What I’m Watching: Dollhouse

Dollhouse: Season 2, Episodes 7 & 8 “Meet Jane Doe” & “A Love Supreme” (B)

These double episodes are a lot of fun, and it certainly progresses the story quite a bit. I didn’t love this batch as much as last week’s, but they’re nothing if not exciting. Seeing Echo manage all of her many personalities and just call up imprints every moment is pretty impressive, though I have trouble with the fact that there always has to be some sort of malfunction that makes her missions go awry. This newfound relationship between Echo and Paul is really intriguing, and I love that they’re secretly working with Boyd. The first episode seemed to indicate that Adele might also be someone they could trust, but her presentation of Topher’s device to Harding and her brutal, unforgiving treatment of Echo shows that she’s really one of the bad guys. We do know, of course, that they’ll Adele and Topher will end up being quite close and even romantically involved, and seeing Topher reveal that he constructed the device he thought Harding was trying to build was haunting. I’m becoming much more impressed with Topher as this show goes on, after everything with Bennett and Victor imprinted as him, and “Meet Jane Doe” is especially poignant because of what we know will come to be by the time of “Epitaph One,” though the premature cancellation of this show may prevent us from ever reaching that narrative point. Alpha’s return in “A Love Supreme” was cool because Alan Tudyk really does a terrific job of playing this wicked villain, and Echo allowing him to escape means he should be back soon for revenge again. I can’t imagine that Paul is really dead, but at least Boyd knows what’s actually going on with Echo and can be there as her ally. These two episodes were mostly jarring to me due to the use of actives as technicians and doctors in the imprinting process, which seems like it’s putting them at great risk of realizing that they’re not themselves.

SAG Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees:
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
ENTOURAGE
THE OFFICE
30 ROCK
WEEDS

This is another category that could easily find itself with the same five nominees as last year. The Office and 30 Rock will be back for sure, while Weeds is a roll of the dice. Waning support for both Desperate Housewives and Entourage may lead them to be snubbed, but they’ve held on this long, so why not keep going? The strongest new contenders begin with Parks and Recreation, provided voters do actually like it. A more serious choice would be The United States of Tara, whereas the more fun selections would be fall freshmen Glee and Modern Family. Californication wasn’t nominated last year, but enough celebrity guest stars this year might help it make it there. I’d love to throw the twice-nominated Ugly Betty back into the mix and nominate the fantastic people on Chuck, but I don’t see either of those realistically happening. Never-nominated How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory could earn their first nominations given the fact that the Emmys just gave them both a vote of confidence. But don’t forget about Curb Your Enthusiasm, which was nominated for this award once (in 2006) and could benefit from the addition of four cast members this season who took home this very award three times back in the 1990s for “Seinfeld.”

Predicted nominees:
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
GLEE
MODERN FAMILY
THE OFFICE
30 ROCK

Final predictions will be offered on Wednesday, December 16th, after Golden Globe nominees are revealed, though that shouldn’t impact the race too significantly. SAG nominations will be announced on Thursday, December 17th, and come back to TV with Abe for a detailed look at each race.

SAG Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees:
BOSTON LEGAL
THE CLOSER
DEXTER
HOUSE
MAD MEN

Cross off “Boston Legal” – it isn’t on the air anymore. Mad Men is the strongest it’s ever been and Dexter is probably helped by the addition of John Lithgow to its ensemble. The Closer and House will likely return, so the question is, what will fill that fifth slot? Lost was only ever nominated once, when it won back in 2005. Following the pattern it’s established of being nominated every two seasons, 24 is due for a nod this year, but I don’t see it happening. Grey’s Anatomy was nominated in the past, but that doesn’t seem likely either. The ensemble of Damages didn’t merit a nod last time it was eligible, and In Treatment, Breaking Bad, and True Blood all weren’t nominated last year for any SAG awards. There’s always a chance that the excellent cast of Sons of Anarchy could break through here, but I think that’s taking too big of a leap and one of last year’s snubbed contenders is probably a safer bet.

Predicted nominees:
BREAKING BAD
THE CLOSER
DEXTER
HOUSE
MAD MEN

Final predictions will be offered on Wednesday, December 16th, after Golden Globe nominees are revealed, though that shouldn’t impact the race too significantly. SAG nominations will be announced on Thursday, December 17th, and come back to TV with Abe for a detailed look at each race.

