Pictured: Kristoffer Polaha as Baze, Britt Robertson as Lux, Shiri Appleby as Cate. Photo Credit: Michael Courtney / The CW.

LIFE UNEXPECTED: B+

Life Unexpected was definitely my favorite pilot of the season.  I was over the moon about the show after watching its premiere, and you can read my thoughts about that here.  I love love loved it, and was so excited for what was to come.  However, the show did not really live up to that potential.  The quirky but sweet tone was not really maintained, and so many clichés and missteps prevented the show from really boasting a spectacular first season.  Time constraints prevented me from recapping the show regularly, but I checked in on episode 3, “Rent Uncollected,” and then on “Family Therapized,” where I posted my thoughts on the season so far.  The difference between my thoughts in the 10^th episode and the 3rd was pretty clear.

It’s funny, because I read SB’s recaps over at Off-Color TV throughout the season (which you should totally go read, because they are hilarious and awesome), and while I got such out a kick out of her take, I remember feeling a bit defensive of the show.  At first, I didn’t get all the hate towards Cate and Lux by various critics and commentators.  And I didn’t get some of the dissatisfaction with the plot lines.  Looking back, I think I had pilot goggles on (like beer goggles, except less alcohol is involved).  By episode 10, I finally started to see what was so frustrating about the show, and by the end of the finale, I was just rolling my eyes ad nauseam.  Really, you’re going to pull an interrupted wedding, show?  Really?  The love-triangle is just not what I wanted this show to be, and now that Cate and Ryan are married, any continued love-triangle plot-lines will just be icky.  My problem is not so much annoyance at any particular character (other than the ridiculous Bug), but more the storylines in general.  The writing is just inconsistent, and while I think Liz Tigelaar has really created some fabulous characters and a great premise, the execution  has faltered.  I will definitely tune in next season, however, as I still think that the show continues to have so much potential, and I have really come to care about Cate, Lux, Baze, and Ryan.  One thing that LUX has really done well is present the emotional punch.  Let’s hope that when the show returns, it has a more solid footing.  

Photo Credit: Mario Perez/ ABC.

LOST: A-/B+

Wow.  It’s hard to believe that Lost is actually over.  I can’t say that the sixth season was my favorite, but it has been quite a ride.  The awesomeness of the finale did a lot to make up for my disappointment with the season, at least on an emotional level, and you can read all my thoughts about “The End” here and here.  I also sporadically recapped the season, beginning with “LA X”, so you can find all my Lost posts here.

I really don’t think that there is more to add at this point, other than to explain my grade.  I am still pretty ambivalent about a lot of stuff that happened at the end of last season and throughout this season.  All that fuss about the bomb, and all it did was put them back in the right time.  Seems like there could have been other ways to do that.  Donkey wheel, anyone?  Stupid bomb.  And I’m still annoyed with the suckiness of Kate’s character, though she did have redemption in the finale, what with her shooting the Man in Black.  Still, I will reiterate my disappointment in the treatment of the female characters on this show–so inconsistent and frustrating.  The same goes for anyone who is not a white male.  Sigh.

Ultimately, however, this show has always been intelligent, and it always seemed to be trying and taking risks.  I can’t tell you how many times in my academic career that I have been sitting in lecture and the professor’s words brought to mind Lost.  This year, in particular, I was a T.A. for World History, covering the period from 1500-1900, and I felt like everything made me think of Lost.  From Machiavelli and Locke’s views on human nature, to the scientific discoveries of the Enlightenment, my mind kept making connections between school and … a television show.  That is not normal.  There are just so many literary and historical allusions/ parallels/ references in the show, that it really makes you think.  I don’t know about you, but that’s my favorite type of television–the type that makes me reflect on my own life and the world around me.  The questions that this show provoked were ultimately where the value of this show lies, for me.  The answers, on the other hand?  Not so much.

MELROSE PLACE: C/ Incomplete

Photo Credit: Michael Desmond /The CW.

