HBO announced a pair of renewals today. Both freshman comedies Girls and Veep were renewed for a second season. Both shows received 10 episode orders and are averaging just over 3.6 million viewers per week.
While I’m not a fan of Girls, Veep is awesome so I am thrilled it will be coming back! But congrats to the cast and crew of both shows and to the fans of the shows!!
Unbelievable!!!! I really didn’t think this would be much of a season finale….when will I learn? Last night’s season finale of TGW was fabulous. I’ve mentioned several times how there is no show on TV that has done a better job with guest stars the way TGW has. All their guest stars should win Emmys. They are that good and that magnificent. Martha Plimpton is absolutely brilliant as Patti Nyholm. And really, what more can I say about MJF. Them teaming up to take down LG is genius. But will it be successful?
The Dream Team vs. LG
LG has just won another class action suit. One they believed they had no chance of winning. Since they realize this will be tied up in appeals for years, LG tries to go for an immediate settlement to get the money to the client faster. Seems reasonable. But Canning isn’t budging. In fact, he’s delaying the discussion because he is waiting for his attorney…one supermom, Patti Nyholm. Then the bomb drops…they are suing LG for $50 million for fraud. Basically the case should have been a $1 million settlement or jury trial. Instead LG insisted it be a bench trial and they were awarded $25 million. Canning and Nyholm are accusing LG of judicial tampering since the judge was someone Will played basketball with and mostly likely bribed for the favorable judgement. We know it isn’t true but with Will’s history and his issues with the bar association now public knowledge, that’s what they are playing off of. Not to get too off topic, but how can this not be an issue for the firm moving forward? In real life, they would have to cut Will loose for this exact reason…they can’t have every judgement that goes their way result in a countersuit for fraud. So regardless of whether or not Will is guilty (and he is) a struggling firm can’t have that liability around. Especially a firm that is in the financial straits (which learn later on) that LG is in. Diane will always have Will’s back and therefore will do anything for him. If Will were a bigger person, he would step down from the firm so they wouldn’t be vulnerable to these types of actions. But, since Josh Charles is a major character, he isn’t going anywhere.
As this is all playing out, Canning and Nyholm have made one thing very clear to LG….they are there to destroy them. Now here’s my question. Is this a personal attack or a professional one? It’s one thing to go after a firm for your clients. It’s another to take someone down because of your personal feelings. What would be the motive for Patti and Louis here? Patti has lost to them but Louis has beaten them more than he’s lost. So what’s with all the venom? Why go after them so fervently? In the end, everything really spins on its heels. Just when LG has gotten the upper hand on the Dream Team and destroyed their countersuit and therefore declared victory, the Dream Team had one more shoe to drop…..this wasn’t their end game. This was all a distraction for a bigger picture move. Patrick Edelstein, LG’s largest client, isn’t happy with them and the Dream Team was able to snatch him from their client list while this “case” was going on. This whole thing was a rouse to steal their top client. So while the intent to destroy them is still going strong, the action by which they are doing it was slightly different from what was originally perceived. Ouch. Diane and Will realize that they have been cut at the knees and are in trouble.
Kalinda
I am about to say something very unpopular so whatever you choose to throw at me, please have it be soft. Kalinda is starting to annoy me. (DUCK! for throwing objects!!) I know Kalinda is a very private person. I respect that. But she lost the only girlfriend she ever had because of secrets. Alicia has extended an olive branch to her but it comes with a price…Kalinda has to be more forthcoming and honest with her. Alicia has been helping Kalinda with a tax case. She finds an old check and reaches out to the company who issued it to see if they would be willing to reissue the check. The man on the other line is very serious and cryptic and Alicia senses that something is off with him. She hangs up and tells him she’ll get back in touch. She doesn’t, but he gets in touch with her…twice. Once on her cell and once at her home. Both times, Alicia tells Kalinda about it and it wasn’t until Kalinda heard that he called her at home and called her by name that she brings her in the loop on who this is….her husband. Kalinda also keeps all of this from Will when she asks him for money so she can run.
