TV THERAPY

House: 8.11 "Nobody's Fault"

2012-02-06T20:24:00.000-08:00

As the series' best effort of the season, "Nobody's Fault" sifted through many of the themes that make this show great. Why do House's unconventional methods work so well? And why are the consequences so cataclysmic when they don't?

House review: Nobody's Fault

House: 8.10 "Runaways"

2012-01-30T22:19:00.000-08:00

Total filler episode tonight, but here's my review just the same:

House review: Runaways

Jon Hamm Exclusive Interview at the TCA Press Tour

2012-01-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

Yes, I asked Jon Hamm questions. And he answered. One of the highlights of this particular press tour was mingling with the cast of Mad Men and asking the cast character-based questions. Here's Jon Hamm answering a few:

Jon Hamm on Mad Men Season 5

House: 8.9 "Better Half"

2012-01-24T07:25:00.000-08:00

Not bad, House. Not too bad. I thought this episode was fairly benign. Of course, I am always more interested in what's going on in House's head than the team (except for Chase), but that's just me. Next time, more House in House.

House review: "Better Half"

Justified: TCA Press Tour 2012

2012-01-19T22:07:00.000-08:00

The people on the Justified panel at the TCA press tour gave up some fun behind the scenes info as well as a few spoilers for the upcoming season! Get it here:

Justified Scoop

Quick Response to TCA Executive

2012-01-11T19:45:00.000-08:00

After I read this little piece in the Hollywood Reporter, I wanted to throw in my two cents, for whatever they're worth (nothing, according to the anonymous author of the article). Granted, I am probably the very lowest on the totem pole of television critics roasted here, but I have a voice, and thanks to this interweb thing, it will be heard by a few people.

I attended the TCAs for the first time last summer. I suppose I'd qualify myself as the hybrid of"Twit" and an "Angry Young Blogger," if I really wanted to pigeonhole myself into the most negative of categories. But those categories are why I'm writing this. Granted, I went into the TCAs in the best of moods with the highest of expectations. I was nervous other reporters and writers wouldn't take me seriously in the slightest because of my inexperience, but what I noticed and what made my experience so enjoyable, was that not only were all the writers, bloggers, and reporters friendly, they were welcoming. And they loved what they were doing.

I met some of the writers I'd been reading for years, which was as significant to me as meeting the actors I'd been watching for years. Equally as nerve-racking, in fact. Did I meet everyone? No. Did everyone I meet seem pleased to be there. I'm happy to say that yes, they did. Were they tired, as the anonymous author wrote? Yes, of course. These TCA days run from 7 AM to mid evening and although there are fun activities, it doesn't mean that it's not an exhausting event. But please don't confuse that with a complaint. I contently and gratefully drank two complimentary cups of coffee each day over the summer, taking in the giant Game of Thrones chair, interviewing the creator of House, seeing the cast of Entourage walk out to an unimpressed group of reporters, and laughed while trying to guess Simon Cowell's nondescript location while promoting X-Factor.

The point I'm trying to make, I suppose, is that some of us were thrilled to be there. I love television. Always have. By making it in the door and becoming credentialed into the TCA events, I felt as if I had achieved something. By feeling welcomed into a club of writers, I felt honored.

Here's the thing Mr. or Ms. Executive: television has changed immensely through the years. With the explosion of the internet, I don't know how things at the TCAs could remain the same. New websites crop up all the time that are covering entertainment and it's completely up to you whether or not you choose to visit them. Just as it's their choice what shows they want to give publicity to and in turn, increase viewership. So while I recognize that the "The Few, The Proud" you speak of do exist, please don't forget the bloggers/reporters/writers no matter how small, no matter how many followers, that really believe in the sharing and swapping of opinions and criticisms regarding television. There's room for all of us in those lofty air conditioned ballrooms.

House: 8.8 "Perils of Paranoia"

2011-11-28T20:50:00.001-08:00

This fall's finale of House didn't exactly go out with a bang. In fact, it went out with a sword. Sadly, that's not as exciting as it sounds.

Here's my review:

House review: "Perils of Paranoia"

House: 8.7 "Dead and Buried"

2011-11-27T14:50:00.001-08:00

I did like this week's better than the first few of the season, but still, I want to learn more about House. So give me something, creators!