Like I said back in January, this show has been a big disappointment for me.  As a fan of the original, this reimagined Melrose is missing all the soapy fun of the original.  Normally, I like a good crazy chick storyline—especially a crazy red head (I miss you, crazy Kimberly!).  But Ashlee Simpson was absolutely unwatchable as Violet.  Ugh.  It was nice seeing Sydney, Michael, Jo, and Amanda again (not so much Jane—who wants to see her again?), but nostalgia wasn’t enough to keep me watching.  However, nostalgia did keep me around long enough to see Amanda’s introduction, which was a little disappointing.  I think that I watched one more episode after that, and then I tuned out.  Not so much because the show was so bad or unwatchable (other than Violet), but because it just wasn’t good enough to keep my interest.  I mean, it was on Tuesday nights, and Lost was back.  Priorities!  And the show just wasn’t compelling enough to inspire me to catch up online in any type of hurry (plus, I really have to want to watch a show in order to brave CW’s annoying video player).  Since the show has not been renewed, that was probably a good choice, though I am somewhat curious as to how it all ended.  The main highlight for me was Katie Cassidy as Ella, and I will probably try to finish the series at some point, and enjoy her scenes and those of the veterans.  As for the rest?  Meh.

Photo Credit: Danny Feld/ ABC.

MODERN FAMILY: B

Okay, so if you’re one of those people who worship at the altar of Modern Family, you may want to stop reading.  The critical acclaim for the ABC comedy is so overhyped that it just baffles me.  Yes, it is a good show and fairly funny, but I just don’t get all the LOVE for it.  I guess that this could be more a reflection of my tastes than the quality of the show.  I never understood the hullabaloo about The Office and 30 Rock either.  I’m just not that into comedies in general.  The only current comedies that I love are The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother (but that one is really testing my loyalty), and Cougar Town.  The rest of the shows that I watch are mostly dramas.  I like my TV dark and angsty, for the most part.  Also, comedy is very subjective.  What one person finds funny is not necessarily the same thing that amuses another.  Sometimes I worry that maybe I have an underdeveloped sense of humor, or something, but then I remember how easily amused I am by life, by everything.  Hmmm.  Anyway, I like Modern Family, and enjoy watching it on Hulu on a weekend afternoon, but it’s not must-see TV for me.

My favorite part of the show is Gloria.  Sofia Vergara is fabulous.  The more the show focuses on her and her son Manny, the more I enjoy it.  Gloria and Manny just have such a great rapport, and I find them the most compelling of the extended family.  The other characters are likeable, and have had their moments, but often I find myself just wondering: “This is the best show on TV, according to some people?  Really?”  The show has just never crossed over from like to love territory.  That said, it did boast one of the best quotes of this television season: “Excuse me, Meryl Streep could play Batman and be the right choice.”  Hee.

ONE TREE HILL: C+

Photo Credit: Michael Desmond /The CW.

Yes, I watch One Tree Hill.  Shut up.  At the end of last season, Peyton and Lucas left with their baby, presumably for a happily ever after.  Of course, they’re probably being stalked by psycho half-brothers and nannies in another small town.  To take their place, we got a whole bunch of new characters: Haley’s sister, Quinn; Alex, a horrible human being who is also an actress and model; Nathan’s manager/agent/whatever, Clay; Alexander, a male designer hired for Clothes over Bros; Miranda, an all-business producer from Red Bedroom’s parent label; and loveable bartender/ musician, Grubbs.  And if you thought that was overkill, a bunch of recurring characters from the past returned, including, Rachel, Chase, Mia, and Victoria (Brooke’s mom).  Hayley’s mom (played by Angela Chase’s mom!) and other sister, Taylor (you remember her—Nathan’s first), also made guest appearances.  And then, of course, there was the requisite psycho of the season: a doppelgänger of Clay’s deceased wife.  So, in some ways, this was a weird season, but in others, it was just business as usual.

I have never been a big fan of Lucas or Peyton, so I was optimistic about the show existing without them.  However, adding this many characters did not really improve the show, at all.  First of all, I loathe and detest Alex.  Ugh!  It was almost unbearable to watch her on screen.  Soooo annoying.  As for Quinn and Clay, they were pretty much meh.  Take ‘em or leave ‘em.  The most fun part of Quinn’s storyline was when Taylor came to town, and the three sisters just exploded.  It was like a car wreck—you couldn’t look away.  Chase, Mia, Miranda, and Grubbs’s storylines all seemed tacked on and unimportant.  I guess that we were supposed to care about them, but I really didn’t.

