GCB: Season 1, Episode 5 “Forbidden Fruit” (C+)
Though previously this show had been all about the women and each of their spouses, here Carlene and Cricket were separated from their better halves and relegated to some mischievous and ultimately unsuccessful blackmail. In the wake of Bitsy’s death, it didn’t take long for Gigi and Burl to hook up, as Gigi unwisely opted to stay in Dallas to explore their relationship rather than jet off to Paris. Carlene looking through a telescope to spy on them was a bit literal, and her eager desire to convert those non-Christians from Andrew’s company was somewhat alarming. Heather did a great job asking Andrew for help and landing Sheryl Crow as the event’s featured artist, managing to raise three million dollars easily. Sharon’s time spent with Pastor John was entertaining, but it’s good that it’s come to an end now that Zach finally manned up and took responsibility for his family and for disciplining his troublesome son Bozeman, who managed to hook up with Cricket’s daughter Alexandra, who wasn’t quick to protest the romance. Amanda’s latest romance started rather peculiarly, and of course she would end up entangled with Carlene’s younger brother, something that bothered Carlene enough for her to try to end it immediately by blackmailing Amanda. While I’d argue that Luke bringing Amanda to Boobylicious on a date is rather suspicious, he does seem to be a nice guy, and it looks like he’s not headed anywhere, judging by the kiss he planted on Amanda after flirting with her for the entirety of the episode.
Showing posts with label GCB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GCB. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
What I’m Watching: GCB
GCB: Season 1, Episode 4 “A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” (C+)
There’s a certain point at which I begin to ask myself why I’m still watching a show, if it’s not hooking me right away and if the grades I’m giving each episode aren’t particularly high. That’s the case with this show, an intriguing premise that isn’t particularly tailored to me, and in whose story I haven’t yet become fully invested. Generally speaking, however, this show is quite harmless, though I’m sure that plenty of people are still offended by it on a weekly basis (not that they’re watching, of course). This episode is full of duplicity, though everyone at first seems to have honest intentions, which isn’t always the case on this show. Amanda working with Blake and Cricket was never going to work out, even if Cricket can’t be jealous of Amanda in the same way that other wives might. Trying to sabotage her, however, was rather cruel, and Amanda, for all her good intentions, is being a little too indiscreet about Blake’s secret life. The spotlight in this hour shone on Sharon and Zach, who began a trial separation at the insistence of Pastor John. Zach heating up frozen dinners and claiming that they’re just as good as Sharon’s, only to try to end their time apart by asking her to come back and cook again, wasn’t terribly impressive, whereas Sharon actually made the most of her alone time and did some serious building. Carlene’s investigation hasn’t been all that fruitful, and the whole storyline with Uncle Burl wasn’t nearly as enticing as it could have been.
There’s a certain point at which I begin to ask myself why I’m still watching a show, if it’s not hooking me right away and if the grades I’m giving each episode aren’t particularly high. That’s the case with this show, an intriguing premise that isn’t particularly tailored to me, and in whose story I haven’t yet become fully invested. Generally speaking, however, this show is quite harmless, though I’m sure that plenty of people are still offended by it on a weekly basis (not that they’re watching, of course). This episode is full of duplicity, though everyone at first seems to have honest intentions, which isn’t always the case on this show. Amanda working with Blake and Cricket was never going to work out, even if Cricket can’t be jealous of Amanda in the same way that other wives might. Trying to sabotage her, however, was rather cruel, and Amanda, for all her good intentions, is being a little too indiscreet about Blake’s secret life. The spotlight in this hour shone on Sharon and Zach, who began a trial separation at the insistence of Pastor John. Zach heating up frozen dinners and claiming that they’re just as good as Sharon’s, only to try to end their time apart by asking her to come back and cook again, wasn’t terribly impressive, whereas Sharon actually made the most of her alone time and did some serious building. Carlene’s investigation hasn’t been all that fruitful, and the whole storyline with Uncle Burl wasn’t nearly as enticing as it could have been.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Take Three: GCB
GCB: Season 1, Episode 3 “Love is Patient” (C+)
This show is definitely trying to be as over-the-top and wild as possible, as evidenced by the married couples present at the singles event at the church and Amanda’s withholding of milk from Sharon until she confronted Zach about kissing her. This is the perfect show to follow “Desperate Housewives,” and therefore it might have some success since that show is headed off the air at the end of the season. This episode expands the plot of the show considerably by revealing that, prior to his death, Bill came down to Texas to convince Ripp to invest, and now Ripp is trying to figure out what Amanda knows about what Bill did with the money. The direction of the show has been transformed dramatically by Ripp and Carlene’s conclusion that, due to some creative interpretation of Amanda’s words, Bill must still be alive. It’s nice to see that, frustrations aside, Blake does make Cricket happy, and she’s able to get her happiness elsewhere. Having her fitness instructor’s fiancée’s company bought up and torn down was quite a show of power, and while Carlene is clearly the queen bee of the pack, Cricket can be just as aggressive and unforgiving. It’s fun to see Tyler Jacob Moore, who plays Tony on “Shameless,” as Pastor John, once again the cleanest and kindest person among much more devious people. The cleverest and most cutting insult delivered by Carlene in this hour, and immediately criticized by Pastor John, was her message to “take the sin out of single.”
