Starry Saturday

Sometimes living in a city like Toronto can surprise you. When you are not even expecting it you can stumble upon a red carpet event. Such was the case last night when my walk home turned into star watching outside the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre.

Yonge street was barricaded and a crowd had gathered. My mind was elsewhere so I was not really thinking of the date. But it did not take long to realize that the event was the Geminis. Yes, the event that rewards the best in Canadian television was going down and I was able to sneak into the second line of observers right at the entrance point.

My first catch was Mark Taylor. He is currently staring in "Flashpoint", a show that do actually enjoy. It is a cop procedural and is really well done. I must say that Mark is quite handsome in person. Truthfully, it was cool to be close to a homegrown star from one of my favourite Canadian guilty pleasures: "Instant Star". Squeeee!!


Next up was Enrico Colantoni. In spite of his roles on "Flashpoint" and "Just Shoot Me", he will always be Keith Mars to me. Does this mean I am officially only one degree of separation from Logan Echolls?


Sadly, I only had my blackberry with me so the picture quality was none-to-great. And while my location was perfect, the bright lights at the entrance did not help me get decent photos of the other Canadian stars going by including: the current cast of Degrassi (yay Snake!), the Dragons from CBC's Dragon's Den and Shaun Majumder.

Then the crowd along the street went crazy! Excited screams for tween throats echoed into the air and Cory Monteith arrived. Yes, the lovable singing jock from mega-hit "Glee" - who was hosting the night's event - arrived right in front of me.


He is obviously cute. And a total trooper when it came to giving the fans his time. He signed and took pictures. He hung out by the gals waving "Glee" foam fingers in the air. It was a treat to see him being accessible and funny and kind. Go Canadian talent. For me, it was just interesting to see someone in the flesh who I had last seen on the (controversial) cover of GQ Magazine! And that lopsided grin? In full force.


In the end I took so many pics in such succession that I burnt out the screen of my blackberry. No long term damage, just a momentary glitch in the operations, but the problem caused me to leave my spot in the crowd and head home. I packed in my star watching and it wasn't until today that I realized who I had missed. After my departure, Nina Dobrev arrived. Yes, the Canadian ex-Degrassi star who is now kicking ass on my favourite show "The Vampire Diaries". She was there and I missed her. Oh well, I guess sometimes in a city like Toronto you really never know what will happen.

Fang-Fricken-Tastic!

The best 3 minutes of TV all season! Check out this CTV clip of last night's episode of "The Vampire Diaries". If you haven't been watching all season and don't want to spoil it then skip this entry. Ignore the mandatory ad and the opening to the scene just click the image to get the goods.


I think the performance of Paul Wesley (Stefan) is so incredible as he goes through all the emotions of the addict and vampire that he is. So amazing. Look at his face in the end. A face in shock. In pain. A face smeared and dripping with blood. A monster's face. And this is the hero! The good guy! This show rocks.

Great to Grey

Oooops, I spoke too soon. From one great episode to a waste episode. Why? Why do we need to see Hunt relive his army time? How "ER" can you get! "Grey's Anatomy" thrives in Seattle (with the occassion trip to Oceanside Wellness) and taking its stories away from there for a flashback episode is jarring and weak.

The ceiling fan episode that introduced Hunt's PTSD storyline was excellent. Why go the obvious route and then create the most over-used drama scene EVER!!! Seriously, there was so much potential coming out of last week that they should have used that momentum rather than stop it in desert-boot tracks! At least we got some Sloan and Teddy hotness - I am a total fan of that!

Diary of a Vampire Addict

My name is Raye and I am a vampire-holic. I understand that my affliction is hardly special in this day in age. Every woman alive is swooning over one vamp or another these days. It is almost embarassing to admit my weakness since I know it will be catalogued as a bandwagon ride gone way too far. But I stand firm in my particular case of vampiric interest. It is an interest in the mythology that surrounds vampire tales. I have never enjoyed vampires in the horror sense and find blood-soaked terrors unappealing. But those stories and films with a human angle and a stylized look are my vamp-nip.