Who did I care about?  Nathan, Haley, and Jamie.  I really enjoyed seeing this little family together, though the “cheating” storyline was a bit annoying.  Still, it gave Dan a rare opportunity to help his son … which reminds me … Dan married Rachel!!!  I totally had a jaw dropping moment when that was revealed.  Hehe.  But back to our one stable and healthy relationship on the show—I love Nathan and Haley.  I’m not ashamed to admit it.  Moving on.

Brooke is, of course, my favorite.  However, her storyline was very frustrating and disappointing this season.  It pretty much consisted of Brooke being constantly jealous of Alex and Julian.  Sophia Bush deserves better material.  Also, apparently Julian is now Brooke’s soul-mate?  Sorry, I’m just not invested in them as a couple.  I mean, I want Brooke to be happy, but I could not care less about Julian.  Apparently they are together in real life, but on screen their chemistry is somewhat lackluster.

Millicent’s character has been pretty much ruined.  I used to love her, but it is amazing how quickly the show made her completely unlikeable and unsympathetic.  Good work, writers.  (Pssst, sarcasm.)  Yes, Millie went to the dark side, which in OTH world is being a fashion model.  Remember when Brooke went to New York and went out on the town with that young model, back when she was still in high school?  Well, apparently things have not changed in the fashion world.  Oh, those city girls grow up too fast, and models are corrupt and do drugs.  It is the dark side of the Force, I tell you!  *eye-roll*

Overall, this season was pretty ridiculous, so quality wise I have to give it a C+.  However, it was also a really fun guilty pleasure.  My guiltiest of pleasures, and I’m addicted.  Inexplicably, the CW has renewed it for another season, so One Tree Hill will be back for an eighth season.  Yes, that’s right: 8 seasons!  I’m shocked that this little show has lasted so long.  It seems like just yesterday when I first pretended not to watch it.  Ah, how the years go by.

PARENTHOOD: A

See, what I'm talking about? Perfection. Photo Credit: NBC.

When I first heard about this show, I wasn’t sure if I would watch.  Then Lauren Graham was cast, so I had to tune in … and it definitely exceeded my expectations.  I should not have been surprised though, as Parenthood was developed and executive produced by Jason Katims, one of the people behind Friday Night Lights.  While the two shows are very different, there is a similar strand of authenticity.  Like Friday Night Lights, Parenthood’s strength lies in the small moments between characters.  As you grow to learn who these characters are, you increasingly care for them.  This show is a slow burn of awesomeness, rather than crazy plot twisty, and I love that.  I feel like it feels a real hole in my television schedule—it’s not high concept, like pretty much everything else I watch.  It’s just a very well done show about a family who loves each other.  It has a simple premise–family–but it is all in the details and execution.

My favorite episode of the season was probably episode 5, “The Situation.”  Adam becoming a father-figure for Drew has just been such a sweet arc throughout this season, and the two are so good together.  It was just heartbreaking when Adam didn’t show up for their scheduled baseball practice, and Drew was left alone at the field, waiting.  Sarah’s reaction to this was so perfect and sad, and you could identify with all sides.  Then, we had a happy ending of sorts, when Adam, Max, and Drew meet up on the baseball field and play together.  I was a puddle.  A puddle, I tell you!  I am just the sort of sappy person that this show caters too.  More, please.

Another relationship that I have really enjoyed on the show has been between Adam (Peter Krause) and Sarah (Lauren Graham).  The two just have great chemistry, and I love their sibling relationship.  Sarah also has fabulous chemistry with her daughter, Amber (Mae Whitman), and I love how imperfect, but also loveable, the two are.  Flawed characters are just so much more interesting, and they are just so believable as mother and daughter.  Really, I could go on and on, because all the family relationships on this show are so realistic and well-done.  The weakest links are probably Julia (or Swimfan as I call her) and Joel, but even their storyline has its strengths, particularly with their relationship with their daughter.  Bottom line: I’m so glad that Parenthood got renewed, and I will definitely be tuning in next season.

