Rainbow Girl.

Head over to PopMatters and read my review for Mildred Pierce, one of the reasons why TV is seriously threatening cinema in terms of artistic value.

Boo!

Happy Halloween! This is me as Finn from Adventure Time (one of the TV shows EVERYONE should be watching). What were you today?

She-Devil.

What I said about Madeleine Stowe the other day...should be applied to Elizabeth Hurley in Gossip Girl as well.

Ranger Survival Guidebook.

Queen V.

Whoever decided it was a good idea to resurrect her career, might've done this TV season its biggest favor yet. Are you watching Revenge too?

A Cut of Prime TV.

Out of all the new TV shows this season, only Prime Suspect sounded appealing to me (sorry 60s retro porn) why? For one and one reason only: Maria Bello. Today I caught up with the first two episodes and as expected Ms. Bello was absolutely fantastic. Hell, more than that, she got me hooked on a procedural drama. Something that never really happens (I hat cop, doctor and lawyer shows, Damages being the one huge exception to the rule)

Now to my surprise (although not really) I'm finding out that nobody has given a damn about this show! Critics received it warmly but it hasn't generated enough buzz to save it from getting lost in the mix of procedural series, cop shows and Thursday night mammoths that prevail.

With that said, I believe this is a big crock of crap and will now proceed to give you ten reasons why you should be watching Prime Suspect instead of CSI: Milwaukee and Law & Order: Etiquette Infractors Unit.


1. Maria Bello.
No, really. Three minutes into the first episode where she complains about quitting smoking, scares the crap out of a cab driver and looks fabulous while running, I found myself dreaming of how lovely she would look at the Emmys next year.

2. The way it explores the dynamics between men and women. This show could become a rich study of gender politics in the 21st century!

3. Brian F O'Byrne. I'm thrilled he's becoming more and more popular this year! From Mildred Pierce to this, he proves he can work magic when starring with strong women.


4. The writing! Every line Bello utters is priceless without being too quirky or showy.

5. The cases have actual mystery in them...

6. ...but you're still more drawn to the characters involved.

7. The chemistry between Bello and her onscreen hubby (Kenny Johnson), you wonder how can they keep their clothes on when they're together.

8. Jane's hat!

9. Jane's trenchcoats!

Talk about efficient but understatedly elegant style.

10. The underrated Aidan Quinn is in it as well!

Now, for real, stop doing what you're doing and go check out Prime Suspect.

Were you a fan of the British version? I've never seen one and I'm curious now!

"She has the tracking ability and body odor of a bloodhound"
- Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman)

I Did It All for the Nucky.

Last year like everyone else I was thrilled when it was announced that Marty was directing the pilot for a new HBO show. When said show arrived I gave it a try once and never bothered to return. As it's tradition, the Golden Globes showered the new kid in town with awards and so did the SAG eventually. Then a few weeks ago when Emmy nods were announced, Boardwalk Empire led the way. I couldn't help but wonder what was I missing on that everyone else loved so much.

Unlike a show like Game of Thrones for example that got me so hooked I devoured the whole first season in a day, this one did nothing for me. At the insistence of my buddy Andrew (who recently got me hooked to Parks and Recreation like a crack whore, on well, crack) I got my little hands on the entire first season and recently made my way through every single ep.

If there's something I pride myself in is my ethics when it comes to discussing popular media. I refuse to discuss something I haven't seen in its totality, so I held my peace and now can talk freely about the show.

I guess one of the main reasons why the show never truly clicked with me is because I've never been much into the crime and gangster genre, I respect but don't love The Godfather for example, but hold your breath, so I had a slight bias when watching this show. I was pleasantly surprised by the way in which the writers create some fascinating characters like the one played by Jack Huston (pictured above). I of course loved, loved, loved when they link his character to The Wizard of Oz (the book, not the movie obviously) and for all his precision as a cold blooded murderer, there's a sense of possibility in his story.

Of course I loved Kelly Macdonald's Margaret, as the soul of the show she has the difficult task of being both a symbol and a human but there's nothing this woman can't do. This could've been another take of her troubled wife from No Country for Old Men but she turns her into something more, something that tempts me to come back next season.

Also, I'm a sucker for a Scottish accent.

