Hidden Palms: Season 1, Episode 8 "Second Chances" (F)
This actually aired last Wednesday, but I watched it a week late. I am sad to see this great "O.C." clone go off the air. It is so lovable in its ridiculousness, and the cast is so bad they are good. Watching this finale after the preview revealed "someone will die", I was rooting for the departed to be Johnny, since he really is a boring, fairly unlikeable character. Maria Nolan's death is a bit of a cop-out, but the parting shot of Skip shooting Eddie is interesting. I wish there was more! Best line of the episode is a tie: "I guess I don't want to think that my girlfriend's dad murdered her last boyfriend" from Johnny and "I know I can be a bit shady sometimes" from Cliff. Let's hope for a "Seventh Heaven"-style eleventh hour renewal here.
The show: F (but A for entertainment)
Showing posts with label Hidden Palms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hidden Palms. Show all posts
Sunday, July 22, 2007
What I'm Watching: Hidden Palms
Hidden Palms: Season 1, Episodes 6 & 7 "Dangerous Liaisons" & "Stand By Your Woman" (F)
What an exciting night of preposterous plot developments! I never heard more stories about one night than the ever-changing ridiculousness that is the night of Eddie's death. Weird revelation that Greta's dad is the one who planted the gun on him. And Liza was sleeping with Eddie (saw that one coming). And Eddie's mom is CRAZY and sex-crazed about Cliff. I do love the character of Jesse Jo, played by the fantastic Leslie Jordan, but I find it a bit strange and generally unlike teenagers to be so into these drag shows, especially Greta's excitement, "You didn't tell me this was a drag show! That's so cool!" I am all for the openmindedness, it just seems a bit uncharacteristic for these sun-struck, work-free teens. In my personal opinion, enough of this Bob-Karen bickering, I do not really care about either character, and it is just like when "The O.C." started to focus too much on Sandy and Kirsten. Oh, and for the record, there is pretty much nothing that has occured on this show that did not happen on "The O.C." But I'm more than okay with it.
The preview said next week is the series finale??!! I hope the show gets renewed, because it is really growing on me, not its quality (yeah, right) but its entertainment value. Well, the finale of the miniseries "Sleeper Cell" turned into the season finale after the show got renewed for a second season, can we hope for the same here? I vote yes. Whatever "finale" it is airs next Wednesday July 4th at 8pm.
What an exciting night of preposterous plot developments! I never heard more stories about one night than the ever-changing ridiculousness that is the night of Eddie's death. Weird revelation that Greta's dad is the one who planted the gun on him. And Liza was sleeping with Eddie (saw that one coming). And Eddie's mom is CRAZY and sex-crazed about Cliff. I do love the character of Jesse Jo, played by the fantastic Leslie Jordan, but I find it a bit strange and generally unlike teenagers to be so into these drag shows, especially Greta's excitement, "You didn't tell me this was a drag show! That's so cool!" I am all for the openmindedness, it just seems a bit uncharacteristic for these sun-struck, work-free teens. In my personal opinion, enough of this Bob-Karen bickering, I do not really care about either character, and it is just like when "The O.C." started to focus too much on Sandy and Kirsten. Oh, and for the record, there is pretty much nothing that has occured on this show that did not happen on "The O.C." But I'm more than okay with it.
The preview said next week is the series finale??!! I hope the show gets renewed, because it is really growing on me, not its quality (yeah, right) but its entertainment value. Well, the finale of the miniseries "Sleeper Cell" turned into the season finale after the show got renewed for a second season, can we hope for the same here? I vote yes. Whatever "finale" it is airs next Wednesday July 4th at 8pm.
What I'm Watching: Hidden Palms
Hidden Palms: Season 1, Episodes 4 & 5 "What Liza Beneath" & "Mulligan" (F)
I do not know too much about cars, but I am fairly certain that getting sideswiped does not merely take out your front and rear headlights, as Cliff seems to think (I have resigned myself to learning their actual names on this show). In any case, I can honestly say that this two-hour presentation crossed the threshold and became a truly entertaining show worthy of comparison to "The O.C." in its inane plotlines that nonetheless are fascinating and hilarious to watch. And Leslie Jordan is great in his small recurring performance, and his eccentric cameos are aided by the fact that his character has the worst job ever: cleaning menus and filling saltshakers. The Big Secret involving Greta and Cliff is not that great, but the end reveal, however expected, that Cliff is sleeping with Eddie's mom, should make for some fun in the final three installments. I really hope this show gets renewed. Only the CW could do it, so maybe they will.