Here's the link to my review:

House review: "Dead and Buried"

House: 8.6 "Parents"

2011-11-14T21:51:00.001-08:00

Tonight's episode "Parents" really could have explored House's depth more thoroughly and I'm disappointed it didn't. Instead we got a whole lot of Taub and Dr. Adams. Can't say I'm thrilled, but I can say I enjoyed writing the episode up:

House review: "Parents"

The Good Wife: Round Table

2011-11-11T16:01:00.001-08:00

This past Sunday's The Good Wife was my favorite of this season's by far! Thanks to TVFanatic.com, I participated in a Round Table discussion on that very episode of The Good Wife, entitled "Executive Order 13224" Here's the discussion:

Good Wife Round Table

House: 8.5 "The Confession"

2011-11-08T22:27:00.000-08:00

I confess; I loved this episode! So happy to have been inspired by an interesting episode for a change! Here's my review:

House review: "The Confession"

House: 8.4 "Risky Business"

2011-11-08T22:24:00.000-08:00

This episode bored me to death. I must have checked my watch a million times. Regardless, I had a fun time writing the review. Here it is:

House review: "Risky Business"

House: 8.3 "Charity Case"

2011-10-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

I liked this week's House slightly more than I liked the first two episodes in what looks to be a boring season 8. But, what House does well is explore issues, albeit recycled issues, thoroughly. Here's my take on "Charity Case":

House review "Charity Case"

House: 8.2 "Transplant"

2011-10-16T15:49:00.000-07:00

As the "return to the hospital" episode, I was expecting some Hilson, to meet the new Dean, and to see Chase get some screen time. I was very disappointed that Chase wasn't in this episode at all and that Foreman is the new Dean. We were also given the most limited explanation of how and why Cuddy left EVER.

My review this week definitely riled up some long time viewers, especially the ones who love Hilson, and they certainly let me know it. To clarify, I love them too! One of my favorite House episodes is season 6's "The Down Low." But, I wasn't prepared for them to become friends again so quickly. Maybe I should have clarified? Sigh. No matter. Looks like this site has a larger general audience, which means I should expect more page views and more comments, polite or impolite. All opinions are welcome. I love to read other opinions, but I just wish people could be more constructive and less destructive. Here's the review:

House review: "Transplant"

House: 8.1 "Twenty Vicodin"

2011-10-16T15:31:00.000-07:00

Well, it's back. I'm fairly unexcited about the return of House after my disappointment in a number of storylines and Lisa Edelstein's exit, but what can you do? House is in prison, and when I first watched this episode, I was eager to see if I was going to see House have remorse for what he did to Cuddy. I'm still waiting...

Here's my review, the first on the new site that I'm writing for, TVFanatic.com:

House review: "Twenty Vicodin"

TCAs: Part 1

2011-10-02T22:51:00.000-07:00

I get my summers off. The last few summers I've had were fun, but nothing compares to what I did this summer, when I was lucky enough to cover the TCA Press Tour for BuddyTV. I had high expectations that were completely succeeded. Over the next week or so, I'll be blogging about my experiences with interviewing actors, meeting the people I admire most (writers), and partying it up with actors, show runners, and fellow critics. Here's Part 1:

This summer, I was asked to go on a set visit for the now canceled The Nine Lives of Chloe King. I had to do research on the show, come ready with questions, and like high school, hope to find some people that would be nice to me. Well, I did and I quickly learned about their next big event of the summer. First Comic Con in San Diego. Then on to the TCAs. What are those, I asked innocently. All the critics surrounding me politely explained that the Television Critics Association Press Tour is when all the cable and broadcast networks get together to present the new fall season. Sometimes current shows come to present as well (i.e. True Blood and Entourage in its last season).

Intrigued, and welcomed into a new group of friendly reporters, I made it my personal mission to gain press credentials for the "TCAs," as all the cool kids call them. With a lot of help from my reporter friends, BuddyTV, and a called-in favor to one of my student's parents, I managed to actually get credentialed for a good chunk of the press tour, which started the day after I got back from visiting home (Chicago). Keep in mind, I have my summers off because I teach from September through June.