This show is definitely trying to be as over-the-top and wild as possible, as evidenced by the married couples present at the singles event at the church and Amanda’s withholding of milk from Sharon until she confronted Zach about kissing her. This is the perfect show to follow “Desperate Housewives,” and therefore it might have some success since that show is headed off the air at the end of the season. This episode expands the plot of the show considerably by revealing that, prior to his death, Bill came down to Texas to convince Ripp to invest, and now Ripp is trying to figure out what Amanda knows about what Bill did with the money. The direction of the show has been transformed dramatically by Ripp and Carlene’s conclusion that, due to some creative interpretation of Amanda’s words, Bill must still be alive. It’s nice to see that, frustrations aside, Blake does make Cricket happy, and she’s able to get her happiness elsewhere. Having her fitness instructor’s fiancée’s company bought up and torn down was quite a show of power, and while Carlene is clearly the queen bee of the pack, Cricket can be just as aggressive and unforgiving. It’s fun to see Tyler Jacob Moore, who plays Tony on “Shameless,” as Pastor John, once again the cleanest and kindest person among much more devious people. The cleverest and most cutting insult delivered by Carlene in this hour, and immediately criticized by Pastor John, was her message to “take the sin out of single.”
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Round Two: GCB
GCB: Season 1, Episode 2 “Hell Hath No Fury” (C+)
I’m not sure that I had high expectations for this show, but it’s proving to be highly soapy and not all that exciting. It’s clear that Amanda wants to be a different person than she was in high school, but the attitudes presented to her by Charlene and everyone else is going to make that nearly impossible. Carlene bringing Amanda out into the middle of nowhere and then leaving her there because she has to drive her pig back was cruel, and Amanda isn’t showing any signs of backing down, getting rid of the Amish outfits picked out by Carlene by rallying all her fellow Boobylicious employees to have Ripp make the obvious choice. Carlene’s selection of “Jesus, Take the Wheel” as an invocation of Amanda’s husband who died at the wheel was rather biting as well, but so was Amanda having “My cup runneth over” inscribed on the back of the uniforms. Punishment does seem to be visited upon the descendants, though Laura miraculously got labeled a fox rather than a javelina by the other girls, and it was Alexandra who got horribly embarrassed when last year’s uniform couldn’t contain this year’s breasts. Sharon isn’t having an easy time wrangling her clueless husband Zach, who isn’t doing much to hide his affection for Amanda, while Cricket seems to have accepted her situation with the kindly but clearly not straight Blake, who nearly misses his daughter’s big wardrobe malfunction to celebrate a milestone of another kind with his boyfriend on the ranch.
