Welcome to the latest edition of The Week That Was. Do you ever wonder if you watch too much television? I do, I have found that it cuts into valuable DVD watching time. But in some ways it's worth it, it is fun to keep track of the worthwhile shows (read= not reality shows). Look below to see how this past week turned out.
Sunday 4/10.
- King of the Hill. I actually liked this episode. John Redcorn's metal band searches for an outlet, so he builds a casino, which backfires disastrously. Also Hank tries to keep them from playing his company party. Every once in awhile this is actually decent. ***
- Malcolm in the Middle. Malcolm finds a guy living in the store and tries to help him and Reese becomes attached to some caterpillars. Mediocre at best, this has become a shadow of it's former self. **
- Arrested Development. As funny as ever, Michael gets his mother into rehab to only have to get her out, Maybe has to research the spring breakers and there is blackmail from a former secretary. Absurd and hilarious. ***.5
- Desperate Housewives. This was a fun episode featuring an appearance by Bob Newhart as Teri Hatcher's father. Meanwhile, the kids get a spanking. Big time guilty pleasure. **.5
Monday 4/11.
- WWE: Raw. Batista makes his first speech as champ, it was OK. There is a confrontation between HBK and Mohammad Hussan. ***
- 24. The President's fate is discovered, and the plot thickens. This season just keeps chugging along. Arguably the best yet! ***
Tuesday 4/12
- Scrubs. Janitor's new outfit creates some great reactions and Turk and Carla get back together. Together with Arrested Development represents the upper echelon of sitcoms. ***.5
- The Office. This series is gaining steam. Alliances are formed to combat the cutbacks. This place reminds me of my day job. ***
- House. Joe Morton does a wonderful job as a politician who may have AIDS. House helps him, while also convincing a woman that she really is having sex. I am so glad this is coming back next season. ***
- Blind Justice. Another episode of "I heard something different." I like the characters, but the episodes are falling into a formula. **.5
Wednesday 4/13.
- Smallville. Finally back on the air. Lex gets himself split in two and Clark tries to get them back together putting his own identity on the line. ***
- Alias. Now this is a good episode,Vaughan out on the loose, Dixon on a secret mission which crosses his path, and another Arvin Sloane? Plus the return of Katya, Irina's sister and aunt to our star. ***.5
- Eyes. Another guilty pleasure type show. Combines the serious and the goofy. Here we have a kidnap victim and a large bag of money, somehow Harlan (Tim Daly) always comes out on top. ***
- Stacked. Pamela Anderson returns to television in this goofy number. Not sure if I like it, it is rather mind numbing. Plus there is a BIG problem in the overuse of the laugh track. **
- Law & Order. Episode is about a murder (what else?) and is relatively by the numbers until Green gets shot. The story concludes in Friday's Trial by Jury. **.5
- South Park. The kids finally decide to ignore Cartman, who now believes he is dead and only Butters cab see him. This leads to Cartman trying to make things right in his life. ***
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Article comments
1 - Phat
As to STACKED on Wednesday, your comments couldn't be more correct as far as the laugh track. It is overwhelming and all-encompassing -- the only problem with your assessment is that it is NOT a "laugh track."
That was the audience. They truly enjoyed the intended humor to its full intent. Whether or not you or America enjoyed it as much, this audience -- and the two audiences that were there for the original taping and the reshoots before this taping -- all found it as funny as any CHEERS, FRASIER, RAYMOND, FRIENDS that you've ever seen with a massive "laugh track" (which undoubtedly were not sweetened, as well).
This audience really and truly laughed that hard --(frankly, it had to be stifled in order to get out the entire story of the show). Having been there for this taping as well as the original and subsequent reshoots before the broadcast version, it is a funny show.
Pamela is a much better actress than anyone in America would have guessed. She's real AND funny.
Marissa, Brian, Christopher and Elon are all smart comedians -- look at the emmys, tonys and comedy clubs to prove that. Look past the obvious encumbrances and watch the characters, funny is funny -- judge it on that.
I'll be watching this wednesday, will you?
2 - Chris Beaumont
Just remember not to judge based on past success. I'll give it another chance.