Further random thoughts on Parenthood:

• All of the children are ridiculously adorable on this show–especially Jabbar.  In fact, Jabbar may possibly be the cutest kid on television.
• On that note, Jabbar’s mother, Jasmine, may possibly be the most gorgeous woman on television.  The actress who plays her, Joy Bryant, is just beautiful.
• The only characters that I’m not really too attached to yet are the parents: Camille (Bonnie Bedelia) and Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) Braverman.  Their storyline about their separation has not grabbed me.
• Amber and Haddie’s relationship has been so interesting to watch.  The cousins went from strangers to confidants to enemies to family.  I hope that the two girls are able to get past their boy problems and remain close–it certainly looked that way in the finale.  Both girls are complex and interesting to watch on screen, providing different models of teenage girls than what seems to be normally portrayed on television.
• I never thought that I would ever be able to stand Dax Shepard, let alone like him, but this show has performed a miracle: I kind of love Crosby.  His character has really grown a lot, with the news that he is a father, and his efforts to build a relationship with his son.  I am also somewhat invested in his relationship with Jasmine, and hope that they keep her around next season.
• Kristina’s hair is soooo platinum blonde that it is distracting.  Monica Potter is a great actress, and has just really done a phenomenal job bringing Kristina to life, but I can’t help but fixate on her white hair.  I think just a shade darker, or some golden highlights would really do wonders for her coloring.  (I know, this is a weird thing to fixate on.)
• Sarah and Adam questioning Steve’s parents, and then confronting Steve, in the finale, was one of my favorite scenes of the television season.  I just love how the two siblings banded together to find Amber, but when Adam saw Steve, all he could think of was Haddie.  And Sarah, of course, gave Steve a piece of her mind on Amber’s behalf.  Just gold.

Okay, that’s all for now.  I’ll post Part IV soon, covering Smallville, Supernatural, The Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife, The Vampire Diaries, and V.  I welcome your comments below, as always.

First up: three trailers for 90210.

And now, here are the Melrose Place videos: three trailers and two extended previews.

Videos courtesy of CWtelevision’s YouTube Channel.

Photo Credit: NBC.com

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: A+

I egregiously left this stellar show out of Part I, where it rightly belonged in alphabetical order, so it will start of Part II.  I have lost count of how many times this show has made me cry this season—and you all know how much I love shows that make me cry.  However, it has also made me cheer, and feel inspired.  I’m pulling for Coach Taylor and the Lions, and hope for their success.  Of special note so far this season are Connie Britton and Zach Gilford’s performances.  The character of Tami Taylor has faced a lot of opposition this season, and has dealt with it with such grace and tenacity that I adore her more and more each episode—and I already adored her quite a lot.  And sweet Matt Saracen … sigh.  Gilford has portrayed his role beautifully throughout the series, but his father’s death really brought his performance to an even higher level.  My heart breaks for him.  And of course the rest of our old favorites have been doing a fabulous job, though I miss Smash and Tyra. As for the new characters, I like most of them, with the notable exception of Becky.  However, my suspicion is that we are supposed to be annoyed by Becky, so at least she’s fulfilling her purpose … to the max.  P.S. Tim Riggins still makes my heart flutter.

HEROES: B

Heroes is a touchy subject these days, so I’ll keep this short and sweet.  At the start of this season, I was on the fence as to whether I would continue watching the show.  I decided to stick with it, and I’m really glad that I did.  The new villain (or antihero, if you prefer), Samuel, played to perfection by Robert Knepper, is probably the number one reason for this.  Seriously, he is Magneto-level fascinating.  While it’s not my favorite show on TV anymore, and hasn’t been for quite awhile, I do quite enjoy watching it on Hulu on Tuesday mornings, or catching up with it over the weekend.  What can I say?  I’m a sucker for super powers.

Photo Credit: CBS.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER: B+

For any other season, I would give this show an A.  Alas, this season has been extremely uneven, and has even angered me at times.  Fat suit, people?  Seriously?  Ugh.  I had been looking forward to Robin and Barney getting together ever since she became an honorary bro and suited up with him.  Loved them together.  However, the first half of the season has managed to make them unpalatable together, and break them up.  It was just not handled well, for either character.  Robin came off whiny and pathetic, and  Barney … just no.  Then there was that smoking episode.  Ick.  Still, there have been some highlights, particularly “Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap,” and “The Window.”  Lots of good moments sprinkled throughout, plus characters that I love, means this show still rates well, despite my disappointment.

Photo Credit: Carin Baer/ AMC.

