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I don’t think Leverage is just your average summer replacement show anymore. Actually, I never did. I loved the show since the moment I sat down to marathon what was On Demand.
And there was a Leverage mini-marathon yesterday afternoon on TNT leading up to the season finale. Because who doesn’t love a marathon?
But the best part about the finale was the short promo for the upcoming season. It went on to say that even though this season is over, they are still in production and will be returning in September. And that just tickles me pink.
Honestly though, after this season, I was left wanting a little more from the finale. I felt it should have been a 2-hour deal and should have gone into more with that whole Moreau storyline. It definitely left something to be desired.
Things I absolutely LOVED:
- Eliot and Hardison. Their scenes together always make me giggle, but just throwing them together for con after con and watching them interact when they’re butting heads about what they both think they should be doing is absolutely hysterical
- Eliot being gung-ho about saving people… or more accurately, kids.
- Hardison being an ass-kicking geek. It’s clear Eliot had an influence on him because at the beginning of the series, Hardison constantly complained about how he just wanted to sit behind the computer and do the hacking. Now? He’s kicking asses and taking names.
- Parker was great. Her scene in the airport hiding from the FBI agent was nothing short of funny. She got to play the “grifter” in this episode so Sophie could go off and focus on another part of the con. Her mantra had to be: Don’t stab. Don’t stab. Don’t stab. Classic
Things I didn’t care for:
- I’m not a fan of the way the episode ended. It felt like it was cleaned up a little too neatly. And again, I really felt it should have been a 2-hour episode.
- I was a little wigged out by the previews for this finale. There were obvious clips from the episode that didn’t give anything away. But the clip of a dead Parker just seemed a little bit much.
The best thing ever? Leverage will be coming back in December. And I really can’t wait.
It’s not that I hate summer replacement television. Actually, this season I’m rather pleased with the shows that I HAVE been watching.
Leverage is my current favorite. In fact, I have it set up to record on the DVR and then watch each episode at least four times before deleting them. And THEN once they are OnDemand, I’ll watch them over and over until the episodes disappear and new ones come on – and then the whole cycle starts over again.
It’s saying something about a television show when you just can’t get enough of it. I remember seeing previews of it once upon a time, but never really thought to get into it. And now? Now, it’s my new favorite show. Well, my new favorite summer replacement hour-long drama. And I have a GINORMOUS celebrity crush on Christian Kane, who plays Eliot, the tough guy who beats everyone up. Christian Kane did some early episodes of Angel, and then a few later ones towards the end. He was the whiny bad guy that wanted to be cool in Angel. Now, he IS the cool guy.
As a show, the concept is great. The stories you can tell about the cons they run are endless, and there’s an unlimited number of stories you can tell about the relationships between the characters. It’s almost like I want all these criminals to be my best friend so I can run cons with them. I haven’t been able to say anything like that since Dexter, who is my serial killer BFF.
The other show I’m watching right now is on Sy-Fy, called Warehouse 13. What cracks me up about this show is that I never had any intentions of watching it. Ever. I had even gone to a focus group on this very show. Although I don’t remember thinking very fondly of it. I guess it says a lot about a television show when there’s nothing else on. Actually, that’s not fair at all. I do enjoy this one, and I didn’t think I would. AND.. BONUS! Jane Espenson happens to write for it. So that’s cool.
But as far as other summer replacement shows? I’m trying to watching Persons Unknown on NBC as I write this – but it is not keeping my attention. Maybe another episode or two will help with that… but we’ll see.
What shows are you going to watch this summer?
Right now. Right this very moment. It is 8:43 pm. 13 minutes of my life are gone, and I can’t get them back. I have wasted so much time on summer replacement show over the years, but this is the first one that has really hurt my brain.
I’m watching NBC’s 100 Questions, whose pilot episode is supposed to be about a woman in search of love trying out a dating service, where her counselor asks her to fill out a survey.
Seriously?
It’s like a really bad SNL skit with a clearly fake laugh track. The show wants to be a low budget Friends with a hint of How I Met Your Mother and Accidentally on Purpose, but so much worse… I’m actually sorry I recorded it in HD. I plan on deleting it right away. Because I died a little inside by watching this show.
If there is one show to avoid this summer – if it lasts – would be 100 Questions.
I’ve been a little behind this year on Upfronts Week. I have been keeping up with it personally, but as far as blogging goes, I’ve been behind. I’m very excited to see some of the shows the networks have already renewed and the ones they have cancelled, and from what I can tell so far, it’s looking like it’s going to be a good fall season.