Ok. I don’t know if Will knows her background. My assumption is no because I think he would have asked if her running and asking for money had anything to do with her husband. He didn’t. In fact, he tells her that he thought she was happy here and couldn’t understand why she’d want to leave. So I don’t think he knows. Alicia doesn’t know. No one knows. Safe to say, this is a dangerous man. Why else would Kalinda be so evasive (and have all that ammunition in her dry wall?) We already know she had another name and life but we weren’t sure why or the story behind it. I guess this was an abusive relationship that she escaped. But here is where I start to get annoyed with her. I get that you don’t want your private past aired out for all to know and discuss. I get that whatever happened probably screwed you up so badly you don’t know if you like men or women. I get that whatever happened has you so guarded, you don’t want to let that guard down for anyone. But you know what, you did let your guard down for two people you thought you could trust….Will and Alicia. Therefore, they deserve the truth. Tell them what is going on. They have proven themselves to the point that you know they won’t tell anyone and keep your confidence. If this guy is that dangerous to the point where he now knows Alicia’s name and where she lives, you need to do something. Running away isn’t the answer (which thankfully she changed her mind and is sticking around.) So ask them for help. Let them in on what is going on. Don’t pull this “don’t worry about it I can handle it” crap again. She is putting other people at risk by withholding information. I don’t want Kalinda’s inherent character to change because it’s what I love about her. But there has to be some growth. And this is an area she could grow by keeping Alicia in the loop and having her help her (as well as do what she need to do to protect her family.) At this point, Alicia deserves to know what she is dealing with so she can protect her family. Hopefully, Kalinda will give her that chance. Or blow the guys brains out so no one has to deal with him ever again! That would work too!
Alicia and Peter
Talk about a dream team. This is why they belong together….her heart keeps pulling her back to him. Her heart isn’t pulling her towards Will. Her vajay-jay might be but not her heart. It was clear in this year’s elevator scene (which I liked much better than last year’s) that while they don’t regret what they did, it’s over. It was a moment (or ten) but it wasn’t love. Will knows it. Alicia knows it. You can see it on Alicia’s face and Will’s face as he walks out of the elevator. You can see it on Alicia’s face as she stands outside her old home. She wants so desperately to be inside with her family. But her heart has been shattered so many times, can she really put herself through it again. I think she can. I said it when it came out last year that while she was brutally hurt, and rightfully so, that hurt will eventually pass because she will realize that he did it when he was being an ass. Not after they reconciled and were falling in love again. Big difference. It will certainly take time but I really believe that it’s not a matter of if, but when, they are back together as a family!
Another phenomenal season of TGW has come to a close. What did you think of the finale? It sets up for terrific 2012/2013 season and I am already looking forward to September!!!!
Tonight is the season finale of The Good Wife. I’m not sure if it will be quite as insane as last year’s but this show never disappoints me so I have a feeling it will be as brilliant as always. Plus we have the incomparable Martha Plimpton and Michael J. Fox in the season finale teaming up to bring LG down. Love it!!!
I’m not sure if I’m going to be live tweeting or not. I usually like to watch Game of Thrones live (no commercials) and then watch TGW right after (to fast forward the commercials!) Plus, when you live tweet, sometimes you miss things and I hate that. But I do love watching it live with my peeps. So I will let you know.
No matter what, make sure you check out the blog sometime on Monday for a full recap and review of tonight’s finale. And as always, I want to hear what you think as well!
This is very quickly becoming one of my favorite shows on TV. This show is on fire. While we continue to have our case of the week, it’s the Amanda Tanner/President Fitz case that has me on the edge of my seat dying to know what is going to happen next. Who’s good, who’s bad? Who’s right, who’s wrong? Who’s telling the truth? Who’s lying? Every time we get an answer to one question, it leads us to another. If you aren’t watching Scandal, what’s wrong with you?
I had many favorite moments in this episodes. One of the most clever was how we received background on the team at Olivia Pope & Associates. It’s been clear since the beginning that these people would run through fire for Olivia. But we don’t know why. These people could have prestigious jobs in any law or security firm in the country but instead choose to work for Olivia. Why? With war being declared between OP & A and the White House, Cyrus has a team come in and give him the background on each person working for Olivia including Olivia herself. It made perfect sense and gave us a peek behind the curtain to each of Olivia’s team member. The most revealing being that Abby came to work for Olivia after she got her out of an abusive marriage. The second most revealing being that Quinn didn’t exist before 2009. Finally, that character is getting interesting.