MAD MEN: A+

I think that this is the smartest show on television, and it is the one that makes me think the most.  I adore it.  It challenges me, while also being extremely entertaining.  I also enjoy  the clothing, makeup, and historical detail.  I am in love with old movies.  I have been watching the classics since I was a small child.  His Girl Friday, The Philadelphia Story, Casablanca, The Thin Man, Roman Holiday, Funny Face, Gentleman Prefer Blondes, etc.—those are my favorites.  Thus, I would have been attracted to this show’s subject matter even if it wasn’t a work of genius.  But it most certainly is.  This season has really been the season of Betty, in many ways.  January Jones has really shown us what she’s got, and Betty’s character has grown with leaps and bounds.  When she found out about Don’s secret, and then confronted him about it, it was mind-blowing.  I spent most of season three mad at Don Draper (yes, I get mad at fictional characters), but by the end of the season I remembered why I fell in love with his character to begin with.  When Don told Peggy that if she turned him down he would spend the rest of his life trying to hire her, in the finale, I got teary-eyed, and it was my favorite moment of the series to date.  Peggy also had a fascinating journey, and has really become quite the budding feminist.  Love it.  Another highlight was when Joan broke the vase over her jerk-husband’s head.  My only complaint is that I miss Sal.  I hope that the show figures out a way to bring him back.  You can check out my recaps for season three here.

MAKE IT OR BREAK IT: B

I really enjoyed the first half of the season, debuting in the summer.  It’s a fun show, and I enjoy watching.  Plus, those gymnast chicks are hard core.  Seriously.  It’s cool to see teen girl characters that are interested in more than finding boyfriends, and I hope that young girls who watch the show feel similarly inspired.  It’s not perfect by any means, and sometimes displays some of the worst trends of teen soaps, but it is definitely worth watching for the girly set.

Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels/The CW.

MELROSE PLACE: C+

This show has been a big disappointment for me.  I recently got into watching the original series on dvd, and quite enjoyed it.  The 90s version was a guilty delight.  The new series doesn’t have the charm, attitude, or daytime-soap-ridiculousness of the original, and I increasingly doubt that it will find its feet.  I have enjoyed the appearances by the original cast members, but nostalgia isn’t enough to keep the show interesting.  The main highlight is Katie Cassidy as Ella—she is a joy to watch.  As for the rest?  Meh.

ONE TREE HILL: B-

Yes, I watch One Tree Hill.  Shut up.

Photo Credit: Jack Rowand/The CW.

SMALLVILLE: B+

I love Smallville.  I love love love it.  Nothing would make me stop watching, except cancellation.  And then, of course, I would still keep watching the dvds.  However, this season has not been my favorite—it’s just not grabbing me.  Maybe I’ll feel differently when I watch it on dvd.  I have really been enjoying the chemistry between Lois and Clark this season—they are really heating things up.  I have also liked to see the growth of Chloe, and her control of the situation—every situation.  I still love Oliver, and I enjoy every scene in which Tess has a gun.  Seriously, she is a bad ass.  I’m looking forward to the rest of the season, particularly the two part Justice League-esque episode: “Absolute Justice.”  Who knows?  By the end of the season, its grade may go up.  Let’s just hope that by then Clark will stop wearing that metrosexual black jacket.  That belongs on Angel, or some other brooding vampire, not Superman.

Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels/The CW.

SUPERNATURAL: A-

This one is among my favorites, and is a joy to watch.  I love the humor especially, and episode 5×08, “Changing Channels,” was a comedic masterpiece.  I love the tear-jerking moments even more, and this show has a lot of that too.  It is smart and well-written, and nothing like one might expect.  This season has been intense, as our heroes are still reeling from the events of the world-changing season four finale.  I love all the angel-drama, and can’t wait to see how the rest of the season shapes up.  I often describe it as the male-version of Buffy.  My only complaint is that it is a little too testosterone filled.  The female characters are either helpless damsels, or evil temptress demons.  The two strong female characters that we did have, Ellen and Jo, were killed this season.  Horror movie cliché much?  Still, I love it, and can’t wait to find out how will it all end.  Is it January 21^st yet?

Photo Credit: TV Squad/ CBS.

THE BIG BANG THEORY: A

This show has to be my favorite comedy of the year.  Honestly, I don’t watch that many comedies—I prefer drama—but this one is can’t miss.  I love it, and it just keeps getting better and better.  I especially love any scene that Penny and Sheldon share.  They work so well together, and provide the perfect complements to each other.  Sheldon is definitely one of my favorite characters on television.

Photo Credit: CBS.

