What I’m Watching: Touch

Touch: Season 1, Episode 5 “Entanglement” (B)

This show is steadily improving as its main character, Martin, becomes more comfortable with the role that has been fatefully assigned to him as Jake’s father. I’m less interested, however, in Jake himself and the fact that Martin’s tasks don’t permit him to be there at the crucial moments for his son. I still wish that Gugu Mbatha-Raw would have a meatier part that isn’t simply serving as Jake’s babysitter, and I’m not sure why the mystery with her missing mother has been completely forgotten. Martin had an eventful day, managing to get his laptop stolen and then immediately sit next to a woman who rather unnecessarily held him at gunpoint, choosing to explain to him her entire story. Fortunately, the complex web of connections enabled all of the subtitles to be worthwhile, as the call from Saudi Arabia forced to bus to quickly stop, enabling Martin and the murderer to escape, leading to the girl being hit by a car, putting her in the hospital so that Martin could make the donor connection to her long-lost brother. The Montreal-based doctor turning out to be the rebellious Saudi girl’s fiancé was another cool twist, and it’s interesting to see this express such forward-thinking morals and messages. Arthur seems to be unraveling as he realizes that Jake truly is capable of seeing what he sees, yet no one seems to understand the importance of what he believes, and that’s likely going to be his undoing. I’m not sure what will happen with Jake geographically, but something tells me he won’t find himself separated from his father for long.

What I’m Watching: The Office

The Office: Season 8, Episode 20 “Welcome Party” (B+)

A month off from this show requires a reestablishment of the state of things, namely that Andy and Erin, now a couple, are still out of the office, meaning that Nellie is in fact in her bizarrely-attained role of manager. This episode wasn’t hilarious by any means, but it was a relatively solid, unusually focused hour for the way things have been lately on this show. The debate about Stanley’s mustache was amusing, and it’s a good way to get the show going again after we haven’t seen it for so long. Robert’s morning visit to the office, during which he pointed out that the 9-10am hour is the most potentially productive of the day, was actually quite reasonable, though his subsequent request that Dwight and Jim take the day to help Nellie move in was not. The preparation of the party found Pam in a typically uncomfortable place, as she struggled to reason with her cohorts but found herself outfoxed by the more committed trio of Oscar, Phyllis, and Angela. I liked how Jim stepped in to watch out for Nellie, ruining all of the magician’s setups and opposing the thinly-veiled Pam references. Nellie’s not nearly as likeable as Michael, but it’s good to see Jim stepping up to do the right thing and be a nice guy. Andy’s trip was predictably awkward, and I love that he and Erin came back just to make it worse by being completely honest about the fact that, contrary to public opinion, he’s not gay. Let’s see how it all plays out when he finally gets back to Scranton.

What I’m Watching: 30 Rock

30 Rock: Season 6, Episode 17 “Meet the Woggels” (B+)

It’s nice that Elaine Stritch is available to stop by this show on an annual basis to make Jack’s life a living hell for a little bit. Having her show up in New York after heart surgery was a great way to kick-start the episode’s theme of Liz encouraging everyone to talk about their feelings. Colleen harking back to Jack crying and crying that one time in the hospital (his birth) was hilarious, and most of their interactions were extremely funny, as tends to be the case. Tracy’s desire for his son George Foreman not to go to college and instead to attend the School of Hard Knocks, a one-year vocational program which teaches how to knock on doors and sell magazine subscriptions, was so typical of him, and I liked their subsequent montage, in the absence of the stripper with the same name. Tracy’s immediate dismissal of his son despite college not starting for five months was also not too surprising. Jenna’s fervent need to Yoko a band didn’t play out nearly as perfectly as she had planned, mainly because she picked a subtly white supremacist Australian children’s band that sang ridiculous lyrics through the episode’s closing moments, and Paul appeared to have moved on by dressing like someone else. I expected to see Dean Cain during the course of the episode since his name was invoked twice in a rather derogatory manner. I love that Tracy and Jenna solve their problems together, so unproductive independently and oddly successful as a pair.

