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Psych, season 2- 5 episodes

James Roday and Dule Hill must be friends in real life, because you can’t fake that. I truly believed that this show would be terrible when I first watched it, that it would be a massive rip-off of USA’s Monk. I still think it is a rip-off somewhat, but the comedy and performances allow me to overlook that. I haven’t laughed that hard or often in a television comedy in a looooong time. And I think Timothy Omundsen (as Detective Carlton Lassiter) is a remarkably underrated actor. Maybe I’m just saying that because I just watched him in this and his guest starring role in Jericho.

Wipeout, season one (currently running)- 1 episode

There is something within the human condition that makes it funny when other people fall down. As long as they’re not hurt, and they also fall into water or mud, there’s something deeply satisfying about watching it happen over and over, preferrably at 8:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night. My wife tolerates me watching it, so that part of her humanity has been cured, apparently. But I am fascinated and overjoyed by this simplistic, childish premise. It is the one hour a week where I turn off my brain and laugh at other peoples’ (minor) misfortunes. I think you should, too.

Jericho, season 2- the last three episodes

The show ended the way it began: great action and believable characterization. I’m sad once again to see it go, and I don’t think there’s a lining on this cloud.

NOTE: There is a special feature about how the fans saved the show by sending in nuts. It goes something like this: CBS cancels show, fans send supportive letters and bags of nuts to express their love of the show, president of CBS says you can have seven more shows, please stop sending peanuts.

Analogy: The person you love tells you they have a new apartment and they’re moving out of your house and out of your life. You express your love and shower them with gifts. They decide that they’ll stay for another week, but please stop crying all the time.

Thanks so much, CBS.

Jericho, season 2- watched 4 episodes 
I went into season two knowing it was cancelled, just like I did with season one.  And this time, I’m even more angry.  With only seven episodes to tell a story (and me only seeing four of them thus far), this show is still far superior to most of what is currently on and renewed for another season.  In the wake of 24, there were many serial action stories, and only two of them have struck a chord with me: Jericho and Kidnapped.  Both were original and fascinating, with great performances, and both were cancelled. 

Miller’s Crossing-
I thought it would be fun to go back to something a little more serious from the Coen brothers to see how they hold up against No Country For Old Men.  It was only upon watching Miller’s Crossing again that I realized it isn’t a drama.  It’s dark, but it’s definitely a comedy.  This is the other thing I noticed: it is stylish, beautifully shot, and curiously empty, even for a Coen brothers film.  I enjoyed it, but I think that No Country For Old Men was a paradigm shift for them, and they’re much more content-focused to balance out the brilliant visuals. 

Monk, season 6- 2 episodes
It doesn’t ever seem to get old.  With other actors, and on other shows, I can imagine not caring after the second season.  But creator Andy Breckman and especially actor Tony Shalhoub give Monk something more.  I find myself always caring about him, which is difficult enough to do with a fictional character, not to mention one as annoying as him.  The supporting cast is excellent (and the psychiatrist scenes take on a sad tone with the passing of Stanley Kamel). 

The Lone Gunmen- 1 episode
Hit wide of the mark.  I love the Lone Gunmen in their capacity on the X-Files show, but I don’t think they should have had their own show.  However, since they got one, I wish they had just focused on the Lone Gunmen.  Their two sidekicks are bad actors and uninteresting characters, and they really end up adding nothing to the mix.  But, since they’re now dead in the series and there were only 13 episodes anyway, I guess it doesn’t matter. 

Freakazoid, season 1- 4 episodes
This is the show that belongs somewhere between the old Warner Brothers Daffy Duck cartoons and the sophisticated satire of the Simpsons.  Not smart enough for prime time, but too smart for Saturday morning, it was surprising that this show lasted even the two seasons it played.  The creators were having fun smashing through the fourth wall and generally carrying on psychotically, and it shows.  The special featurette showing the evolution of the show is particularly entertaining, showing what might have been had Batman: The Animated Series creators Bruce Timm and Paul DIni worked on the show with Spielberg.  All in all, a show worth at least renting. 

A great interview with Jay Bakker (pastor of Revolution Church and star of Sundance Channel’s ‘One Punk Under God’), reviews of August Rush and Big Night, our Top Five Worst Villains, and more!

A great interview with Brandon McCormick (www.whitestonemotionpictures.com), reviews of Paranormal State and Ransom, our Top Five Fantasy Film Creatures, and more!

A great interview with Judy Chaikin, director of Los Pastores (www.onestepproductions.com), our Top Five Movies From Books, TV on DVD and more! Special Thanks to the Cinema Guild (www.cinemaguild.com) for providing the Los Pastores screener!

A great interview with David Frederickson, Loren Rosser and Bob Humphrey (www.familyroommedia.com), ‘Imposter’ director Daniel Millican gets technical, reviews of Big Ideas for a Small Planet and War of the Worlds, and our Top Five TV Shows Currently On DVD!

A great interview with Sally Bingham (www.theregenerationproject.org), a first look at ‘The Imposter’ from director Daniel Millican, and our Top Five Most Challenging Lead Roles!

A great interview with Kim Clark (www.godandgaysthemovie.com), movies and TV on DVD, and the Top Five Kathy’s Favorite Movies (happy birthday, Kathy!)

Some people have mentioned having trouble with getting the newer episodes through iTunes.  If so, just unsubscribe and re-subscribe to the show, and the new episodes should download for you.  Thanks for listening!

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