THE GOOD WIFE: B+

I had never planned to watch this show when I first heard about it.  One: I’m not a fan of legal procedurals.  Two: I generally avoid shows and movies with the word “wife” in them.  However, iTunes had the pilot for free, so I went ahead and downloaded it.  When some of my other shows were on hiatus, I checked it out, and I liked it.  I really liked it.  So I caught up online, and it became one of my favorite new shows of the season.  It’s not perfect, and I am not compelled to watch it during its 10:00pm time-slot, but it is definitely a show that I enjoy.  The guest stars are great, especially the judges, and they do a fabulous job of fitting into the show each week.  Still, the character of Alicia feels like a bit of a mystery to me, and her motivation is often unclear.  Like, what was that kiss for her estranged husband about?  Also, I would like to see her relying a little more on her brain, and a little less on her feminine intuition, to win cases.

Photo Credit: Guy D'Alema/The CW.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: A

Yep, I’m giving it an A.  Why?  I love it.  Honestly, it is the show that I look forward to most each week (or maybe tied with Dollhouse in that category).  Enjoyment is the whole point of television, right?  When I first heard about this show, and that it was based on a series of young adult books, I was determined to read the books before the show.  I did so, and was so relieved to find that it was not Twilight, but rather featured a non-gag-inducing love story and strong female characters.  By the end of the first four volumes of the series, I was committed to watching the show, and I have not been disappointed.  The pilot was ok, but every episode since has just gotten better and better—the sign of a good show.  The characters are compelling and becoming more so as the season has progressed.  The introduction of Alaric had me swooning, and trust me, that is not as easy as you might think.  Plus, I’ve fallen in love with Caroline, Matt, and Bonnie, and hope to see their storylines develop as time goes on.  And oh yeah, that Damon guy is pretty entertaining.  You can check out my recaps here: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: The story so far…

Photo Credit: HBO/ NY Post.com

TRUE BLOOD: B+

Blood.  Sex.  Violence.  More blood.  More sex.  More violence.  Yep, that pretty much sums it up.  Still, I’m hooked.  I will note, however, that I am among the minority that enjoys the books more than the show, mainly due to the depiction of Sookie in the respective mediums.  On the show she comes off as a bit of a dumb blonde, which is not my type of heroine.  Also, did I mention the constant deluge of blood, sex, and violence?  I’d like to see some more subtlety.  I would also like to see a spin-off featuring Pam, Eric, and Lafayette—the best characters on the show.  I have discussed this on Twitter with @MediaObsessed, and we would like them to solve crimes together.  It would be fabulous.

V: B+

I was really looking forward to this show, and have enjoyed the preliminary offerings.  However, it is hard to judge a series by only four episodes.  In fact, I haven’t even gotten around to watching the fourth episode, since I know that I will have to wait so long for the remainder.  From what little I’ve seen, however, the stuff with the Visitors is what interests me the most.  I have so many questions, and can’t wait to learn more.  However, I am a little gun-shy to get enveloped in this show, with all the scheduling changes.  I don’t want my heart broken by another sci-fi show.  The highlight so far, for me, has been Morena Baccarin’s portrayal of Anna.  She is a perfect combination of enticing and threatening.  I do love an evil alien queen.

So what have you thought of the TV season so far?  Agree?  Disagree?  Was I too kind, or too harsh?  I look forward to reading your comments below.

Videos courtesy of the CWgossip’s YouTube channel.

I really like that Ella figured out what Lauren has been up to.  She makes several good points in swaying Lauren to the dark side.  Will Lauren accept Ella’s offer?  Will she try to get out of the prostitution business, but learn that it’s not so easy?  Will she end up roughed up, and have to get help from a friend?  Will she learn a valuable lesson?  Will I want to throw up and/or throw my remote?  My guess is yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Videos are courtesy of the CW Television YouTube channel.

Here’s a short trailer announcing Amanda’s return:

There is no new episode this week, October 27th, but tune in November 3rd at 9/8c for episode 8, entitled “Gower.” The episode description reads: “Riley helps Jonah film a wedding and the two have a huge fight on the job; David begins to think he’s responsible for Sydney’s death; Ella confronts Lauren about the late nights she’s been working.”

“Sources confirm that Locklear will play Katie Cassidy’s boss at the PR firm, a genius move that will pit the show’s former and current vixens against one another.”

Click on the links below for the original press release, and further details.

Heather Locklear returning to ‘Melrose Place’ –The Live Feed | THR.

‘Melrose’ scoop: New details on Heather Locklear’s return! | Ausiello | EW.com.