In the end I am a fan of vampires because they are an intriguing mirror for humanity's moral compass. I enjoy the hyper-stylized aestethics of vampire story-telling (especially movies) because it amplifies the idea of an altered human state that is overt, seductive, and brash. There is ooomph! in everything. Vampires embody the darker sides of sexuality and violence stemming from our source of life. Bram Stoker's Dracula is one of my favourite novels and is as much a tragic love story as it is a horror story. The goods are in the relationships of the humans as they are confronted with the monster.

I am a devout fan of the Buffy and Angel series for truly creating mythology and fighting through the ambiguity of human versus vampire. Where is the line when a vampire becomes a monster? It's common human form makes the distinction more challenging and much more interesting than werewolves or swamp things or zombies. Recently, vampires have become somewhat de-fanged. People will blame Twilight but it really began with Angel. The vampire with a soul who doesn't kill humans has become a template for do-gooder vampires now running rampant in the popular media. And while I don't love the ideas of neutering vampires (even Edward is tougher in the books than the movies) I find this development to be another interesting morality tale. You can be a blood-loving carnivore as long as you respect human life. Once again, the vampire-human connection is central to the topic.

And thankfully, one show is getting it all right! "The Vampire Diaries" returns with new episodes tonight after a month-long hiatus and I could not be more excited!! Many people will have over-looked "The Vampire Diaries" as a Twilight rip-off when it premiered on TV in the fall. But those who have taken the time to welcome the town of Mystic Falls and the Salvatore brothers into our lives have been well rewarded. Based on a series of teen pulp novels from the 90s, "The Vampire Diaries" has become the next Buffy. While it does not (yet) subscribe to a background mythology, it has established the vampires within a historical community. This context gives the show depth beyond the usual teen show. There are mysteries to unravel, relationships to be revealed and romance to be had.

It helps that the two male leads Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) Salvatore are two of the hottest vampires to grace the screen. Total squee-age! Stefan is the good vampire who has sworn off humans and romaning our leading lady - with an ever-developing past of her own. Damon is the bad brother who revels in his goodies of being vampire and has never questioned the morality of it all. Blinded by love he has cut a swath of death for 140 years.

Add to the mix the production team behind "Dawson's Creek" (don't laugh!) and you have an addictive soap with some pretty decent storytelling. Seriously, more happens in one episode of "The Vampire Diaries" than has happened in any other show all season. This show moves! And, most importantly, it realizes that vampires don't have to be good guys. In fact, it is important to the vampire brand that some of them are out-right bad. Like, ripping out beating hearts bad. "The Vampire Diaries" has handled this mix of sex and violence in a perfect way. It is a decadent treat that everyone should be sinking their teeth into!

Out of the Grey-ness

In a breath of fresh air, "Grey's Anatomy" stepped out of the boring, melodramatic rut it was in and gave us all some of its original sunshine. When this show is good, it is really good! And it hasn't been good for about a year and a half so tonight's episode was a welcome return. The messiness with the Cheif's self-indulgent decline is over. The Mercy West merge has settled into place. Izzie Stevens is (happy dance) gone! The whole Mark Sloan baby debacle is complete. And so we can breathe and just revel in the outstanding characters at Seattle Grace being awesome.

I knew this episode was back in form when I checked the time and saw it was only 9:30. One of the show's past strengths was tight writing that packed so much into an episode that you were positive it must be ending soon when really it had only begun. This talent had fallen off in the past year and episodes felt padded and empty at the same time. Not the case with this Season 6 effort. So what made it so good?

The re-woman-ification of Bailey.
Mark Sloan trying to grow up.
Teddy's attempt to move on from Hunt.
Webber being a surgeon (and likeable guy) again.
Christina's joy.
Meredith's defending of Christina's joy.
Lexie's loss.
Callie's total awesomeness as a doctor, a friend and a woman.
Arizona's speeches.