What I’m Watching: Psych (Season Finale)

Psych: Season 6, Episode 16 “Santabarbaratown” (B+)

This season ender had pretty much everything a serious fan would want in a finale: plenty of uncomfortable jokes from Woody, Gus high on sugar, Henry prominently featured, and one shocker of a cliffhanger. Rob Estes, who I remember best from the underrated ABC drama “Women’s Murder Club,” was a good potential villain who was most definitely a sleazeball but not so assuredly a killer. The connection to Henry’s past and his work as a cop was a great thing to feature, and despite the fact that he wasn’t aware that all three of his partners were on the take, Henry did do a pretty good job of being a cop in the present day. His readjusting of his pants may have embarrassed Shawn, but I’d argue that Shawn embarrasses his father more than the other way around. Max Gail’s appearance in the final moments meant immediate danger for Henry, as Shawn quickly realized thanks to the extra police work by McNab, and I do wonder whether Henry is going to survive, since that shot appeared to be indisputably point-blank. The show may not change that much with him gone, but it would certainly be a monumental and serious death. What I loved about the end of the episode, prior to that moment, was the discussion between Shawn and Juliet. After Shawn earlier told Gus that there’s no rush to get married, it’s wonderful to see Juliet ask Shawn to stay over for a couple days, and to see what it is that makes their relationship worthwhile. This season hasn’t been entirely consistent, and it’s been a bit intense with the references, like the “Chinatown” allusions in this hour. Even so, it’s still a delight, and I look forward to its return this fall.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Dule Hill as Gus

Pilot Review: Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23

Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23 (ABC)
Premiered April 11 at 9:30pm

Here’s the latest show to have a word in its title that even its network doesn’t want to have spelled out, though it’s considerably more explicit here than it is in the veiled abbreviation “GCB.” This show’s main attraction is its star, Krysten Ritter. After appearing in a dramatic recurring role on “Breaking Bad,” she headlined the short-lived Starz show “Gravity” in which she played an incredibly eccentric suicide survivor. Here, she gets to play just about the most deplorably awful roommate and person ever to grace network television. Yet it’s made clear by the end of the pilot that she does in fact have some redeeming qualities, namely her ability to look out for her friends, even if it’s not done in the nicest of ways. It’s the kind of logic that comes from April on “Parks & Recreation” in relation to her nemesis Ann: the meaner that Ann is, the more April likes her. Dreama Walker, promoted from playing a manipulative high schooler on “The Good Wife” to full-fledged adult moving across the country for a dream job, plays the bubblier, less evil of the roommates, though after some time with June, she’s sure to become similarly depraved, to an extent. Liza Lapira, from “NCIS” and the short-lived “Traffic Light,” has a fun supporting role, and James Van Der Beek seems to be having fun as he becomes just one of the latest actors to play a less wholesome version of himself on television. The show needs some fine-tuning, to be sure, but once its protagonists bond and get to know each other better, this show might well become worth watching on a regular basis.

How will it work as a series? Based on the title, Chloe is going to do something horrendous each episode, which, by its end, should be explained away as a veiled nice act to protect one of the few people she actually likes. It could become tiresome, but I suspect that, like another ABC comedy, “Cougar Town,” this show will grow beyond its title.
How long will it last? The ratings were decent, and aside from the fact that this show isn’t nearly as wholesome as the three comedies that precede it, I think it could just work. ABC has had a comeback recently with its comedic fare, and I think this fits well into that. There’s no reason it would be renewed right away, but I suspect that a second season will get ordered at some point.

Pilot grade: B

What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 3, Episode 19 “Election Day” (B+)

Whenever the extended Dunphy-Pritchett clan bands together to something, it’s a recipe for unlikely success and uninhibited hilarity. Claire’s dual tooth mishaps were quite inconvenient, and Julie Bowen handles the physical comedy very well. I loved how everyone tried to help out, and how they summarized just how little they did after Claire enthusiastically thanked them for their contributions. Cameron and Mitchell’s megaphone usage was probably the most obviously funny, as they got too caught up in it and didn’t realize they were broadcasting their thoughts and their gossip to everyone around them. Jay’s run-in with a former flame was amusing, especially since that’s a side of him we haven’t seen before. Gloria’s inability to remember and describe animals was great, and I liked Manny’s reaction to Jay giving him notes – “I didn’t bring a pen.” Phil driving Philip Baker Hall’s Walt around to get food, pills, air, and everything else he needed was wonderful, and the fact that Walt didn’t even want to vote because he didn’t want to be told what to do was very entertaining. Phil’s convertible sign that easily switched from “Congratulations” to “Condolences” was brilliant, and I like how the family ended up gathered around Haley as she opened her fifth college notice, celebrating her getting waitlisted as a monumental achievement. The closing credits provided a fantastic end that likely and rightly won’t lead to anything, as Claire discovered the stop sign her victorious opponent had put up in honor of her defeat, which was ignored by a passing driver, prompting Claire to vow to get a speed bump installed.