Heather Locklear back to ‘Melrose Place’: Can Amanda make this show a hit?.

Spoiler Alert: the following two videos are clips from the episode, not promos:

Oh, how the plot thickens. Is that first clip a flashback, following Sydney’s first death, which happened at the end of the original series? Or does it take place in real time?

Stephanie Jacobsen as Lauren Yung in MELROSE PLACE on The CW. Photo: Michael Desmond/The CW

I must admit that I had trouble paying close attention when I was watching Melrose, so many of the little details escaped my notice. However, I felt that this week was much improved, and the intrigue seems to be stacking up.  I look forward to more juicy scandal, which is the whole point of this show.

Read on for my take on Melrose Place 1×02, aired 9/15/2009:

• So it turns out that Auggie (short for August, perhaps?) had a sexual relationship with Sydney, who was also his AA sponsor.  Although, for a minute there, I thought Sydney was in “Black-mailers Anonymous”–which would have been awesome.  It seems that Sydney was Auggie’s sponsor, and he told her about his sordid past.  Said sordid past involved inadvertently killing his girlfriend in a bar-room brawl.  Another flashback, from the night Sydney was killed, reveals that Sydney had fallen off the wagon.  Auggie was angry with her for still being hung up on Michael, and she stabbed him.  So Auggie was washing off his own blood in the shower?  Sydney was the one who ended up dead though, so there’s still more the story.
• Meanwhile, David continues with his thievery, while everyone else continues to think he’s living off his trust fund.  Via a conversation with Ella, we also learned an interesting fact about his childhood.  David didn’t grow up as the pampered son of Michael Mancini–instead, he grew up rather more modestly, and was thrust into Michael’s life when his mother got sick.  Ella’s reaction was much like mine: “Wow. This almost makes me like you.”  With an emphasis on the ALMOST.  So is the mom still alive?  And do we have any idea as to who she is/ was?  His mom can’t (or at least let’s hope) be Sydney or Jane, because of the incest factor.  In the first half of season 5 of the original (which is the last season I watched), Michael divorced Kimberly to marry Kelly Rutherford’s character, but then fell back in love with Kimberly, who was dying.  I thought that I read somewhere that Kimberly did eventually die.  Although death doesn’t seem to stop anyone on Melrose Place.  Theories?
• And now for my favorite character: Ella.  In my notes for the episode, I kept on referring to her as Amanda–I kid you not.  It was a compulsion or something.  However, so as not to confuse you, I’ll refer to her as Ella here.  Her costuming for this episode was fabulous.  I especially loved the magenta dress she wore in the opening of the episode, when she interrupted Jonah and Riley.  Ella uses the death of Sydney as an excuse to rope Jonah into doing something for her, i.e. setting up security cameras.  Riley is on to her, but her suspicions are lost on Jonah.  Jonah actually tells his fiancée: “Ella understands me!”  The surveillance video ends up revealing a couple of little tidbits. First, Violet looks very much like Sydney when swimming in the pool, and was possibly re-enacting Sydney’s death.  Creepy.  Second, Riley and Auggie have a close personal moment.  Ella tries to use the latter to her advantage, but no dice.  Riley and Jonah find a way to deal with their petty jealousies, at least for the time-being.
• But back to Ella: she had some trouble at work this episode.  The new boss-man (who is oh-so-beautiful, and very familiar, but I just can’t place him) tells her to pack up her office.  Ella refuses to go down without a fight, and  promises to land a client “bigger than Zach Quinto’s eyebrows.”  Hehe.  Said target is a British actor named Jasper Barnes, who happens to be attending a party that David is invited to.  How convenient.  Ella finagles an invitation, and wears another fabulous dress.  She makes an impression on Jaspar, but when she goes to tell her boss with the good news the next day, he has already signed Jaspar.  Boss: “Oh, sweetheart. You really need to recalibrate that gaydar.”  However, all is not lost, as Jaspar insisted that Amanda be his publicist.  Victory!  At the obligatory pool party later, Ella quips: “Signed a huge client … without having to whore myself out, thank you very much.”
• In direct contradiction to Ella, Lauren (Jessie from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, if you’re still not sure about the names) continues to prostitute herself for her medical school tuition.  It seems that the Melrose writers have never heard of student loans.  Sigh.  The guy from last week, sets her up with Rick, who offers her more money.   Jessie refuses at first, but then claims that she’s going to get kicked out of medical school so she relents.  This storyline was easy to believe when it featured Sydney, but it’s just hard to believe that an intelligent and educated woman like Lauren would resort to this.  Just my opinion.  Anyway, on her “date” with Rick, Lauren runs into Ella, but so far her secret’s safe.  Rick feels a real connection to Lauren: “I’ve hired other girls before, but I’ve never had this type of connection.”  He proposes that they see each other for real.  Lauren’s response?  “I want my money. I want to go home.”  She sure got the hang of that quick.
• The hunt for Sydney’s murderer also got another suspect: Violet.  We see a flashback featuring Violet telling Sydney that she’s her mom.  Sydney says that she never had a baby.  Is she lying?  Telling the truth?  At first I thought maybe the DNA matched Sydney’s because her sister Jane was Violet’s mother.  But then I remembered Jane was adopted (which would also mean that Jane could be David’s mother, without Sydney engaging in incest).  What’s the story here?  Who’s lying?  And did Violet snap and kill her supposed mother out of disappointment and anger?  Ashlee is a terrible actress, but this is starting to get fun.