SAG Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees:
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE, SAMANTHA WHO?
AMERICA FERRERA, UGLY BETTY
TINA FEY, 30 ROCK
MARY-LOUISE PARKER, WEEDS
TRACEY ULLMAN, STATE OF THE UNION

This list could look very different this year. Tina Fey (30 Rock) isn’t going anywhere, and Mary-Louise Parker is probably safe too. Beyond that, Tracey Ullman (State of the Union) was a pretty random nominee last year and may not repeat. She’s still eligible, but Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?) saw her show get cancelled, while America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) was unceremoniously dumped from the Emmy lineup. More crucially, there are new contenders just waiting to burst in, like Toni Collette (The United States of Tara), Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), and seven-time SAG nominee Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie). Additionally, keep an eye out for Courteney Cox (Cougar Town), Lea Michele (Glee), Jane Lynch (Glee), and departing star Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies).

Predicted nominees:
TONI COLLETTE, THE UNITED STATES OF TARA
EDIE FALCO, NURSE JACKIE
TINA FEY, 30 ROCK
MARY-LOUISE PARKER, WEEDS
AMY POEHLER, PARKS AND RECREATION

Final predictions will be offered on Wednesday, December 16th, after Golden Globe nominees are revealed, though that shouldn’t impact the race too significantly. SAG nominations will be announced on Thursday, December 17th, and come back to TV with Abe for a detailed look at each race.

SAG Predictions: Best Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees:
ALEC BALDWIN, 30 ROCK
STEVE CARRELL, THE OFFICE
DAVID DUCHOVNY, CALIFORNICATION
JEREMY PIVEN, ENTOURAGE
TONY SHALHOUB, MONK

There’s no reason this list couldn’t repeat. Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) and Steve Carrell (The Office) are locked, while two-time winner and six-time nominee Tony Shalhoub (Monk) really wouldn’t be snubbed for the final year of his show. David Duchovny (Californication) has had a great year on his series and should be back, though Jeremy Piven (Entourage) may find himself out on the street due to his food poisoning controversy. The two contenders nipping at their heels are Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) and Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory). I think Parsons probably has a better shot, though Harris really is becoming very popular these days.

Predicted nominees:
ALEC BALDWIN, 30 ROCK
STEVE CARRELL, THE OFFICE
DAVID DUCHOVNY, CALIFORNICATION
JIM PARSONS, THE BIG BANG THEORY
TONY SHALHOUB, MONK

Final predictions will be offered on Wednesday, December 16th, after Golden Globe nominees are revealed, though that shouldn’t impact the race too significantly. SAG nominations will be announced on Thursday, December 17th, and come back to TV with Abe for a detailed look at each race.

SAG Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees:
SALLY FIELD, BROTHERS & SISTERS
MARISKA HARGITAY, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
HOLLY HUNTER, SAVING GRACE
ELISABETH MOSS, MAD MEN
KYRA SEDGWICK, THE CLOSER

All five nominees from last year are eligible again, but a juggernaut whose show didn’t air last year is back: Glenn Close (Damages), and she has yet to win since she lost to outgoing “The Sopranos” star Edie Falco back in 2007. Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) and Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters) should both be safe, while Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU) has been left off in years past in favor of other entrants. Holly Hunter (Saving Grace) may be the first to go, while newly minted Emmy nominee Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) should be back, though her costar January Jones (Mad Men) may finally get the recognition she deserves as well. New competition from Julianne Marguiles (The Good Wife) might displace one of these nominees, while, however unlikely it is, any one of the “In Treatment” actresses – Dianne Wiest, Hope Davis, or Allison Pill could make a splash.

Predicted nominees:
GLENN CLOSE, DAMAGES
SALLY FIELD, BROTHERS & SISTERS
MARISKA HARGITAY, LAW & ORDER: SVU
ELISABETH MOSS, MAD MEN
KYRA SEDGWICK, THE CLOSER

Final predictions will be offered on Wednesday, December 16th, after Golden Globe nominees are revealed, though that shouldn’t impact the race too significantly. SAG nominations will be announced on Thursday, December 17th, and come back to TV with Abe for a detailed look at each race.