What I’m Watching: Suburgatory

Suburgatory: Season 1, Episode 18 “Down Time” (B+)

It’s been almost a month since this show last aired, and it’s always a delight when it returns. This episode actually wasn’t so Tessa-focused, but that’s quite alright since this show has some seriously entertaining supporting characters. Lisa and Malik’s relationship meant that, advances from Evan aside, Tessa was pretty much on her own. The best part of that was that Ryan got curious and came over after spying on Tessa and noting that was eating an alarming amount of butter. His comments about the food on her pajamas were appropriately inane, and entirely hilarious. I liked that Tessa actually seemed to have a nice time and even let Ryan feel her up after he so kindly requested to do so following their evening together. Noah’s broken bed provided the perfect opportunity for him to be featured and for Dallas to tag along on the men’s outing. Her bed-top meltdown in front of annoyed salesman Jonathan Slavin from “Better Off Ted” led to an instance of one of my favorite things on TV shows: when characters that never interact get the chance to do so. Noah consoling Dalia and buying her Kangaroo Jack rather than the “Hangover” monkey she wanted was great. Meanwhile, George did a good job convincing Dallas that sometimes it’s important to pull it together for the sake of your kids, and Dallas’ homecoming demonstrated that she was ready to be there for her daughter, while simultaneously getting excited about being able to create an entirely new wardrobe.

What I’m Watching: Justified (Season Finale)

Justified: Season 3, Episode 13 “Slaughterhouse” (A-)

This show sure knows how to end its seasons. Among the episode's best scenes were Limehouse and Boyd severing ties on the bridge and Raylan playing Fogle's Russian roulette game with Duffy. It was crucial for all of its arcs to be brought to at least a semi-neat close, and that’s just what this hour did, and then some. Quarles seemed to know his time was up, trying to make peace with his enemies back home and figure a way to get out of wretched Kentucky. His escape plan involved FX alum Cathy Cahlin Ryan, real-life wife of “The Shield” creator Shawn Ryan and onscreen wife of its lead, Michael Chiklis, as a scared mother whose children were taken by Quarles. Calling Raylan and having him come out to drive him to Limehouse’s was a smart idea, and he even managed to find that elusive money. Quarles got exactly what he deserved, literally disarmed by Limehouse and Raylan, a phrase that is sure to be immortalized, dying maniacally as he revealed that Arlo was the one that shot the state trooper. Ava got pretty passionate when she thought that Boyd was going to jail, whereas he seemed truthfully dejected yet accepting of his fate. Arlo taking the fall for Devil’s murder was unexpected, and it allows Boyd to roam free while locking up a character who clearly poses a danger to more than just himself. Leave it to this show to save the most heart-wrenching information for last: Arlo didn’t realize he was a state trooper, he was just shooting at a man that was trying to hurt Boyd. It’s a melancholy note to go out on, and an excellent way to close a terrific season. Having Neal McDonough and Mykelti Williamson on board for this year was well worth it, and I do hope that they both reap Emmy nominations this summer. I’ve read that Eric Stonestreet from “Modern Family” may be next on the list for season four, and I absolutely can’t wait.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Neal McDonough

What I’m Watching: Ringer

Ringer: Season 1, Episode 21 “It’s Called Improvising, Bitch!” (D+)

This show is hitting rock bottom. Katherine writing Siobhan’s suicide note could have been so simple, but she had to be so terrible and obvious about Andrew not going into the bedroom and waste a whole episode on her inanely trying to kill everyone. Andrew totally could have signaled the agents as he had planned, and instead he just tried to rip her bonds as if he were Mr. Fantastic. Why Juliet couldn’t have just untied Andrew and Bridget while Katherine was out of the room is beyond me. Bridget volunteering to be a hostage was frustrating since it seemed like she might extend Katherine’s plotline when there was a perfect opportunity to end it, but time passed as the speed of light in this hour. Katherine’s affair with Olivia was a ridiculous twist, and the only reason it was decent is that Machado actually made a smart move and went to her place after Bridget dialed him rather than try to play the hero at the Martin apartment. Katherine’s unintentionally layered parting insult seemed to really sting for Bridget, and hopefully that will be the only thing that lingers about her. This show is supposed to be about Siobhan and Bridget, not their crazy ex-lovers. Siobhan had a productive episode, blackmailing a Russian prostitute, watching her conveniently die, having her water break in a closet, and going into labor. Unfortunately for her, Henry’s wising up, and ordering a paternity test is likely going to produce surprising and disappointing results for both parties.