I do not know too much about cars, but I am fairly certain that getting sideswiped does not merely take out your front and rear headlights, as Cliff seems to think (I have resigned myself to learning their actual names on this show). In any case, I can honestly say that this two-hour presentation crossed the threshold and became a truly entertaining show worthy of comparison to "The O.C." in its inane plotlines that nonetheless are fascinating and hilarious to watch. And Leslie Jordan is great in his small recurring performance, and his eccentric cameos are aided by the fact that his character has the worst job ever: cleaning menus and filling saltshakers. The Big Secret involving Greta and Cliff is not that great, but the end reveal, however expected, that Cliff is sleeping with Eddie's mom, should make for some fun in the final three installments. I really hope this show gets renewed. Only the CW could do it, so maybe they will.
What I'm Watching: Hidden Palms
Hidden Palms: Season 1, Episode 3 "Party Hardy" (F)
I am loving the fact that, unlike Ryan, who worked part-time getting drinks and serving people on "The O.C.", there is not even the illusion of people working on this show. Everyone, especially the parents, just sit around in the sun all day doing absolutely nothing, as Greta's hair gets continually lighter (seriously, look at the pictures on Oliver's computer where she is a brunette in the first episode!!). Regardless, I was shocked to see Nikki in the opening credits, as I pegged her immediately for a short-term guest star. Interesting choice to have her stick around. And I must say, I would love to play Cliff. All actor Michael Cassidy has to do is never stop smiling and just kick dogs. I am intrigued but beyond frustrated that weird neighbor Liza is the one behind the whole Eddie thing.
Two episodes of "Hidden Palms" airing from 8pm to 10pm the next two weeks, leading up to the season, and presumably series (though I hope not! This is fun!) finale on July 4th (I think I will be watching that one on tape!)
I am loving the fact that, unlike Ryan, who worked part-time getting drinks and serving people on "The O.C.", there is not even the illusion of people working on this show. Everyone, especially the parents, just sit around in the sun all day doing absolutely nothing, as Greta's hair gets continually lighter (seriously, look at the pictures on Oliver's computer where she is a brunette in the first episode!!). Regardless, I was shocked to see Nikki in the opening credits, as I pegged her immediately for a short-term guest star. Interesting choice to have her stick around. And I must say, I would love to play Cliff. All actor Michael Cassidy has to do is never stop smiling and just kick dogs. I am intrigued but beyond frustrated that weird neighbor Liza is the one behind the whole Eddie thing.
Two episodes of "Hidden Palms" airing from 8pm to 10pm the next two weeks, leading up to the season, and presumably series (though I hope not! This is fun!) finale on July 4th (I think I will be watching that one on tape!)
What I'm Watching: Hidden Palms
Hidden Palms: Season 1, Episode 2 "Ghosts" (F)
This second episode is not nearly as deliciously entertaining as the first, but it is still fun. Ducky continues to be mysterious and much too smiley. Greta's hair color gets lighter each time Oliver sees her; it must be getting bleached by the sun since they do not actually do anything in Palm Springs besides sit in the sun. The introduction of Nikki seems a bit premature and certainly standard, cliche fare for shows like this. The old friend comes back into town and seems like he or she is going to fit in so well, but ultimately last only an episode or two (recently on shows like "Entourage" and "The Riches"). I would have expected that kind of thing maybe at least like eight episodes in, but it is just a bit early. Eddie appearing in the final scene is just preposterous. No comment on that.
This second episode is not nearly as deliciously entertaining as the first, but it is still fun. Ducky continues to be mysterious and much too smiley. Greta's hair color gets lighter each time Oliver sees her; it must be getting bleached by the sun since they do not actually do anything in Palm Springs besides sit in the sun. The introduction of Nikki seems a bit premature and certainly standard, cliche fare for shows like this. The old friend comes back into town and seems like he or she is going to fit in so well, but ultimately last only an episode or two (recently on shows like "Entourage" and "The Riches"). I would have expected that kind of thing maybe at least like eight episodes in, but it is just a bit early. Eddie appearing in the final scene is just preposterous. No comment on that.
What I'm Watching: Hidden Palms (Series Premiere)
Hidden Palms: Season 1, Episode 1 "Pilot" (F-)
I apologize in advance to anyone who has never seen "The O.C." and thus will not understand a lot of the references I will be making. Perhaps it is a bit unfair that I cannot appreciate this show as a separate entity, but I am okay with it. To catch those up who are unfamiliar with "The O.C.", I will quickly summarize: Taylor Handley played Oliver, an unstable new rich kid who was insane and waved around a gun while holding Marissa hostage, and Michael Cassidy played Zach, often nicknamed "Ducky", who was a brief boyfriend of Summer in the show's second season. For my own sake, I will have to refer to Handley and Cassidy's characters as Oliver and Ducky, with no intention of every learning their characters' actual names.