SAG Predictions: Best Male Actor in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees:
MICHAEL C. HALL, DEXTER
JON HAMM, MAD MEN
HUGH LAURIE, HOUSE
WILLIAM SHATNER, BOSTON LEGAL
JAMES SPADER, BOSTON LEGAL

For starters, toss out Shatner and Spader since “Boston Legal” is finally over and didn’t air this past year. Hold on to the other three – Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), and Hugh Laurie (House), since their shows haven’t gotten any less popular. Last year, Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment) was left out, and he might sneak in for season two of the acclaimed HBO drama. Similarly snubbed Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) should definitely pop up here as his show has only become more well-known and praised. Returning TV star and two-time nominee Kiefer Sutherland (24) might get nominated again, while this year’s new Emmy winners, Michael Emerson (Lost), and nominees, Simon Baker (The Mentalist), could get in as well. There aren’t really any new shows to worry about here, though season-long guest star and two-time SAG winner John Lithgow (Dexter) could pose a serious threat to his competition.

Predicted nominees:
BRYAN CRANSTON, BREAKING BAD
MICHAEL C. HALL, DEXTER
JON HAMM, MAD MEN
HUGH LAURIE, HOUSE
JOHN LITHGOW, DEXTER

Final predictions will be offered on Wednesday, December 16th, after Golden Globe nominees are revealed, though that shouldn’t impact the race too significantly. SAG nominations will be announced on Thursday, December 17th, and come back to TV with Abe for a detailed look at each race.

What I’m Watching: 30 Rock

30 Rock: Season 4, Episode 8 “Secret Santa” (B)

There was a lot going on in this episode that was a bit too over-the-top, but there were enough laughs that it made it pretty decent overall. It’s good that Liz’s haircut is being phased out without much emphasis, since that was just a plotline gone awry. Liz’s attempt to bond with Jack and get him the perfect gift was fun, and the best part of the whole episode was the gift that Liz was able to surprise Jack with – calling in a bomb threat to Penn Station to keep Jack’s married crush in town. It’s the ultimate gift that costs zero dollars, and Liz did a great job on that. Plus, it’s much better than Jack’s wooden framing of Liz’s high school play program. The ability of the writers to so easily make up a religion to avoid Kenneth’s over-enthusiasm about holiday cheer was impressive, and it’s nice to see Twofer in particular spotlighted and given the chance to spout complete crap in order to dispel Kenneth and his game. Tracy’s warning about getting into intellectual territory was great, and it’s good that he had something to do that wasn’t quite as ridiculous as usual. The new cast member is turning out to be terrific, and his quip about sarcasm and Jews in Canada was brilliant. His interactions with Pete and Jenna are priceless. Who ever thought that the robot would be such a worthwhile addition to the cast?

What I’m Watching: The Office

The Office: Season 6, Episode 13 “Secret Santa” (B)

Michael’s petty jealousy often becomes tiresome, especially when it dominates too much of the episode. Seeing Phyllis get excited about playing Santa was fun, and her subtle threat about getting Bob involved was pretty amusing. The notion of having Secret Santa as a backdrop to the episode worked very well because it provided a smattering of entertaining moments in addition to featuring two of the cast members very prominently. Andy’s attempt to show his devotion for Erin was great in the way that he came on way too strong, and it’s nice that he came through in the end for her. Their flirtation was fun, and it’s enjoyable that they’re unable to actually say what they want to when they’re talking but still exhibit sexual tension like crazy. Dwight trying to assemble his gift was hilarious, and the revelation that Michael got him an all-purpose nutcracker was really terrific, and a sign that they are true friends. After all, Dwight the elf was the only one who voted that Michael should be Santa. Michael’s direct pipeline to David Wallace is a bit outrageous, but the way he explained calling his kid’s school made it all worthwhile. It’s good that the office got some good news, and the obnoxious David Wallace will be out of the picture while these guys will keep their jobs and hopefully get some better management.

