Category: TV (Page 254 of 595)

Don’t write off “The United States of Tara” just yet

I don’t really know how positive or negative the reviews have been for Showtime’s new half-hour dramedy, “The United States of Tara.” The score over at TV.com is 6.5, which isn’t particularly good. (“Weeds” and “Entourage” both scored an 8.9.)

The series stars Toni Collette as Tara, a mother of two teenagers and the owner of no fewer than three other personalities. Tara and her patient husband Max (John Corbett) decided that she would no longer take Xanax to suppress the personalities. Why? We don’t really know — other than Tara’s statement that she wants to “feel something.” (I’m paraphrasing.) The series feels like it’s trying to recreate what makes “Weeds” so great — how a suburban mother’s unique characteristic/career has such a drastic effect on her family.

Anyway, the first few episodes were funny in spots, but high on the uncomfortable meter as Tara’s “alters” would emerge at inopportune times. For its comedy, the series relies too much on how Tara’s other personalities embarrass the rest of the family. And it was starting to get tiresome, especially since it could all be avoided if she only stayed on her meds.

But the sixth episode — “Transition” — was funny as hell. We saw two of Tara’s alters but it was only for a brief moment. The episode revolves around a visit by Tara’s parents for her sister’s birthday party. Her parents want the kids to live with them, and Tara just tries to get through the weekend without transitioning.

But the funniest part of the episode was the daughter’s interaction with her boss, Gene (Nathan Corddry). Gene manages an Applebee’s-type restaurant chain and his character is starting to steal the show. The writers would be wise to utilize Patton Oswalt’s comedic delivery as well. He is hilarious as Max’s co-worker and friend but he’s only appeared in two episodes.

I’m not saying that “The United States of Tara” should be renewed or that it deserves an Emmy. But I was thoroughly impressed with this episode and, unless they really drop the ball over the next couple of installments, I’m going to watch the rest of the season. Those that gave up on the series early might want to check out the sixth episode to see if it blows up their proverbial skirts.

Well, it’s about freaking time…

After months of pissing everyone off by telling reporters that he either wasn’t interested in reprising his role of George Michael Bluth or couldn’t be bothered to sign onto an “Arrested Development” movie until he’d read the script, it looks like Michael Cera has finally caved in.

According to Kristin Dos Santos over at E! Online

Inside sources close to the negotiations of the upcoming Arrested Development movie tell me that Superbad and Juno star (and before that, hello, George-Michael Bluth!) Michael Cera has finally agreed to do the feature film project. Cera had been the lone holdout among the show’s stars for several weeks. All other Bluths, including Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, Jessica Walter, Jeffrey Tambor and David Cross, are already game, according to sources.

I think we all knew this was only inevitable. Either Cera was going to sign, or Mitchell Hurwitz – who’s reportedly in the midst of writing the script – would made George Michael the brunt of more jokes than…well, George Michael.

Adam Carolla, Joel McHale to star in pilots

Los Angeles radio station 97.1 switched from an all-talk format to top 40, so Adam Corolla (who replaced Howard Stern when he moved to Sirius) was out of a job. It turns out that his unemployment only lasted about a day…

Carolla will star in CBS’ pilot Ace in the Hole as a family man who works days as a driving instructor, reports Variety. He’s re-teaming with former Man Show writer Kevin Hench on the comedy.

Joel McHale (right, host of “The Soup”) also looks to get into the sitcom game…

After being pursued by networks for some time now, McHale has finally settled on a project. He’ll star in Community, a comedy pilot over at NBC, as a lawyer who goes to community college after learning he needs more credits for a real college degree, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

As host of E!’s The Soup, McHale–a favorite around these parts–had been courted by networks as a talk-show host but instead was looking for an acting gig. If this works out, E! will have a heck of a time finding a replacement.

I’ve been watching “The Soup” for a while now, and there’s no doubt that McHale has talent. I understand the networks’ desire to give him a talk show, but he may use that as a backup plan if he can’t make it as an actor. The premise of the show — a lawyer who has to return to community college — does show some promise.

