TV THERAPY

House: 8.21 "Holding On"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:42:00 +0000

Hold tight. This penultimate episode of House lived up to expectation. My thoughts on House and Wilson's attempt to cope with Wilson's imminent death:

House review: "Holding On"

House: 8.20 "Post-Mortem"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:40:00 +0000

Way to go, House! This is an episode I can stand behind. My thoughts on an awesome episode for House, Wilson, and Chase:

House review: "Post-Mortem"

House: 8.18 "Body and Soul"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:07:00 +0000

So...that was interesting. Kind of. Let's put House through the ringer one last time before the show goes off the air. I am morbidly curious about the last few episode of the series. We'll see, I guess.

Here are my mildly incoherent late night thoughts about the episode:

House review: "Body and Soul"

House: 8.17 "We Need the Eggs"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:13:00 +0000

Strangely enough, I enjoyed this week's episode of House. Here's why:

House review: "We Need the Eggs"

House 8.16 "Gut Check"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:22:00 +0000

It's time to check in with yourself, House. The end is near and this episode was fairly useless in moving any plot forward. My thoughts:

House review "Gut Check"

Mad Men: 5.3 "Mystery Date"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 05:54:00 +0000

This week's Mad Men focused on various odd pairings. Whether it be Sally and her step-grandmother Pauline, Peggy and Dawn, Don and his former flame in nightmare form, or Joan and her unnecessary husband Greg, the episode produced moments of clarity with every character and moved the story forward in the process.

Sally and Grandma Pauline and her gross perfume

Sally has always gotten a raw deal on this show. Her mother is hardly the best role model for Sally, unhappy and always in front of the television vapidly absorbing anything on screen. So when Henry and Betty are out for the weekend, Sally is stuck with Pauline, who is under the impression Sally is undisciplined. She's probably right, but Pauline's version of good management comes in an anecdote that both scared and delighted me. Pauline tries to shield Sally from news of the student nurse murders in Chicago, but because she isn't exactly the brightest crayon in the box, Sally easily reads the article and as a result, can't fall asleep. Rather than punishing Sally physically, Pauline tells Sally all about the grotesque nature of the nurses' deaths and rather than breaking bread, as many do in a peaceful agreement, Pauline splits a sleeping pill with Sally and thus the two finally can get some sleep.

Peggy and Sterling/Peggy and Dawn

More Peggy and Sterling, please. These two are magic in their scenes together. The combination of Peggy's growing ego, the women's movement making strides, and Sterling's new trust and reliance on Peggy makes for a memorable and hilarious scene between the two of them. I loved the glee that Peggy took from Roger giving up every dollar in his pocket. Peggy knows her worth. At least for an evening of creative work. Roger's latest payoff is definitely significant. His ability to command respect by his mere presence doesn't do it anymore. It's got to be cold, hard cash and Peggy knows just how to squeeze it out of him.

Peggy and Dawn are a very interesting pairing indeed. It was enjoyable to see Peggy draw parallels between the two of them just as we, the audience, are doing the same. Are they that different? Peggy wants more and more to be successful and equal, but questions her ability to do what she knows it takes, whereas Dawn is happy right now being a secretary, but also has to combat being a woman and, as if that weren't hard enough at the time, being black. And even Peggy can't shake the prejudices that she was born into. The moment Peggy hesitated to leave her purse alone with Dawn was devastating and real for both women. Try as they might to bond over being sisters, the line between black and white is unmistakable and firmly in place. Peggy's disappointment in her own instincts are as clear as Dawn's frustration that even though she was invited into Peggy's home, her skin color still means that there are high barriers between the two of them and developing a friendship is complicated to say the least.

Don/Andrea/Megan

Well, I'm surprised. Not that Don's many, many (many) women are coming out of the woodwork, but that Don is actually showing some level of embarrassment about it! The people over at Mad Men must get a kick out of messing with their audience. I was one of three people in my living room tonight and each of us had a different opinion about what was real regarding Andrea popping into Don's life again. Don's sexual appetite has been fierce ever since we first met him. He went out to get a sex life, he came home to a meal and his kids. With Megan, he can come home to sex and he's, dare I even type this, satiated!