See! Sooooo much goodness and that was only one episode. And to have this episode set-up a new set of relationship spirals that are...

exciting: Will Teddy get McSteamed? Seriously, I adore the potential here. And the fact that Teddy kind of reminds me of Addison which is awesome.

scary: Will Hunt mess it up with Christina? I cannot bear to think of these two in shambles. I barely survived when Burke broke her heart and I hate to think they will do it again.

honest: Will Lexie try to win Mark back? I relate to her storyline of younger woman learning to grow up due to heart break from an older man. I really hope they keep them separated and have Lexie grow from this experience because the Sloan+Little Grey thing was never good.

interesting: Will Callie and Arizona survive? I love that the same-sex woman couple is about to go into a kids vs. no kids relationship fight. How awesome is that? Well, except that it may end Callie and Arizona which will be so sad because they are the best.

So kudos to "Grey's Anatomy" for getting it right again, finally. I hope all the promise established in this episode will bloom into excellent Thursdays for the rest of the season. Fingers crossed.

Classic Grey

I am hesitant to proclaim that "Grey's Anatomy" is back lest I do so too early and I end up looking like a fool next week. But I am going to say it anyway - "Grey's is Back!". Tonight's episode left me satisfied in a way that I had not felt since the dying days of last season. So while the writer's strike may have hurt paycheques over the winter it offered instead a resurgence in storytelling. Or, maybe, it was just the return of Addison! Either way the show finally matched the mix of meat and sizzle that made it such a hearty favourite in the first place.

All the characters were in fine form and have even grown a little bit. Addison's revelation that Meredith and Derek have not endured was a great grounding touchstone for the show. Her presence also offered the necessary mirror to see the development of the tragic couple beyond a romantic fantasy. The frazzle-ment of Christina continued but finally received the necessary recognition that her potential greatness remains. George found his place and has recommenced the path of the young doctor that once operating on a heart in an elevator. Alex opened himself up to being a better man (sadly he's about to get trounced!) and Izzie found some strength (which I can only hope moves her character out of my Hate-on category for being such an medical moron!!) Lastly, Callie and McSteamy go to get it on - to remind us that even "gods" are weak and need refirmation, validation and hot sex sometimes. Grey's it at its best when the characters' flaws resonate with the audience and pivot the plot into new directions. The first half of this season was spinning its wheels. It is a joy to see them moving again.

OMG! Ted & Barney Broke Up!

Not everyone I know watches TV like I do. That's fair. I understand. A lot of people have very busy lives and hours of TV watching just doesn't make sense. For me, TV has always been a bit of a staple on my agenda. And, as evidenced by this blog, has even been a consistent date on my calendar. Yes, I am one of those people that will plan things AROUND TV programs. Even in this age of downloading, I still enjoy the moment of deliberately sitting down to watch something ... on purpose. And, in a similar vein, I have not converted to downloading my TV archives. Thus, my bookshelf is full of actual boxsets rather than reams of disks. And one of the shows that has managed to retain status in both ways is "How I Met Your Mother".

I first mentioned the AWESOMENESS of HIMYM a couple of years ago. And, amazingly the show has maintained its momentum and continues to be a worthy diversion. I recently aquired the first two seasons on DVD and consumed them at a mad pace.
The Pineapple Incident - featuring a guest role by Danica McKellar (Winnie Cooper people!!!).
Game Night - where the seattle-ness of the 90s is fully exposed.
Slap Bet - the greatest betting system ever and the introduction of Robin Sparkles.
Showdown - cause anything featuring "The Price is Right" is awesome!
It is addictive. And it makes me laugh. It makes me laugh out loud in my living room and joins the entertainment ranks of "Coupling" and "Arrested Development". It should not be denied.

Currently the show is in its third season. And admittedly, it was a challenge to catch all the Monday night episodes last fall. However, after the writer's stike the show returned last week with a comedic vengeance (80s pop referencing, Dawson Leery and Canadiana ALL in one episode). Then, tonight the show continued form by breaking up the friendship of two main characters. Intense. What a fabulous turn. I cannot wait for next week? What will we do without Barney in the mix? How will he redeem himself? What will everyone say to Ted? See ... addictive.