I’ll be posting each network individually, and of course, what I’ll be watching.
I can’t wait to see what the networks are doing.
A deal is in the works for Neil Patrick Harris to appear in an episode of Glee during May Sweeps that will be directed by the one and only Joss Whedon.
Squeeeeeeee!
I’d heard a rumor about this today, and I wasn’t sure what to think. Outside of being overwhelmed with excitement that the infamous NPH/Whedon duo is going to reunite, I am more than excited that the reunion will be on my favorite FOX show, Glee.
The news of the upcoming episode was dropped in a Twitter update by EW’s Michael Ausiello, who is no less excited than I, or any other fans are.
I must say, I don’t always look forward to May Sweeps. I think that’s mostly because Upfronts are usually close by and the fate of our favorite shows hangs in the balance, so the importance of May Sweeps is HUGE, but very overdramatic.
ANYway, NPH. Glee.
The episode and the role will be tailored specifically to the How I Met Your Mother superstar, and will no doubt include a song and dance number.
Yes. I am excited. Although, the waiting for Glee to return in April will be hard, I’m sure it will be well worth the wait.
What are your thoughts on Glee and NPH’s upcoming role?
This is truly an awesome occasion. And no, it’s not because I’m watching repeats of Saved by the Bell from the days when it was called Good Morning, Miss Bliss, because that is just silly.
It is also not because I’m watching my cat sit on the piano and look out the window, and I could watch him do that for hours, only he’ll get bored in about ten minutes and will probably take a nap or chase his tail or something. Because he is just that weird.
It might be because the Fall season of TV is winding down to the point where most of the networks are ALREADY showing repeats of my favorite shows. Maybe not ALL the networks, but certainly CBS so far, and maybe ABC.
And it could be because I’m looking forward to watching the final episodes of Dollhouse, even though it is ending for good. But it will be great to see what comes out of Joss’ mind next.
But it is absolutely because Chriso came to me last week and mentioned that he would like to guest post here, on my blog. And in return, I would post on his.
What a great idea! I don’t think I’ve ever guest posted, nor have I thought of having someone guest post here. Mostly because I’m not sure how many people actually read my blog and I do it mostly for me and the few readers I may get on any particular post. Not fame. Not fortune. Just the pure entertainment of discovering who I am through the wonders of television. And blogging. And being me.
Wow. I think I’m rambling. But I’m overtired. And distracted by Saved by the Bell. And the cat has moved already, and it hasn’t even been 4 minutes.
Where was I? Oh yes. Guest blogging. And Chriso.
Chriso is a regular blogger over at Playerpress, where they get actual readers and tons of comments and it’s a real community. Actually, it’s technically a Sportscaster Network, where they talk about – you guessed it – sports. You can read some of Chriso’s articles here.
So, sometime soon, keep your eyes peeled for a post from someone who is not me, but someone who is Chriso. And of course, I will post a link from Playerpress when I post there as well.
Now it’s time to get back to Saved by the Bell, and possibly getting ready for work.
I think you know what I’m talking about. No? Really? I thought just saying “Angel” would be enough to give it away completely. But really, no? Okay then.
I’ll start by saying that I LOVE Angel. I love David Boreanaz as Angel. I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and when he was on it, and I love that he got his own show out of the deal. Although, I generally think that Angel as a standalone series was a little anticlimactic towards the end. There’s a lot of build up, and it felt like there was no resolution. No closure.
But I still love Angel.
And that may be just the problem. Or not. Depends on who you are, I guess.
You see, gentle readers, TNT does this awesome thing they like to call Primetime in the Daytime or Primetime in the Morning where they air older shows that used to be on during primetime. So, yeah, they’re airing reruns. So if you want to catch up with a particular show, you can. Law and Order, Angel and Charmed are all on that roster. But for me, Angel is the only one that really matters.
What’s great about it is that they air the entire series from start to finish over and over again. All five seasons. And they air two episodes a day. So, in theory, if they don’t have any breaks in programming you can catch the beginning and watch all the way until the end every 11 weeks. How cool is that? Sure, I own the entire series on dvd once, and I’m on my way to a second time, but if Angel is on TV, and I happen to pass by it, I’m going to watch. That is a given.
And this is where I talk about how much of a distraction that is. At least for me.
My issue is the time of day TNT airs Angel. And then it leads to the fact that they air two episodes a day. They air it at 6 am. And if I’m up, I’ll watch it. But the only time I’m really up that early anymore is if I have to go to work at 8 am. And if I have to work, I don’t really have time to be watching Angel because it’s easy to get engrossed in it, and I really should be getting ready for work.