I’m not sure that I had high expectations for this show, but it’s proving to be highly soapy and not all that exciting. It’s clear that Amanda wants to be a different person than she was in high school, but the attitudes presented to her by Charlene and everyone else is going to make that nearly impossible. Carlene bringing Amanda out into the middle of nowhere and then leaving her there because she has to drive her pig back was cruel, and Amanda isn’t showing any signs of backing down, getting rid of the Amish outfits picked out by Carlene by rallying all her fellow Boobylicious employees to have Ripp make the obvious choice. Carlene’s selection of “Jesus, Take the Wheel” as an invocation of Amanda’s husband who died at the wheel was rather biting as well, but so was Amanda having “My cup runneth over” inscribed on the back of the uniforms. Punishment does seem to be visited upon the descendants, though Laura miraculously got labeled a fox rather than a javelina by the other girls, and it was Alexandra who got horribly embarrassed when last year’s uniform couldn’t contain this year’s breasts. Sharon isn’t having an easy time wrangling her clueless husband Zach, who isn’t doing much to hide his affection for Amanda, while Cricket seems to have accepted her situation with the kindly but clearly not straight Blake, who nearly misses his daughter’s big wardrobe malfunction to celebrate a milestone of another kind with his boyfriend on the ranch.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Pilot Review: GCB
GCB (ABC)
Premiered March 4 at 10pm
It’s no coincidence that this series airs immediately after “Desperate Housewives.” This show is trying hard to recapture the steaminess and scandal that the 9pm slot holder once had and has lost since its racy premiere back in 2004. This time, however, they’re doing it in the name of the Lord. That is to say that the backdrop of a Christian community means that most of the jokes, particularly those from Kristin Chenoweth’s Carlene, are at the expense of religiosity. To some, that might be entertaining, and to others, it will most certainly be offensive. For our purposes, the quality of the show is paramount. Its initial setup, featuring Amanda’s Bernie Madoff-like husband plunging off a cliff while trying to enjoy too many pleasures at once, is somewhat original, and transplanting the family to Texas opens up a whole new world of possibilities. I am pleased to see Miriam Shor from “Swingtown” and the always wonderful Chenoweth in the cast, as well as Marisol Nichols as the one woman that might actually believe in Amanda’s goodness. The men aren’t terrible either, portrayed by David James Elliott of “JAG,” Mark Deklin, forever trapped in Texas after starring on last year’s short-lived “Lone Star,” and Brad Beyer from “Jericho.” Annie Potts makes for an entertaining grandmother, and Leslie Bibb isn’t asked to do much besides look flustered. The show is full of juicy developments and secrets, and that should serve it well going forward as a primetime soap opera. Amanda seeking her revenge on Carlene and then exclaiming “I kind of like this church stuff!” is exactly the kind of thing that should delight happy viewers and turn away others. Like its time slot predecessor “Pan Am,” it’s hardly essential viewing, but could be fun for a guilty pleasure.
How will it work as a series? As Amanda establishes herself in town, she’s likely to make more friends and enemies based on her attitude and behavior in the present day rather than in high school. With all the affairs and lying going on, this show is going to have more than its fill of material to draw from, and plenty of characters to utilize and showcase.
How long will it last? That’s unknown. The pilot didn’t do as well as “Pan Am” did back in the fall, and was about on par with “Desperate Housewives,” whose ratings are not what they used to be. This show does have an appeal, and I don’t think that ABC will want to give up on it or make a decision either way just yet.
Pilot grade: B
Premiered March 4 at 10pm
It’s no coincidence that this series airs immediately after “Desperate Housewives.” This show is trying hard to recapture the steaminess and scandal that the 9pm slot holder once had and has lost since its racy premiere back in 2004. This time, however, they’re doing it in the name of the Lord. That is to say that the backdrop of a Christian community means that most of the jokes, particularly those from Kristin Chenoweth’s Carlene, are at the expense of religiosity. To some, that might be entertaining, and to others, it will most certainly be offensive. For our purposes, the quality of the show is paramount. Its initial setup, featuring Amanda’s Bernie Madoff-like husband plunging off a cliff while trying to enjoy too many pleasures at once, is somewhat original, and transplanting the family to Texas opens up a whole new world of possibilities. I am pleased to see Miriam Shor from “Swingtown” and the always wonderful Chenoweth in the cast, as well as Marisol Nichols as the one woman that might actually believe in Amanda’s goodness. The men aren’t terrible either, portrayed by David James Elliott of “JAG,” Mark Deklin, forever trapped in Texas after starring on last year’s short-lived “Lone Star,” and Brad Beyer from “Jericho.” Annie Potts makes for an entertaining grandmother, and Leslie Bibb isn’t asked to do much besides look flustered. The show is full of juicy developments and secrets, and that should serve it well going forward as a primetime soap opera. Amanda seeking her revenge on Carlene and then exclaiming “I kind of like this church stuff!” is exactly the kind of thing that should delight happy viewers and turn away others. Like its time slot predecessor “Pan Am,” it’s hardly essential viewing, but could be fun for a guilty pleasure.
How will it work as a series? As Amanda establishes herself in town, she’s likely to make more friends and enemies based on her attitude and behavior in the present day rather than in high school. With all the affairs and lying going on, this show is going to have more than its fill of material to draw from, and plenty of characters to utilize and showcase.
How long will it last? That’s unknown. The pilot didn’t do as well as “Pan Am” did back in the fall, and was about on par with “Desperate Housewives,” whose ratings are not what they used to be. This show does have an appeal, and I don’t think that ABC will want to give up on it or make a decision either way just yet.
Pilot grade: B
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