If that doesn't sell you it might be helpful to know that the show offers a TV version of the emerging comedy kingdom currently ruled by Judd Apatow. And while Judd has moved on from his TV activities ("Freaks & Geeks", "Undeclared") into the world of the big screen (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up) his influence is still on HIMYM. The obvious link is the casting of Jason Segel who began on F&G, rules on HIMYM and is currently starring in Forgetting Sarah Marshall - written by Segel and produced by Apatow. Add to the mix the retro cache of Neil Patrick Harris, the cult lovability of Allyson Hannigan and a series of in-joke cameos and you can't go wrong. Seriously, try it.

Tudor Style

In the last year I heard a lot about "The Tudors". With the dreamy Jonathan Rhys-Meyers headlining the Showtime series as Henry VIII it was hard not to stare at the TV promos about the show. But it was not until this weekend that I finally got around to checking out the eye candy. Long weekends are always very good for such pursuits especially when the Season 1 box set is only 10 episodes long.

"The Tudors" is by no means perfect. It is choppy. It takes wide creative license on history. It isn't even well-written at times. And it clearly uses its occassional steaminess to compensate for these sins. Luckily, this trade-off works. If one is willing to surrender to the soapiness of "The Tudors" then the weaknesses seem to disappear behind leather boots and heaving bosoms. Not to mention the fact that the series is populated with seriously beautiful people. (At this moment it behooves me to mention my new crushworthiness: Henry Cavill!)

But I think what really makes the show successful is the performance level. The characters are wonderfully created. Rhys-Meyer's Henry is egotistical but conflicted. Catherine of Aragon is portrayed with an enviable steeliness that you can't help but find believable. The series' Anne Boleyn is a wonderful mix of political pawn and passionate paramour. And Sam Neill is incredible as Cardinal Wolsey offering a peformance that anchors the season with its depth.

Admittedly I spent my viewing time surfing wikipedia to check out the inconsistencies but that might make it more fun for some. And for the rest of you, just kick back and enjoy because "The Tudors" is a tale worth retelling.

Good Gossip

At any given time in a TV season there is a teen-soap that gets everyone hooked. This year that show HAS to be "Gossip Girl". It is my new addiction. Admittedly I watch it on broadband rather than cable but I still hate to miss it. In fact, this week I began to crave it and couldn't wait until Wednesday morning when the episode was available online. So I'm sure you're thinking - what's the deal? Well, to begin you have to let loose any TV-snobbery about the teen-soap genre and you have to be willing to embrace the ludricracy of rich kids acting like adults. (This should not be so hard for any 90210 or OC fans of the past.)

The show is based on a series of books - the first of which was called Gossip Girl - published in 2002 and spawning 11 sequels (so far). Since then the books have been criticized for their decadence and potential inappropriateness for a young audience and the TV show appears to follow the same thread as CTV posts a mature audience warning on the episodes. So maybe it is not the best show for the age it portrays - but for the rest of us the decadence, deceipt, and debauchery make for perfect pulp viewing.

The show centers around Serena Van der Woodsen (the charming Blake Lively from the Sisterhood films) as a rich girl recently returned from boarding school after an abrupt departure. Her best friend - Blair Waldorf - is not so enthused to have her back particularly because Blair's boyfriend - Nate Archibald - seems a little too enthused. Enter into the mix Nate's smarmy friend Chuck and the requisite poor kids - Dan & Jenny Humphrey and the school shenanigans begin. Personally I am loving the budding relationship between Dan and Serena - portrayed by two winning young actors. And I am enjoying Jenny's challenge to the status system while still managing to play the game. And of course I like the fashion.