What I’m Watching: Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation: Season 2, Episode 12 “Christmas Scandal” (B+)

The fact that everything is extremely outrageous in this episode isn’t a problem, and it only gets funnier as the camera continues to zero in directly on Leslie’s appalled face. Her delight with putting on a proper parody at the start of the episode shows that she really can be funny in the right circumstances, and Pawnee is the one thing that she really knows well. Seeing her get called in prepared to defend her performance and then watching her face transformed to display disgust was pretty hilarious. The politician’s story was far-fetched, sure, but the casual way he rattled off his increasingly ridiculous actions was even more preposterous. The Pawnee Sun’s coverage of the scandal and then the TV show’s highlighting of it was great, and it was too funny to see Ann get wrapped up in everything and just look plain dumbfounded about how this whole situation morphed and evolved into her suddenly being accused of having a threesome with Leslie and the politician. Ron’s unenthusiasm about giving the presentation was great, and it’s really nice to see that, at the end of the day, Leslie is the one who actually gets everything done, and she loves doing it. Not only that, but everyone around her understands that and appreciates it, even if Ron is the only one who even somewhat acknowledges it. Looking at the less productive people in the department, it’s fun to see the friendship continuing to flourish between April and Andy, and I especially enjoyed Andy’s gift suggestion about getting her gay boyfriend a copy of “Brokeback Mountain.”

What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 1, Episode 10 “Undeck the Halls” (B+)

This show is really capitalizing on generally the same kind of setup each episode, and it’s working magnificently. Focusing on Phil’s questionable parenting techniques, Jay’s desire not to change, and Cameron’s longing for the spotlight seems to be the loose outline for each episode, and in this one, it all turns out to be very funny. Alex’s brilliant plan to have each of them take the fall for something none of them did didn’t exactly plan out as panned, and seeing Phil struggle to drag the tree out of back and into the house was great. The divide in parenting points of view between Phil and Claire was also funny, best evidenced by Phil not putting too much of an emphasis on the lying and not enough on the smoking, much to Claire’s chagrin. Watching the usually hapless Manny pull one over on Jay was hilarious, mostly due to how impressed he was with himself and how put off Jay was by the prank. The skinny Santa wasn’t as funny as everything else, but his need to utilize violence at the end of the episode because the guy was naughty instead of nice was pretty great. I really enjoy the interview sequences with Cameron and Mitchhell, especially when Cameron tries to be subtle in describing one of the things that make him truly joyful in life, like caroling. Running into them at the mall and then getting insulted by the head mutineer were definitely high points of the episode.

What I’m Watching: Glee (Winter Finale)

Glee: Season 1, Episode 13 “Sectionals” (B-)

The fact that Will got disqualified from accompanying the kids to sectionals still reeks of randomness to me, and that’s the basis for this episode, which makes it somewhat problematic. It’s a satisfying parting installment because the glee club overcomes obstacles and ultimately works together wonderfully to win the competition, but we already knew about all of the roadblocks in their way, which makes it all a little less exciting. It is marvelous, I’ll concede, that Emma was the one who volunteered to accompany the kids to sectionals, and it’s great to see her actually at work trying to mediate, even if she needs to grab Will for some support when things get physically violent. Her telling off the two rival glee club coaches was probably the best moment of whole episode, save for that long-in-the-works kiss planted on her by Will at the end. She’s a fantastic character, and her neuroses are actually the least interesting things about her. It’s so great to get to see so much of her, and probably best that we don’t really see Ken as their relationship hits the bricks. The absolution of Will’s marriage is also a welcome release, and all those Terri haters out there should be really glad that she’s out of his life. Quinn’s secret being out of the bag actually isn’t as big a deal as perhaps it might have seemed, though it’s good because it gives Quinn a moment to Dianna Agron to display her dramatic talents again, and allows Finn to actually do something smart and angrily tell Puck that they’re not cool. This show is taking a break until April (at least that’s the plan at this point), and hopefully its return will take things in new directions (pun intended). I’ve enjoyed this first half of the season, despite the fact that my reviews weren’t always entirely positive, and I’m looking to forward to seeing where they’ll go next.

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted (Season Premiere)

Better Off Ted: Season 2, Episode 1 “Love Blurts” (B+)