24 7.10: Death becomes her, and her

The only way tonight’s episode of “24” could have been more ludicrous is if it featured a special appearance by Ludacris. Scene after scene contained moments of jaw-dropping ridonculousness (yes, Will, I said it again), be it the dialogue – when Tina’s sister shrieked “You killed her!” at Jackie Bauer, I actually said, “Oh, fuck you” back at the screen – or the laughable attempt by Billy Walsh to frame Erika for everything. I’m actually sad that Erika is dead, because after she had the meltdown in the bathroom, I came up with the perfect nickname for her: Beaker.

Billy Walsh is a dumb, mother, fucker. He kills Beaker, and then shoots himself in an attempt to frame her for everything, without a thought about fingerprints, powder burns, etc. Nope, just toss the gun in her general direction, that should be enough to fool the freaking FBI. Can you picture Gil Grissom investigating that scene? He’d look at the Feds and say, “You’re joking, right?” And if I’m Dudley Do-Right, I don’t care what kind of yarn Billy spins for me; dude is the only living witness to a crime scene. Get his arm patched up, and send him straight to Interrogation Room A to make his “statement.” Don’t forget the pliers and a blowtorch.

Ah, but Beaker wasn’t the only one to bite it this week. Tina does something completely reckless and downright heroic by causing Ike Turner’s driver to crash. (I love how Jack was already pulling the trigger as he was yelling “Put your hands on your head!” at the driver.) Did anyone else find it strange, though, that Tina went from conscious to dead faster than it would take to actually shoot someone to death? Jackie gave up on trying to revive her almost as soon as she started CPR. She made this big scene – several scenes, in fact – about how she said she would protect Tina, yet you wouldn’t have known it from her half-assed attempt to resuscitate her. They should have had her go all Ed Harris in “The Abyss” on Tina. “Fight! Fight!” (*slaps Tina*) That would have been both awesome and fitting, since her character is experiencing all sorts of rage and conflict.

“Listen, baby, I love you for helping me betray our country, but there’s no way I’m leaving my wife for you. Have you seen her? She’s hot. And you talk like a muppet.”

So they kill Beaker and Tina, but First Daughter Olivia Taylor continues to live and breathe. If anyone is looking for proof on why life isn’t fair, there it is. The scene between her and Mommy Dearest was hilarious, with Olivia acting like a sullen teenager. For a minute, I could have sworn that Olivia was even holding her breath, and man, was I hoping that Madame Prez would call her on it. “You realize that I have the power to bring a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘You’re grounded,’ right?”

So the slap fight between Jack and Jackie didn’t end in rough sex, as one commenter predicted, but it actually ended better than that. Is there anyone who is on Jackie’s side of this debate? I know I’m not, and I loved Jack telling her in not so many words, “We have a shitty job to do, so suck it up or quit.” Are we supposed to take her declaration that she was prepared to shoot him as foreshadowing? Ah, who am I kidding. This show never follows up on any of the seeds it plants. Remember Jack’s “nephew” from last season?

This week’s Big Reveal is that the young punk running point on this whole campaign is none other than the assistant to Senator Blaine “my name is a major appliance” Mayer (henceforth known as Senator Red Forman). A brilliant move on the writers’ part, actually, since his boss already wants Jack Bauer behind bars. Still, you had to love the look on his face right before the final clock, when he realized that he was about to be in the line of fire. Hey, if you’re going to commit high treason against your country, be prepared to make some sacrifices.

My wife did not like the conversation between Tony and Jack on the steps. Tony seemed a little off to her, and I see what she means. Could they be opening the door for Tony to still be a bad guy? I hope not, for a couple of reasons, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see. And as Inigo Montoya once said, I hate waiting.

Lastly, the selfish writing staff of “24” are getting stingy with the ‘Damn its.’ Only one this week (Beaker). Don’t they realize that people are playing a drinking game to their show? Come on, guys, do your job.

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