Also on the scene are the parents with histories, secrets and romances of their own to occupy their time (leaving more room for 'the kids' to run wild!) Notably the show brings Kelly Rutherford (ex-Melrose vixen) and Matthew Settle (ex-eye candy from a I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel - and still hot!) into their new station as TV parents of precocious teens. So the show is soapy and stylish and smart and even sweet at times. Narrated by the wonderful Kristen Bell (go V. Mars!) the show offers a fluffy respite from anything important. Can't wait to see what happens next. XOXO

Popular Music

Three new shows debuted this week all about the decadence of the rich. One is a teen soap waiting to fill the "OC" vaccuum (Gossip Girl), one is a primetime soap of family dysfunction (Dirty Sexy Money) and one is a guy version of "Desperate Housewives" (Big Shots).

I enjoyed all three shows. Gossip Girl is on my must-see guilty pleasure list but I will never schedule around it because it is available on CTV broadband at my leisure. Dirty Sexy Money has the best cast of any new show and the quickest wit. It is a delightful mix of "Dynasty" & "Arrested Development" but I am not sure how long it can sustain its edge. Big Shots is a waste as far as actual story-telling goes but the eye-candy is good so it will likely stay around for the season. As if to counter the tide of low-end reality programs, these three new entries all center on people with means, people with BIG houses and wine cellars and helicopters and designer clothes.

But the kicker is that ALL three shows featured the SAME song at some point in the pilot episode. Yes, the SAME song. So apparently, "Young Folks" by Swedish group Peter, Bjorn & John is THE anthem of mainstream TV decadence this season. Admittedly it is a catchy tune. So good call PB&J promotors - you got my attention. You can check out the song of the season (and its cute video) here.

Instant Squee

I have a soft spot for teen drama on TV. I grew up on Degrassi. I was a 90210 fan in highschool. And even though I am well beyond my teen years I still enjoy a good show about young people trying to make their way.

A few years ago I stumbled upon a Canadian show called "Instant Star" created by the team that brought us Degrassi all those years ago. The premise surrounds Jude Harrison, a sparkly girl with a fantastic voice, who wins an American-Idol-esque contest and now must make her way in the big, band music industry. She is supported by her best friend, her sister and her band. She gets all angsty over ex-boyband member-turned-producer Tommey Q. She battles it out with company executive Darius (Maestro Fresh Wes!). I was sucked in from the start primarily because Tommy (Tim Rozon) has perfect cupid's bow lips and Jude (Alexz Johnson - who does all her own singing on the show) is both stunning and - gasp! - likeable.

So last night, in the middle of the 3rd season, these two characters finally committed some kissage. Yay! I really am a sucker for the inevitable character hookups - especially when the characters have chemistry like these two. You can catch up on all the "Instant Star" goodness (and cheesiness - I admit it!) on the CTV broadband network. It is always good to support Canadian talent.

A Bit of Coupling

I just got the 4 seasons of the UK TV-show "Coupling" on DVD. It is one of my favourites. It is laugh-out-loud funny and as bright as "Arrested Development". One of the most heart-warming moments is the get-together scene for Sally and Patrick. It somehow puts all the emotions of vulnerability, humour and romance into one selection. It is also a winning declaration of love and I am sucker for those things! Enjoy.

End of Greys

What? You didn't seriously think I would let the end of Season 3 go by without any comment did you? Yesterday was essentially a waiting game for the final episode of my favourite show. And I was not the only one. Everywhere I went there was buzz about it. You have got to hand it to Shonda Rimes and ABC - they have made a true winner. And although I have not been loving this season as much as others I was hoping for a strong finish. I was also hoping for Burke & Cristina to get married. Well, one out of two ain't bad.

So the season ended well in my perspective. I continue to be amazed with how much the show crams into an hour. I love the fact that I can look at the clock and go, wow! there is still 20 minutes left! and I don't feel ripped-off for the first 40. And so it was with the final hour (plus bonus 15 mins!). We are left with a sad state of affairs in Seattle and yet it feels right. The dust will settle over the summer and the show will return with a new lease on life. And I think that point was made clearly. Everyone must start again. Nothing is dragging across the seasonal line. Everyone is in a new place and must reevaluate who they are. New beginnings are always good and they do wonders for show. So exicted for next year? You bet!