Another great moment (actually two moments) were Abby’s speech to Olivia and Cyrus’ speech to the President. Both took a lot of guts and brutal honesty and both are what the individuals needed to hear. I thought the same thing Abby thought. Why in the world would Olivia take the case of a known dictator who is an enemy of the state? Take that a step further, why would she side with said dictator after she learns that his “missing” wife isn’t missing at all. She fled to a woman’s shelter because she is afraid of him and doesn’t love him anymore. She wants to take her kids away from this horrible man. So Olivia’s allegiance is to the dictator? I don’t get it and I was 100% behind everything Abby did. Including her talk with Olivia (which was more of a screaming match.) She reminded Olivia that she was the one who helped her get out of her abusive marriage and that after her husband broke her ribs and dislocated her jaw, it was Olivia who took a tire iron to his kneecaps. Now that’s an Olivia I would like to see more of. It woke up something in Olivia and she decided to align with the wife and get her away from her marriage and get her children out of a dangerous situation. Now the speech Olivia gave to General Flores was completely over the top and unrealistic but I can look past it because in the end, he leaves and Mrs. Flores and her children are granted asylum in the USA.
As for Cyrus’ talk with President Fitz, it was brilliant. Jeff Perry has been sensational in these first handful of episodes. He lays out for the President exactly what will happen as this Amanda Tanner storyline progresses and the story ends with President Fitz putting a bullet in his head. It was a brutally graphic but probably true depiction of what happens to people in situations like this. But similar to Olivia, it was the kick in the ass the President needed to remind himself why he got into politics in the first place and that from now on, it is game on. Sweet!
Now, we have Amanda Tanner. Two HUGE things happened. First, we learned through a phone call she placed that she is lying about something. Second, is that after that phone call and after the President decides he is ready to play ball, Amanda is kidnapped. You know who I think is behind this whole thing? The First Lady. Mellie Grant is one tough lady. We know she knew about the affair and when Fitz asked her if she could walk away from all of this, she was vehemently against it. She basically bitch slapped him and told him to get his head out of his ass. One. Tough. Lady. So I wouldn’t be surprised if she is behind getting Amanda to lie about whatever she’s lying about. Why would the First Lady want to do this? To destroy Fitz and Olivia’s relationship which was obviously affecting him in a way that could negatively impact his status as POTUS. The question is, what is Amanda lying about? It’s not the pregnancy because Olivia made her take 5 tests. It could be the fact that the President is the father of the baby. But you would think the people behind this would know that is so easy to disproved with a paternity test so it makes me think it’s something else. Something bigger. Maybe Amanda was talking to someone else (not the First Lady but someone in her regime) about how she can’t lie to Olivia anymore. Is the lie the fact that this was set up from the beginning by the First Lady? Meaning she wanted Amanda to seduce her husband to set this all in motion. But it would take a lot of planning and things to fall just right for it to land in front of Olivia and therefore move her plan forward. It’s not impossible but it’s a little harder to believe. Regardless, I think Mellie is behind this whole thing.
I can’t wait for next week’s episode! If you haven’t watched Scandal yet, please, I implore you to go check it out on-line or on demand so you can watch these last three episodes with me and enjoy it as much as I do!
