and Amsterdam fameÁ¢€”is going to work for President Barack Obama in real life. Three words: Yes he can. To paraphrase KumarÁ¢€â„¢s own words: Á¢€Å“I can’t believe youÁ¢€â„¢re gonna ditch for the Joy Luck Club, dude. You know what their parties are like.Á¢€
ItÁ¢€â„¢s not Unusual: Beneath the eccentric, black humor and innuendo,Á‚ the new ABC NYPD series The Unusuals offers clever, metered banter and quick, intelligent pacing. In short, everything you’d expect of a hot cable show. It seems like a complete thrill to this reviewer… which, of course, can only meanÁ‚ one thing: expect The Unusuals to depart quickly. Similarly-framed shows like Sports Night, Love Monkey, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Trust Me stiffed. One can only assume this one will, too. Bigtime.
In Plod Me Trust: Speaking of Trust Me, TNT just canceled its freshman dramaÁ‚ featuring Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanagh starring as advertising agency execs. One word: dammit! This is the kind of show that is supposed to succeed on cable and, frankly, theÁ‚ show was just getting interesting. ThisÁ‚ duo had chemistry, man. And yet, despite an interesting cast (OK, we agree that Monica PotterÁ¢€â„¢s socially inept Sarah Krajeck-Hunter was dreadful) the show shouldn’t have ended its 13-episode run faster than you could say Á¢€Å“Aaron Sorkin follow-up.Á¢€ What does a sharp-tongued dialogue mastah like Cavanagh have to do to land a true hit?Á‚ Even though I liked it, Ed doesnÁ¢€â„¢t count… and Love Monkey never had a chance because of its unfortunate name.
Reality Bites: So here’s your WTF moment of the month: thereÁ¢€â„¢s a new reality show headed to Fox, from the people who brought you Big Brother (Endemol). Viewers get toÁ‚ watch the recession come to life in SomeoneÁ¢€â„¢s Gotta GoÁ¢€”a reality TV series where small business employees lose their jobs on live television. Do we really need this at a time when our economy is looking so Depression Era? When businesses are boarding up left and right? When over 13 million children in the United StatesÁ¢€”thatÁ¢€â„¢s 18% of all children for you U.S. census honksÁ¢€”live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level? Horrible idea, Fox. Maybe even your worst since bringing Bill OÁ¢€â„¢Reilly on board. WhereÁ¢€â„¢d ya learn your trade?
Why So Curious? Lastly, if youÁ¢€â„¢re a parent and youÁ¢€â„¢ve not locked into PBS KidsÁ¢€â„¢ brilliant Curious George, you don’t know what you’re missing. The animated series launched after the Hollywood blockbuster film and is based on the the popular books by Margret and H.A. Rey.Á‚ It’s brilliant stuff. In February, Universal released Curious George: Monkey Collection, Vol. 1, featuring the first three seasons. With lessons in an amusing, non-obnoxious format, a toe-tapping jazz theme song by New OrleansÁ¢€â„¢ favorite son Dr. John, narration of some episodes by William H. Macy (Magnolia, The Cooler) and upbeat, live action interstitials, itÁ¢€â„¢s the most fun TV-time adults can have with their kids.
Now if youÁ¢€â„¢ll excuse me, I really must get back to theseÁ‚ chocolate rabbits. More next time… Om nom nom nom…
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