What I’m Watching: New Girl

New Girl: Season 1, Episode 20 “Normal” (B+)

There’s a reason that Russell spent the night at Jess’ apartment previously, and this episode shows exactly why. The results were entirely hilarious, of course, as, after a dramatic unclogging of the sink by all four roommates and some awkward staring from Nick and sushi criticism from Schmidt, Russell learning the drinking game and, unsurprisingly, got very drunk. Jess’ desire not to fight with him was sweet and naïve, and it’s good that this thing is working out since she seems to be enjoying her “romantic comedy montage” life with him. Cece and Schmidt being so public about their relationship is somewhat disturbing, though it’s still highly entertaining. I loved Real Apps, its backwards-thinking functionality, its homophone relapse, and the fact that Schmidt used Winklevoss as a verb as a reference to Facebook. Winston’s new job with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was hardly his dream situation, evidenced by his boss’ ridiculous need for six milkshakes at all times and his interviewing him by pretending to be him rather than actually letting him say his piece. The idea of “dunking his nuggets,” for lack of a better euphemism, was highly extreme, but it seems that his boss was impressed with its hilarity. In his final appearance, Elvin proved himself to be extraordinarily clever, telling his mom that Winston wanted to go smoke weed in the park with him and have him hold the joint since he was a minor, so that Winston would never be able to nanny again and would instead need to find a real job.

What I’m Watching: Glee

Glee: Season 3, Episode 15 “Big Brother” (B)

If there exists an award for perfect casting, it should go to whoever had the brilliant idea to have Matthew Bomer play Blaine’s brother. He has a terrific screen presence on “White Collar,” and here he charms effortlessly as Blaine’s celebrity commercial star Cooper Anderson. It’s understandable that Blaine would have some sibling superiority issues with him, and those were evident in the master class and even in their first performance, but that’s all worth it for their sensational duets. I wasn’t as keen on the sing-speaking that launched Blaine’s solo song as he was fighting with Cooper, and, however entertaining it may have been, invoking “NCIS,” a show on another unrelated network, was a bit random. Cooper recommending that people not go to college and not go to New York was more than a little surprising, but there are other more pressing problems circling for everyone to grasp. Quinn’s wheelchair state serves as a cautionary tale for the dangers of texting while driving, but it turned unnecessarily preachy in the middle when Quinn insisted that Finn stop texting while walking. Ultimately, it’s likely to be a dramatic plotline, as Quinn seems so set that she’s going to regain the use of her legs and her normal life, despite warnings from Artie and Joe. Finn and Rachel’s argument about where their futures are headed is likely to persist as an issue, and it’s unclear whether or not they’ll be able to whether it. Sue’s pregnancy news was unexpected, but she handled it well, especially in her scene with Becky and I suppose that if this pregnancy plotline is going to be taken seriously, better it be dramatic than overly comedic.

What I’m Watching: Smash

Smash: Season 1, Episode 10 “Understudy” (C)

This Marilyn workshop is really such a rollercoaster ride for all involved, and it’s becoming tiresome. Despite the fact that Ivy explicitly told Karen that them getting drunk and singing together didn’t mean they were friends, it did seem like Ivy was getting closer to becoming nice to Karen. The fact that she’s just manipulating her to try to get the role is predictable, but she really needs to stop lurking in corners watching people from afar. She’d be better off putting her empty days to some more productive use. Karen continues to be far too idealistic, and letting it slip to Dev in casual conversation that Derek sexually harassed her when she started on the workshop was not smart. It doesn’t help that his power play failed so miserably that he ended up working for the guy he tried to get fired, and that Karen wasn’t remotely interested in moving to Washington for Dev while he was willing to do just about anything for her. Getting into a fistfight with Derek in the street was rather dramatic, and it’s not going to help his relationship with Karen at all. Derek’s hallucination of Karen as Marilyn was weird, even if the point it was making was relatively important. Julia’s drama is not terribly interesting, and I really wish that Leo didn’t get any screen time. The downfall of Tom’s relationship was inevitable since he couldn’t keep his flirting down in front of his boyfriend. Eileen may rock at getting unconventional investors, but she’s sure not concerned about burning bridges. Now let’s get ready for Uma Thurman to take center stage next week after that superb entrance!

