Cinerant

TV REPORT CARD PT. 1

We’re halfway through the traditional television season and there have been some surprises and disappointments in terms of quality and ratings. Some shows that shouldn’t have died are gone (The Nine, Smith) and others that should be gone (Shark, Criminal Minds) are still here, even in older seasons. Some shows have increased in popularity and decreased in quality (yes—Grey’s Anatomy, that means you) while others toil away in obscurity because people DON’T KNOW GOOD TELEVISION WHEN IT’S ON! (You bet I’m talking about Friday Night Lights). And then there are the train wrecks that seem to fascinate us all (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.)

Nevertheless, here are the things worth noting from this television season, so far:

BREAKOUT STAR—America Ferrera, Ugly Betty She makes the show and if she doesn’t win the Golden Globe next month, I’ll be shocked.

BEST NEW CHARACTERS—Matt Saracen. Lyla Garrity, and Jason Street—Friday Night Lights; Betty—Ugly Betty; Juliet—Lost; Justin—Brothers and Sisters; Jack—30 Rock; Oliver Queen—Smallville; D’Anna Biers—Battlestar Galactica

BIGGEST, “I DON’T BUY THIS FOR A SECOND” CHARACTER—Harriet, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

BIGGEST, “I DON’T BUY THIS FOR A SECOND” STORYLINE—Izzie returning to work, Grey’s Anatomy

BIGGEST POTENTIAL SCENE STEALER—Ashley Jensen, Ugly Betty; Rosemarie DeWitt, Standoff (if her show didn’t just suck)

BIGGEST “WOULD’VE BEEN A SCENE STEALER IF THE SERIES HAD LASTED”—Simon Baker, Smith

BIGGEST UNSUNG REASON TO WATCH A TV SHOW—Jason Dohring, Veronica Mars

BEST STAR IN A BAD SERIES—Taye Diggs, Daybreak

BEST GUEST STARS—Catherine Denueve—Nip/Tuck; Thad Luckinbill—Nip/Tuck; Laurie Metcalf—Desperate Housewives; Jane Seymour—How I Met Your Mother; Everybody from Everwood who has found work on TV this season

ACTOR IN NEED OF A BETTER SHOW: Victor Garber, Justice. Apparently this experience was so bad, he’s starting to line up stage projects for the next year.

MOST IMPROVED RETURNING SERIES: The OC. Sure, nobody’s watching it, but this show has shrugged off Marissa and really gotten back into fine form. It’s close to the joy it was first season. Having Chris Pratt (Bright from Everwood) on board doesn’t hurt.

WE’VE HIT OUR STRIDE—How I Met Your Mother—This show went from promising last season to hilarious this season.

MOST IMPROVED NEW SERIES: Brothers and Sisters—every week this show keeps getting better and better

BEST PILOTS THAT DIDN’T WORK IN LATER EPISODES: Smith (cancelled after two more episodes, but now available on Itunes) and The Nine (and who knows if we’ll see the rest of its 13 episodes)

MOST “WHY IS THIS SHOW STILL ON?” AWARD—Nip/Tuck; The King of Queens

MOST SELF-IMPORTANT—Heroes; Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Justice

BEST “OH NO, YOU DID NOT JUST DO SPIT ON YOUR MAMA LIKE THAT” MOMENT—Friday Night Lights: Smash lying about needing money for steroids and then letting his church give him a freewill love offering, thinking they were helping the boy take an SAT prep course so he could get into a good college.

BEST LINES I FIND MYSELF STILL REPEATING—“Boom goes the dynamite!” Veronica Mars; “Frak”—Battlestar Galactica

THE “WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL AWARD?”—Heroes

BIGGEST SQUANDERING OF TALENT—Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock

BEST BREAKDOWN--Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters. Who know buying a lei could be so difficult?

BEST COLD OPEN/TEASER—Gilmore Girls –the answering machine message. Nothing has been funnier this season then Emily playing Lorelai’s message announcing her elopement over and over at Friday dinner. I watched it four times and couldn’t stop laughing.

WORST REVAMPING OF TITLE CREDITS—Veronica Mars; Grey’s Anatomy

BEST EPISODE—“Bang” Desperate Housewives; “Mistakes Were Made Pt. 1 & 2” Brothers and Sisters; “Torn” Battlestar Galactica

Now bring on the musical episode of Scrubs, the return of Lost, and 24

posted by cinegod @ 11:34 AM