Anyway, on this little CW show called "Hidden Palms", Oliver is a brainiac whose alcoholic father commits suicide right in front of him. One year later, newly hairstyled Oliver of course moves to a very rich area of Palm Springs because, well, what else is he going to do. He is a dedicated participant in AA meetings, much to the chagrin of his mother, who wants to leave the past in the past. Oliver is quickly introduced to his neighbors, who include Ducky, his very eager and seemingly friendly new pal, Liza, a bizarre science girl trying to reach out to her potential new friend in Oliver, and Greta, essentially a sexual being obsessed with running through sprinklers and speaking philosophically out of her ass.
In the first few minutes of the show, it is clear that this is a show filled with sex. Before even the first commercial break, Oliver has already chased Greta sort of creepily through a field, only to be pinned down by her for no reason other than to create sexual tension. Throughout the whole episode, everyone is flirting with anyone or anything. I am shocked that the episode's director, Scott Winant, is an Emmy winner whose previous credits include "thirtysomething" and "Huff". The whole time, I was thinking that someone needs to tell these actors to get away from each other and put some space. The blocking was way too closed in, and every scene became a sexual thing due to the unnatural proximity of the characters.
From the first fifteen minutes, this is clearly an "O.C." wannabe that tries to so hard to instantly make Oliver and Greta include Ryan and Marissa, with Ducky sort of as a Summer-like confident friend, and Liza as the awkward and shy, but ultimately Cool Person like Seth Cohen. The music desperately tries to find the teen genre, using a famous track from the "Garden State" soundtrack to underscore the embarassing running-through-sprinklers scene. But there are certain important differences to note between this and "The O.C." The parents are far less compelling, and appear to be taking a major backseat to the younger kids. And the kids have secrets! One of them even died! They did not even do that on "The O.C." until the end of the second season, and kept doing it until people started falling off cliffs and getting run off the road. And most importantly, Ducky is not your lovable, friendly nice kid on the block who chooses George Lucas over girls. After all, he kicks dogs! I am so definitely in for the long haul for this preposterous and inane "O.C." ripoff.
I apologize in advance to anyone who has never seen "The O.C." and thus will not understand a lot of the references I will be making. Perhaps it is a bit unfair that I cannot appreciate this show as a separate entity, but I am okay with it. To catch those up who are unfamiliar with "The O.C.", I will quickly summarize: Taylor Handley played Oliver, an unstable new rich kid who was insane and waved around a gun while holding Marissa hostage, and Michael Cassidy played Zach, often nicknamed "Ducky", who was a brief boyfriend of Summer in the show's second season. For my own sake, I will have to refer to Handley and Cassidy's characters as Oliver and Ducky, with no intention of every learning their characters' actual names.
Anyway, on this little CW show called "Hidden Palms", Oliver is a brainiac whose alcoholic father commits suicide right in front of him. One year later, newly hairstyled Oliver of course moves to a very rich area of Palm Springs because, well, what else is he going to do. He is a dedicated participant in AA meetings, much to the chagrin of his mother, who wants to leave the past in the past. Oliver is quickly introduced to his neighbors, who include Ducky, his very eager and seemingly friendly new pal, Liza, a bizarre science girl trying to reach out to her potential new friend in Oliver, and Greta, essentially a sexual being obsessed with running through sprinklers and speaking philosophically out of her ass.
In the first few minutes of the show, it is clear that this is a show filled with sex. Before even the first commercial break, Oliver has already chased Greta sort of creepily through a field, only to be pinned down by her for no reason other than to create sexual tension. Throughout the whole episode, everyone is flirting with anyone or anything. I am shocked that the episode's director, Scott Winant, is an Emmy winner whose previous credits include "thirtysomething" and "Huff". The whole time, I was thinking that someone needs to tell these actors to get away from each other and put some space. The blocking was way too closed in, and every scene became a sexual thing due to the unnatural proximity of the characters.
From the first fifteen minutes, this is clearly an "O.C." wannabe that tries to so hard to instantly make Oliver and Greta include Ryan and Marissa, with Ducky sort of as a Summer-like confident friend, and Liza as the awkward and shy, but ultimately Cool Person like Seth Cohen. The music desperately tries to find the teen genre, using a famous track from the "Garden State" soundtrack to underscore the embarassing running-through-sprinklers scene. But there are certain important differences to note between this and "The O.C." The parents are far less compelling, and appear to be taking a major backseat to the younger kids. And the kids have secrets! One of them even died! They did not even do that on "The O.C." until the end of the second season, and kept doing it until people started falling off cliffs and getting run off the road. And most importantly, Ducky is not your lovable, friendly nice kid on the block who chooses George Lucas over girls. After all, he kicks dogs! I am so definitely in for the long haul for this preposterous and inane "O.C." ripoff.
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