First I have to say if Sandra Oh doesn't win another Emmy or Golden Globe or whatever for her work in the episode then there is something wrong. She was incredible. What a fantastic way to bring her character's journey to a gut-wrenching end and she nailed every moment of it. I was truly hoping the marriage would go through. But when Burke explained why it had to end there was no room to argue. He was right. And I realized that once again, I AM Meredith and my desire for the wedding was driven by a want for the good couple to have the good ending. But Greys' strength is in the flaws of people and this episode excelled in that department.

So in that vein we have Callie suggesting a band-aid baby and Izzie pleading for her romanticism to be justified, Alex letting Ava go and Meredith just unable to love Derek back. All these people are flailing about and it makes for great television and wonderful characters.

The full-circle elements were a good touch. The entry of the new interns shows that the arc for the last 3 seasons is closed. But the symmetry is there. George witnessed the new team and meets a Grey. And that Grey is the same girl that Derek flirted with the night before. And if you recall that is how Season 1 opened - with Meredith meeting Derek at the bar the night before her internship started and then meeting George in the lockerroom. But Derek did not go home with Lexie because he loves Meredith. And George was not inspired by Lexie because he has grown beyond that kind of infatuation. That particular circle is closed. Time for a new one to begin.

More Robot Chicken Goodness

Another clip from the cult-tastic Robot Chicken. This one references one of my fave books: The Neverending Story. My fave part? Bastian doing the porn-slap on the princess. Check it out.

US vs UK: Models & Runways

We all have guilty pleasures. When it comes to TV watching I feel that reality television is the guiltiest of them all. And since I tend to watch a large chunk of TV generally (Grey's Anatomy, CSI, Ugly Betty, Bones etc.) for something to fall into the guilty category is noteworthy. My preference is competitive reality programs - I began with Survivor, moved on to The Amazing Race and now I love Project Runway & Top Model (I'm loving Britney btw!). My inner fashionista is all about these last two shows.

But what I love the most is watching both the American and British versions and comparing. The first "cycle" of Britain's Next Top Model is currently on StarTV and it has a simple appeal that its American forerunner glosses over. Most of the gals are ex-barmaids. (Just check out that pic above of the British crew and you can see the difference instantly!) In the first show the contestants were faced with their first modelling responsibility: getting Brazilian waxes! That's not something you would see in the U.S. The judging room in Britain is a small, lacklustre space compared to the runway and large-screen TV afforded the American team. And whereas Tyra & Co. may appear harsh at times their criticism is nothing compared to the teeth of the British side (which still ends up sounding more constructive in the end and also offers the girls themselves a chance to speak).

On the fashion side of things we have Project Runway vs. Project Catwalk. Originally the British version was hosted by Elizabeth Hurley but this season Kelly Osborne has taken over the post. And, much like the Top Model experience, the UK Catwalk is MUCH harsher than the US one. If anyone thought that Micheal Kors was being nasty they have never seen Julian MacDonald rip into a designer. As well, the sweet support of Heidi Klum is lost in the direct "fashion victim" dismissal of Osborne. Finally, I have to say the desingers in the UK crop are better - at least as interesting characters for a reality show. Either way I have 4 full hours of cat-fighting, fashion faux-pas, photography and smashed egos to enjoy.

Finding Ferrera

There are moments when being late to a party makes you look cool and moments when it makes you look clueless. I am sure that this fond post about America Ferrera will make me the former to some and the latter to others. It really depends on how "in the loop" you happen to be and if you watch TV, salivate over Hollywood awards shows, and/or read empty entertainment magazines. If you do none of these things than you might not know who America Ferrera. If you do, then I will look like a total bandwagon-rider to which I point out how I noticed her WAY back when she was travelling in pants.