Photo Credit: The CW ©2009 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

Read on for my take on the Melrose Place 2.0 pilot (spoilers for the episode, and lots of 90s nostalgia are implied):

I didn’t watch the original Melrose Place when it aired in the 90s.  Of course, I was a big Beverly Hills 90210 fan, as was everybody else my age.  Melrose was a bit too adult for me, and I wasn’t allowed to watch that much TV anyway (I’ve made up for that in spades in my adult years).  However, a couple years ago I decided to try out the original Melrose, in all its soapy glory via the wonder of Netflix.  The production values and acting abilities left much to be desired, but I could not turn away.  I made my way through all the seasons currently released on dvd (seasons 1-5.5), so unfortunately I have yet to experience the wonder of Alyssa Milano as Michael’s trouble-making little sister.  I did, however, get to revel in the crazy evilness of Kimberly (played to perfection by Marcia Cross), the fabulous bitchiness of Amanda (Heather Locklear’s calling in life was to play that role), the dastardly deeds of Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro plays such a charming narcissist, if ever there was one), and trouble-maker Sydney (played by the gorgeous Laura Leighton, whom I regard as the second coming of Sami Brady).  Oh, and I was absolutely thrilled to see Kelly Rutherford play the hooker with the heart of gold.  There were absolutely no limits to where this show would go.  Thus, when I heard the news that the CW was producing Melrose Place 2.0, I was excited … that is, until I actually watched the pilot last week.

This 1995 photo shows the cast of “Melrose Place”, from top left; Heather Locklear, Grant Show, Doug Savant and Thomas Calabro. Seated from left; Andrew Shue, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Leighton, Daphne Zuniga and Josie Bissett. (AP Photo)

The pilot for the re-imagined Melrose was rather dull and lackluster, in my opinion.  I’m not giving up on the show, but I really hope that it improves—or maybe that it get worse (perhaps the show-runners need to aspire to the fascination of “so bad it’s good”).  Laura Leighton reprises her role as the deliciously awful Sydney, but she was dead within the first 10 minutes (or was it 5?).  Thomas Calabro also returned, in his role as Michael Mancini—he didn’t get killed off, but he was also under-used.  It is also confirmed that Josie Bisset (Michael’s ex-wife Jane, and also Sydney’s estranged sister) will appear on future episodes of the new drama, but as I pretty much hated her character, that does not excite me.

But what about the actual episode?  The highlight for me was Katie Cassidy’s turn as Ella, the Amanda-type character.  Katie was fabulous on Supernatural and Harper’s Island, and she seems to be in a different league than the rest of the new cast.   It seems that the old love triangle between Amanda-Billy-Allison may replay itself this season with Ella-Jonah-Riley.  Could be fun.  It could also make me want to tear my eyes out.  I’m just not sure.

What did you think?

Pictured: (l-r) Ashlee Simpson-Wentz as Violet, Colin Egglesfield as Auggie, Katie Cassidy as Ella, Laura Leighton as Sydney, Thomas Calabro as Dr. Michael Mancini, Stephanie Jacobsen as Lauren, Shaun Sipos as David, Jessica Lucas as Riley, Michael Rady as Jonah. Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels/The CW ©2009 The CW.