It’s only been a few months that his show has been off the air since the back half of its first season aired this summer, and it’s a welcome return for the show. The series started off decently and eventually managed to find its footing by capitalizing on its stellar ensemble. The cast works marvelously together, and amid the often absurd and somewhat questionable plotlines, they’re always great. The second season begins with perhaps the most ridiculous idea that Veridian Dynamics has come up with yet – pairing up its employees based on calculated sexual compatibility. Everyone’s reaction to the situation was equally amusing, and I like how they were all so different yet just as entertaining. Veronica’s business-only approach to having the surprisingly capable Lem as her sperm donor just so that she can think about having a baby was typically over-the-top in a good way, and her reasoning for wanting to have a baby as explained to Ted was pretty funny. Phil’s researching of his ancestry was fun, but it’s the sexual tension and weird rivalry between Ted and Andrea that really makes the show work. The fact that both of their potential partners had just something a little off about them was great so that it wasn’t at first so obvious. Seeing Taye Diggs in this role was fun, and the highlight of his performance was his excitement at detailing his desire to dress up as a bear. Ted’s rambling about Utah was just bizarre, but then again, this show has never really been about Ted, and more about the hilarity of Veridian Dynamics.

What I’m Watching: Scrubs

Scrubs: Season 9, Episode 3 “Our Role Models” (C+)

This episode suffers from the same exact problems as last week’s double-hitter premiere, defined mostly by an ability to move on and try and start a new show. J.D.’s obsession with Dr. Cox as his mentor and trying to make his nemeses look bad has been played out over and over and over again. Turk bonding with Dr. Cox isn’t an event that belongs in this incarnation of the show, and J.D.’s jealousy should have been out the door the moment the show was renewed for a ninth season without him officially on board. Denise’s decision to act as a temporary mentor for Lucy was fine, and it’s nice to see them interact, but the other characters aren’t developing nearly as well. It really seems like all of the dialogue that comes out of Cole’s mouth, like his paranoid notion that he and Drew are involved in some sort of recognition, was written for Aziz Ansari, and he just doesn’t do it as well. The writers couldn’t have possibly though that Ansari would have been available for this show since he was already cast on “Parks and Recreation” long before this show ever got renewed again. The jokes aren’t necessarily terribly funny, but at least having new cast members around means that they don’t all feel completely recycled like they did over the past few seasons. Despite what I said last week, Lucy is reminding me more and more of Elliot, though her ability to keep her voice at the same pitch all the time is much appreciated.

Pilot Review: Men of a Certain Age

Men of a Certain Age (TNT)
Premiered December 7 at 10pm

This show is a first for TNT. It doesn’t fit in with any of the other programs the network airs. It’s not a medical show, cop series, or legal drama. That said, it doesn’t seem quite sure exactly what it is. These men of a certain age are three actors who haven’t really been seen in a while since each starring in a long-running 90s series. It’s certainly a bizarre trio culled from radically different backgrounds. Ray Romano was the loveable but dorky Raymond in CBS’ popular “Everybody Loves Raymond,” whose comic charm came mostly from his unenthusiastic mutterings and bird-like appearance. Scott Bakula is experienced in light-hearted sci-fi, headlining both NBC’s “Quantum Leap” and UPN’s latest “Star Trek” series, “Enterprise.” Andre Braugher starred in NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” and briefly anchored FX’s short-lived but spectacular “Thief.” Romano and Bakula are decent actors for their respective parts, but this work is well below the capabilities of a skilled performer like Braugher. His role best echoes that, as a man who struggles to live up to his father and can’t seem to do it despite his best efforts. Braugher can do so much more, and seeing him stranded in this role is a shame. There’s some humor in this show, most of which comes from the bantering between the three leads. The more awkward moments come from Romano, and there’s a lot that still needs to be worked out. These men are stuck in the middle of their lives, and there’s not necessarily anything too interesting going on. I’m willing to give it another go, but I’m not sure this one can live long.

How will it work as a series? Having three leads means that the show can devote energy to three different threads, some of which may be better than others. This was only the pilot, and presumably coming episodes will have a clearer focus on where the show is ultimately heading. If supporting characters like wives, children, and ex-girlfriends become more prominent than co-workers, the show might do well. It’s still too early to tell, and this pilot hardly seems indicative of what the show will actually be like, and if it is, I think it won’t be terribly exciting but overall relatively harmless.
How long will it last? TNT has been fairly kind to its series recently, and even the axed “Raising the Bar” got two seasons before it got cancelled. Launching the show behind “The Closer” is a smart idea, though in three weeks it will be all by itself, airing during the holidays when most other shows aren’t airing. The pedigree of the three stars combined together should help it do well, and I imagine that, in cable tradition, it will be swiftly renewed for a second season. We’ll have to see how the show does creatively in the next couple of weeks, though.

Pilot grade: B-