What I’m Watching: 2 Broke Girls

2 Broke Girls: Season 1, Episode 20 “And the Drug Money” (B+)

Max and Caroline have done plenty of degrading things which have been normal for Max and quite out of the ordinary for Caroline, and participating in a drug trial produced predictably problematic results for the duo. It was worth it for Max’s quips alone, executed rapid fire to the lawyer who was more than just a lawyer on “Law & Order.” Max’s fascination with his profession and the courtroom was highly entertaining, and it was amusing to see how everything played out, with Caroline losing function of her tongue at a crucial time thanks to the drug trial in which they participated and Max coming to her defense to convey her affection for her father, with one crucial confusion of her relationship with him. I’m sure it will be a while before we finally meet the mystery man, but he’s sure being played up to be quite the figure. The opening scene featured a humorous unrelated joke, and only Max would insist on getting a girl with a dog she claimed was her registered emotional companion to admit that it was made up just for the sake of embarrassing her. Max’s familiarity with the drug testing world and how to deal with potential roommates was great, and she’s a terrific guide to the New York underworld, combating despicable and frightening situations with a sarcastic attitude and plenty of puns and double entendres. Caroline’s getting to know that world well, and sooner or later she’s going to be the one teaching Max how to get by without much.

What I’m Watching: Life’s Too Short (Season Finale)

Life’s Too Short: Season 1, Episode 7 (B+)

This episode takes the cake as the most horrifically uncomfortable installment yet to air. It’s easy to pity Warwick and feel bad for him, but at a certain point, he’s just bringing it on himself. Pushing to get invited to Sting’s fundraiser was about the worst thing he could have done, given how Sting rather rudely and inappropriately forced his hand and encouraged him to start bidding on something that no one else particularly wanted. Trying to sell tickets to the dinner he won was absolutely awful, and only Warwick would have the gall to do such a thing. Losing his legal battle with Sue didn’t help either, and it’s no surprise that Warwick has gone completely broke. Contrary to popular belief, sleeping in your office isn’t always allowed, and Warwick accepting Cheryl’s offer to come live with her mom was really his only option. The most entertaining part of his new living situation was the fact that his room didn’t have a bed, which resulted in him sleeping in a drawer. Somehow, however, Warwick’s life may not be all that terrible, as evidenced by the unexpected call from Amy that came in at the end of the episode. Warwick may not be the nicest guy or the most politically correct guy, but he does have a heart, and deep down there somewhere, he means well. Ricky Gervais has said that the show will be back for a second season, and though I won’t miss it while it’s gone, I’ll happily enjoy seeing it again whenever it should return.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Warwick Davis

What I’m Watching: Eastbound & Down

Eastbound & Down: Season 3, Episode 7 “Chapter 20” (B+)

With both of Kenny’s parents out of the picture, he can get back to what’s really important to now, which is important since the show ends for good this coming week. It’s fitting, in this time of conclusion, that several memorable faces should return in honor of the show’s exodus from the air. We’ve seen Will Ferrell’s Ashley already this season, and Craig Robinson’s Reg Mackworthy hasn’t been around since season one. Ashley’s fate was perfect for the ridiculous, despicable blond character he was, getting set on fire by a group of angry black bikers after he made some rather overt slavery allusions and purported to be “Old South.” Kenny inviting the one-eyed Reg to come catch with him was, surprisingly enough, a sign of maturity, something he half-heartedly attempted to do on the beach with Ivan and which didn’t actually pan out in this case because Reg wasn’t allowed to catch in the game. Kenny’s ability to harness the hatred of the crowd for Ivan and the batteries being showered onto the field was impressive, and his declaration of his signature tagline was a sign of true achievement, or, in his own words, his comeback actually taking shape. Even Stevie had something to celebrate, despite some toupee-related embarrassment, since Maria came back to him after his bold declaration of love for her. April’s return at the end of the episode was expected, but seemed to cause Kenny to have emotion despite his detached attitude. Next week’s finale is sure to be unpredictable, and I’m eagerly awaiting it to find out what becomes of the legendary Kenny Powers.