Today I finally got around to watching her first breakthrough performance in Real Women Have Curves and felt compelled to spill my love for her. The movie is a simple tale of an independent girl in a traditional environment but Ferrera's performance is totally endearing. She carries the movie without wavering and the fanfare she received at the time (in particular for baring her less-than-Hollywood-body onscreen) is completely deserved.

So it should be no surprise that this gal has moved on to become television's darling for playing the spectacularly sincere soul in the fashion satire "Ugly Betty". As Betty, Ferrera navigates the superficial and back-stabbing realm of MODE magazine with a braces-filled smile and scary fashion sense. You cannot help but love Betty's strong sense of self and this is the thing that America has brought to all her roles. She is a talented, inspiring and beautiful young woman (something she proved in both her winning speeches at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards). If you haven't taken notice yet ... welcome to the party.

Visiting Seth Green's Imagination

I totally Heart Seth Green. I loved him as Oz on Buffy. I loved him as Scott Evil in the Austin Powers films. And now I love him as one half of the demented duo that created Robot Chicken. Yeah - I'm late to this clamback too (just like I was to "LOST" and "Arrested Development") but I am finally here. Shout out to Simon for introducing me to this marvelous 15 minutes of pop-culture-fueled entertainment.

The premise is that a mad scientist has built a robot chicken and he is educating said chicken in all the information of our world. What we, the viewer, gets to enjoy is a series of stop-motion sketches about the important things in life. Spoof, farce, satire, parody, joke - pick a term and it will apply as Robot Chicken takes you on a crazy tour of iconic images. For anyone who grew up in the 70s/80s, watches too many movies, and is well-versed in all things uselessly "cool" there is something in Robot Chicken for you. If not it will probably just confuse you all to hell. I offer its Empire Strikes Back spoof below.

TV Rant

Just wanted to take a moment to vent my frustration with the way that "American Idol" is messing up my TV schedule. First it bounces "House". Then it has "Bones" off the schedule for the week and "Lost" on early. And then it moves "Grey's Anatomy" so that I almost miss it (and some of my friend did). Enough with this silly, results-based reality series. Grrrrr...

Amazing Grey's

Do you know what I love? I love that each week I watch "Grey's Anatomy" and I have NO idea what is going to happen next. With last week's dual proposals I was gobsmacked. Didn't see either of those things coming ... at this point in the season ... at the SAME time! And so of course, tonight's episode became one of my bigger MUST-SEE Thursdays. Being the dull pragmatist that I can be I assumed a Yay for Burke & Christina with some sort of caveat and a Nay for Callie and George. So of course the show has to prove me wrong and work in both YAYs and then almost kill the entire staff, give Meredith's mom temporary lucidity and put Mark and Addison back in bed together. Like, OMG! So much was packed into this one episode that it has completely repositioned the show for the rest of the season. It was like a visual energy drink experience.

I am sure that fans all over will be slagging the show's improbabilities in timeline and how dysfunctional the relationships appear to be but that is what I love about it. Grey's has always been a messy show. It is as screwed-up as people's lives feel to be. There is no underlying ethics agenda (like most mainstream sitcoms or soaps) or sugar-coated relationships. It is a train wreck of human interaction every week. And that's why I can't look away. (And finally, that moment of joy between Burke & Christina at the end? Priceless! They're back!)

"My Boys" Makes the Cut

TBS has released a new series on its schedule called "My Boys". It is about a female sports writer and the group of guys (including her brother) that make up her social circle. The stories are always built around a baseball team (team, free agent, slump) and center on PJ's navigation through the single world. It's like "Sex and the City" with a testosterone twist. And, if you have ever spent ANY time in a buddy cicle of boys, it rings wondefully candid and true. It is a funny and enjoyable slice of entertainment. TBS airs two 1/2 hour episodes back-to-back on Tuesday nights (with replay on Saturdays) so you get a full hour of comedy TV that doesn't drag. The quips are sharp and feel like you are actually hanging out with this team. I admit to being completely addicted. Give it a try out if you are looking for something new on your TV roster. You won't be disappointed.