Yes, I am easily distractable. And a show like Angel is just the thing in the morning that will inevitably make me almost late for work every single time. And I learned this last week when I was cutting it close every day. Because Angel was on TV, and I had already see the episode, but I’ll watch just until the commercial break, because this is a really good scene, and it’s David Boreanaz.
So, gentle readers, Angel is my weakness. Well, one of my weaknesses. And a good enough reason for me to want to work at 11 instead of 8. At least I can watch Angel AND be on time, if not early for work everyday.
So beware of Angel being all dark and broody so early in the morning. He might distract you.
It’s interesting when dueling networks have similar programming. It was painfully clear a few years ago when reality tv was all the rage and EVERYONE was showing the same programming but with different characters and producers but the storylines from week to week would be shockingly similar.
I can remember when I first started watching Grey’s Anatomy that many of the basic plots were the same as what I’d been watching on House in previous seasons. To the point where the diagnoses were spot on.
Even wannabe shows that don’t seem to last have constant similarities to currently high-rated programming. Take a look at Rules of Engagement, which only last little more than a season. There you had 2 couples, and a single guy. It felt like I was watching a cheapened version of How I Met Your Mother.
So, in light of all those crappy rip offs and wannabe shows, I present to you the very latest in the Battle of the Networks: Accidentally on Purpose vs Cougar Town. CBS vs ABC.
I watch both shows. I LOVE both shows. They each have their own little quirks and qualities that make them funny. But are they the same show?
The basic premise is the same: older woman (40s) is having trouble with being the older woman and ends up in search of a younger life, thus leaving her in the arms of a much younger man. Each woman is an individual. They both have their own little things that makes them special. And funny.
The MAJOR difference between the shows? One is pregnant by her younger man, and the other already has a kid, and has lived that life.
Bille (Accidentally on Purpose) shacks up with a guy in his early 20’s and ends up getting knocked up.
Whereas, Jules (Cougar Town) already has the kid, and is looking to recapture her youth after a divorce.
Both shows provide hilarious antics and amusing dynamics between the characters. It’s even easy to see which characters match up on both shows. Two best friends, the guy next door and his friends.
But each show is funny in it’s own right.
What I do find comforting is the fact that after their freshman seasons respectively, each show will find footing and become more original and unique. And both, on separate networks will probably survive.
Just look at House and Grey’s Anatomy. Sure, early on some of the episodes had hints from the other show, but here we are, many MANY seasons later, and each show has a completely different feel, and have both taken totally different paths. *Sniffle sniffle* They grow up so fast.
So, in looking at all those things, I like both shows because of their similarities and differences and can’t wait to see each one pan out for more than a season because it will be interesting to see which path each show chooses.
Whose side are you on?
I know I haven’t been watching Heroes. I pretty much broke up with the series after the atrocity they call season 2. And then again one third of the way through season 3. So I haven’t really been keeping up with my Heroes news.
But it has been confirmed by a source, but not by NBC, that Adrian Pasdar who plays Nathan Petrelli, will no longer be on the show. Apparently, he’s been killed of before: the end of season 3 when Sylar had slit his throat. But he had come back to do guest spots and take on the guise of other characters. However, this is rumored to be the FINAL farewell for the elder Petrelli brother.
Am I surprised? Not sure. The real question is: do I care? And there is no simple answer to that one.
Heroes has been teetering on the edge of being a mediocre show for quite some time. And again, I have to mention that I gave up on it long ago. Believe it or not, I actually tuned in for a few scenes when I got home from work tonite. And I’m not gonna lie, but it was more background noise than anything else.
Also, it’s not really the kind of show that you can put down and pick up randomly at any episode. You really have to follow it, because the stories are so intermingled and twisted together, and so very elaborate. And it’s not for the casual viewer, unfortunately. It’s for the dedicated fan who has been watching since the beginning. But how many of those are left anyway?
ANYway, Adrian Pasdar will be leaving the show. His final episode has yet to air, although NBC will not confirm or deny the rumors.
What do you think about Heroes this season?
Well, it looks like NBC has ordered the remaining 9 episodes for it’s new Thursday night sitcom, Community.
While it is a good show, and has quite a few moments of being hysterically funny, it’s certainly not my favorite new sitcom this season. But the news of Community getting a full season is definitely a relief. At least it’s getting the chance it deserves.
Too often, networks kill shows that have potential, but that aren’t producing the ratings they should early on. And really good shows end way too early. But NBC appears to have put a bit of faith in Community.
And I guess I can see why.
shameless watching of tv 