Now most of what bugs me about the show is how uneven it is and how it relies so much on mediocre actors to carry, take Paz de la Huerta for example, sure she has amazing boobs and is quite hot but I felt her Lucy lacked the slutty selfawareness of someone who uses her looks to get ahead. Same goes for Michael Pitt, who as Andrew himself said is just a poor man's version of Leonardo di Caprio. Those two are the weakest links in a truly outstanding ensemble that somehow never really shines as a coherent whole. The best scenes are always the one in which Macdonald interacts with others.

Oh and Michael Shannon is all sorts of terrific as a slightly psychotic bureau agent trying to get his hands on the mob. I love his character and therefore I was surprised when this happened:

One of my favorite characters doing my least favorite character and then leading to something that promises to tie the characters closer together next season...I have a full month to decide if I wanna invest more time with these characters (new season begins September 25th)

Oh and as far as my blasphemy goes, I much prefer Tim Van Patten's directorial work in Game of Thrones than Marty's in this.

Where do you stand on Boardwalk Empire? Care to convince me to like it or do you support my cause?

The Big L.

The lovely Laura Linney literally floored me with her tremendous performance in The Big C and I have reviewed the complete first season for PopMatters.

Based on her likability, overall charm and especially the power of her performance I think she pretty much has the Emmy for Comedy Actress in the bag.

Sure, the show isn't especially funny and truth be told Amy Poehler is the one who should be collecting this award, but as we know these silly academies like their "comedy" to have tears and more drama than good old laughs.

Anyway, this made me wonder, is Showtime the new go-to channel for Best Actress Emmys?

If Linney triumphs, she will be third lady in a row (after Toni Collette and Edie Falco) to come from that cable channel.

Anyway, have you checked out The Big C yet?

Also check out my review for Demob.

Spanish Lesson.

Gwyn for the Emmy next year!

It's Raining Gwyn!

Apparently Glee heard how much it annoyed me and wanted to win me back. So they want and got Gwyneth Paltrow to guest star!
She'll be in an ep in two weeks and wait for this, she's doing Umbrella! But wait there's more! She's doing a mash-up of Umbrella and Singin' in the Rain!
That's like three of my favorite things of all time rolled up into one big package! It was about time Ryan Murphy gave me something to be gleeful about! (Hardy har har)

Are you excited to see Gwyn on the small screen? I for one, thought she hated TV sets, like her BFF Madonna she seems to be against things us mortals couldn't do without. This month she actually seems to LOVE TV, she'll also appear in the CMA's performing the song from her new movie! I do hope we have a Gwyn invasion for the rest of the year! Don't you?

You've Got Mail.

"A Mr. Brett Favre stopped by and dropped off this picture of a hot dog."


"Finally."

Y'all know I LOVE 30 Rock. After just watching the West coast version of their brilliant live ep, all I've got to say is: best comedy show of the decade.
Did you guys see the live ep? Which version did you prefer?

Tick-tock.

"If only there was a device of some kind to keep the time..."
- Blair (Meester) after Serena (Lively) tells her she's always late for school.

I've said it a million times before but I'll say it again: this woman is doing some of the best comedic work in TV.

Two Things I Didn't Know About Harry Shum, Jr.

First of all yowza. No wonder the girl dumped the guy for him.
I mean I sorta saw this one coming but I was willing to give one of the bigger guys the benefit of having the perfect body.

Second of all, did you guys know Harry was born right here in Costa Rica? Down where I live? Maybe not cool but some of us can never get enough useless trivia huh?
Speaking of which just how crappy was that season premiere? It was like deja vu from season one all over again...any of you liked it?

Betty Crocker.

I'm sorry. I just couldn't help myself.

J'adore Blair Waldorf.

"Blair, come and meet Lou Doillon"

"Maybe you can ask Lou Doi-LLON to be your new best friend, because I'm done."


Why the hell is the brilliant work of Leighton Meester in Gossip Girl snubbed for all awards?

Why Christina Hendricks Should Have an Emmy*

* Yes. I know the writers come up with those details.
No. I will not let go of the fact that she was robbed of her award.

As Much as the Emmys Got it Right This Year...

...these two ladies should've bee shoe-ins for their astonishing supporting work in Nurse Jackie.

Anyone else agree?

Crush of the Week.

After a great turn in the canceled Ugly Betty, this luscious Kiwi has been invading my TV in both new seasons of True Blood and Satisfaction.