At any rate, I make it home and set my alarm for the first time in over a month to wake up at 6:30 to arrive at the Beverly Hilton for a breakfast to be served. I walked in to the hotel and hoped to God they would have my press badge ready for me. I felt like a complete imposter. Who was I to be there with all the reporters and critics who I considered my personal writing heroes? After I received my badge, without a scene, thankfully, I wandered into the room where breakfast was being served. Like a new student, I piled food on my plate and scanned tables for any of the familiar faces I had met at the Chloe King set visit. Finding a couple of people, I sat down and just tried to keep up with conversations about the latest screeners everyone had watched, the food compared to last year's bacon breakfast, and the consensus that the swag this year was rumored to be great.

I followed everyone in to a ballroom with circular tables, power strips, and critic upon critic carrying in laptops. Since the people I had hoped to sit with were at a full table, I sat down with a writer holding his own at a table. We introduced ourselves, made much easier with name tags, of course. Turned out I was sitting with the Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club. The A.V. Club! Not only did I (and obviously still do) idolize the A.V. Club, but I was familiar with Todd's writing, his Glee reviews in particular, which I had sent out in the past to friends when I felt I couldn't adequately express my frustrations as clearly as Todd could. Despite me being a drooling fan of his work, he was super nice to me and let me ask dumb questions about pretty much everything...

More on the panels I saw, the weird moments I witnessed, and the cool people I met in Part 2...

TCAs: Anthony Stewart Head Interview

2011-10-02T22:05:00.000-07:00

Free Agents may not last that much longer, but Anthony Head will be known forever as his role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I discuss Free Agents, Buffy, and his 27 pets with him in this interview:

TCAs: Anthony Head Interview

TCAs: Parenthood Cast Interviews

2011-09-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

While I was at the NBC All Star Party, I talked to almost all the "kids" of Parenthood, which was such a privilege since Mae Whitman basically lets me get my cry on weekly through her performance on Parenthood. Here's a link to my interview with Mae Whitman (Amber), Sarah Ramos (Haddie), Max Burkholder (Max), and Miles Heizer (Drew):

TCAs: Parenthood Cast Interviews

TCAs: Jesse Spencer Interview

2011-09-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

I still can't believe I spent 8 minutes with Jesse Spencer of House...sigh. Anyway, I managed to keep it together long enough to get some fun sound bites out of him. Enjoy:

TCAs: Jesse Spencer Interview

TCAs: Denis O'Hare Interview

2011-09-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I posted an interview with fan favorite Denis O'Hare of True Blood, The Good Wife, and now American Horror Story. Read about his favorite role and what's to come on his new FX series:

TCAs: Denis O'Hare Interview

TCAs: Lauren Graham Interview

2011-08-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

Not only did Lauren Graham leave our interview with my hair tie, but she gave me some great insight on how awesome Jason Ritter is on Parenthood! I'm excited. Here's her interview:

TCAs: Lauren Graham Interview

TCAs: Ashley Fink interview

2011-08-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

Ashley was such an easy person to interview. Really nice, chatty, charming. She plays Lauren Zizes on Glee! Be sure to watch her when Glee premieres this fall or August 12th when the 3D concert movie premieres!

TCAs: Ashley Fink interview

TCAs: David Shore interview

2011-08-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

I can't think about this interview too much, otherwise I get a little overwhelmed. I've been obsessed with House for almost 3 years now. Never in a million years did I think I'd be given the opportunity to interview the creator of the series! Here it is, my 10 minutes with David Shore:

TCAs: David Shore interview

TCAs: The Latest on All Things FOX with President Reilly

2011-08-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

The executive sessions of the TCAs almost always turn out to be the most informative. Reilly's was no exception even though he didn't consider it very newsworthy. He may have forgotten the latest Ryan Murphy will they or won't they graduate issue (Glee) and the latest on Bones, House, Fringe, and The X-Factor. Here's my piece on FOX shows:

TCAs: FOX's President Kevin Reilly on All Things FOX

TCAs: Peter Krause interview

2011-08-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

I was given the privilege of interviewing Peter Krause from one of my all time favorite series, Six Feet Under and one of my new favorites: Parenthood. Here's the interview:

TCAs: Peter Krause interview