Don's nightmare scenario of giving into temptation was quite telling; I've never seen him show real remorse or humiliation over his past transgressions. I'm sure Betty would have liked to see this side of him, if it existed when the two of the were married. When Don's nightmare/hallucination took a murderous turn, I became even more intrigued. Even though it's a bit on the nose, he's trying to kill that part of him. He wants to kill it and hide it and tuck it away out of sight. The fact that he knows he may not be up to the task absolutely terrifies him, because, and this is what's so revealing, he desperately wants this relationship to work. Andrea, representative of all of Don's former lovers, is perfectly nightmarish: a regular temptress that has absolutely no stake in Don's current life. And that's what terrifies him. It's a trap Don has fallen into many times. So how is his time with Megan going to be any different? I'm betting it won't be. We'll find out in time.

Joan and Greg

Wow, Joan! As much as some of this storyline was predictable (Greg leaving again, Greg actually choosing to leave again), Joan's decision to live her life without Greg was a HUGE step forward for her. Everything she said in that last scene to him was pitch perfect, and such a massive payoff to an audience that's been waiting for years for her to confront Greg about raping her. He is not a good man. When she tells him, "I'm glad they make you feel like more of a man because I'm sick of trying," I cheered. Joan has had a few triumphant moments in the series, but they are often short lived and undermined quickly. This is a long term victory for Joan and it looks like from the promos, the one part that was not completely cryptic, Joan is back at work!

It's inspiring to see Joan make such a smart decision this early in the season. And it's clear to me that it will only strengthen her character. I'm certainly curious what she's going to tell the folks at the office. I'm betting she'll tell them he's on leave. But this certainly opens things up for her and Roger to continue, especially since it's abundantly clear that Roger is feeling fairly useless in his own life right now. Give him the chance to be a father and a lover/boyfriend/husband to Joan and he might actually gain some of his ego back.

The last scene showed Joan, her son, and Joan's mother on one bed. There isn't room for Greg. He's completely unnecessary. It's hard to read exactly what's on Joan's mind as the shot fades out, but she hardly seems conflicted about her decision. I look forward to the consequences of Joan's actions.

House 8.15 "Blowing the Whistle"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:01:00 +0000

To make a long story short: great patient storyline, recycled House plot. Read more about it right here:

House review "Blowing the Whistle"

Mad Men: Slattery and Moss Tease Season 5

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:25:00 +0000

Although my interviews with John Slattery and Elisabeth Moss were much longer, here's just a bit of what they had to say about the upcoming season sprinkled with a few strong opinions about Don and the decisions he made in season 4. Cheers to the season 5 premiere tonight!

Moss and Slattery Tease Season 5

House: 8.14 "Love is Blind"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 05:54:00 +0000

This was a fairly benign episode of House. It was nice to see Michael B. Jordan, but I need this series to pick up the action a little. Not a lot of time left, but certainly still time enough for improvement!

House review: "Love is Blind"

Once Upon a Time Video Interviews

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 06:44:00 +0000

I covered the red carpet for TVFanatic and interviewed most of the cast of Once Upon a Time! Here are the interviews:

Once Upon a Time Red Carpet Interviews

House: 8.13 "Man of the House"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:43:00 +0000

Last night's episode was not one I'll be watching again. But I tried my very hardest to find something positive about it! Read here:

House review "Man of the House"

House: 8.12 "Chase"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:20:00 +0000

As much as I loved seeing Jesse Spencer limp around without a shirt in this episode, I still felt like it may have been lacking. My thoughts:

House review: Chase

House: 8.11 "Nobody's Fault"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:24:00 +0000

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"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:19:00 +0000

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

House review: Runaways

Jon Hamm Exclusive Interview at the TCA Press Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:17:00 +0000

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"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:25:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:07:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:45:00 +0000

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"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:50:00 +0000

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"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:50:00 +0000

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"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:51:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:01:00 +0000

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"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:27:00 +0000

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"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:24:00 +0000

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"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Beth) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:45:00 +0000

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"