See below for the most up to date list of shows and their season/series finale dates:
Sunday April 29th:
The Good Wife (CBS)
Tuesday May 2nd:
The Biggest Loser (NBC)
Sunday May 6th:
The Amazing Race (CBS) 2 HRS
GCB (ABC)
Monday May 7th:
2 Broke Girls (CBS) 1 HR
Castle (ABC)
Tuesday May 8th:
The Voice (NBC) 2 HRS
Last Man Standing (ABC)
New Girl (FOX)
Unforgettable (CBS)
Wednesday May 9th:
CSI (CBS)
Thursday May 10th:
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
The Vampire Diaries (The CW)
The Office (NBC)
The Secret Circle (The CW)
Parks and Rec (NBC)
Friday May 11th:
The Finder (FOX)
Undercover Boss (CBS)
CSI: NY (CBS)
Fringe (FOX)
Blue Bloods (CBS)
Sunday May 13th:
Once Upon A Time (ABC)
Survivor: One World (CBS) 2 HRS
Survivor Reunion Show
Desperate Housewives Series Finale (ABC) 2 HRS
American Dad (FOX)
Monday May 14th:
Bones (FOX)
Gossip Girl (The CW)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 1 HR
Hart of Dixie (The CW)
Two and a Half Men (CBS)
Mike & Molly (CBS)
Hawaii 5-0 (CBS)
Smash (NBC)
Tuesday May 15th:
90210 (The CW)
NCIS (CBS)
NCIS: LA (CBS) 2 HRS
Fashion Star (NBC)
Private Practice (ABC)
Wednesday May 16th:
Suburgatory (ABC)
Criminal Minds (CBS) 2 HRS
Thursday May 17th:
Missing (ABC)
30 Rock (NBC)
Rules of Engagement (CBS)
Community (NBC) 1 HR
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
Person of Interest (CBS)
The Mentalist (CBS)
Scandal (ABC)
Friday May 18th:
Nikita (The CW)
Shark Tank (ABC)
Who Do You Think You Are (NBC)
Grimm (NBC)
Supernatural (The CW)
Sunday May 20th:
The Cleveland Show (FOX)
Harry’s Law (NBC)
The Simpsons (FOX)
Bob’s Burgers (FOX)
Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)
Family Guy (FOX)
Monday May 21st:
House Series Finale (FOX)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC) Part 1
Tuesday May 22nd:
American Idol (FOX) Part 1
Dancing with the Stars (ABC) Part 2 2 HRS
Glee (FOX)
Wednesday May 23rd:
American Idol (FOX) Part 2
The Middle (ABC)
Modern Family (ABC)
Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apt 23 (ABC)
Law & Order SVU (NBC)
Revenge (ABC)
Thursday May 24th:
Awake (NBC)
Tuesday May 29th:
Cougar Town (ABC) 1 HR
Wednesday May 30th:
America’s Next Top Model (The CW)
Thursday May 31st:
Touch (FOX)
Wow. May 14th and 17th are both brutal and wonderful at the same time due to all the shows closing out on those dates. Hope this helps your TV planning!
This is the time of year where everyone asks that all important question….is my favorite show coming back or getting canceled? This year, many shows have been renewed very early but there are still plenty of shows that we are all waiting to hear about. When are you going to know? That would be during upfront week. Actually, upfronts have been happening since March but do you really care what shows The Scripps Network is looking to renew, cancel, and premiere in the fall? I didn’t think so.
Here is the schedule for the major network upfronts and when you will know about the fate of your show:
May 14th: NBC (Morning)
May 14th: FOX (Afternoon)
May 15th: ABC (Afternoon)
May 16th: CBS (Afternoon)
May 17th: The CW (Morning)
For the most part, CBS has announced what is coming back. But there are about 5-6 shows that the fates have yet to be determined (or at least announced to us.) All the other networks have certain shows already renewed or canceled (check out my 2011/2012 Renew Cancel Tracker on the Home Page for up to date information) but there are still many out there that can go either way.
Check back here during upfront week (I can’t believe that’s only 2 1/2 weeks away) where we will discuss the good news, the bad news, and what I’m sure will be some surprising news.
Just when I thought Joffrey couldn’t be any more evil than he already is, he breaks the mold yet again. Joffrey Lannister (I refuse to call him Baratheon) is easily the most disgusting, vile, awful character on TV. I know everyone hates Ellis from Smash, but while Ellis is like a stink bug that every time you flick off your window screen August it just comes right back to annoy you, Ellis is 20,000 more tolerable than Joffrey (and that’s saying A LOT.) Ellis isn’t evil, he’s just a stink bug. Joffrey, is down right evil. At first I wanted to beat him through my TV screen for wanting to beat and humiliate Sansa because of her brother’s actions. I couldn’t understand why he was doing this to Sansa when it’s Robb he has the problem with. Then I realized, it’s not uncommon to “send a message” through your enemy’s family instead of the enemy himself. In many cases, that’s actually the best way to get your point across and have your enemy pay attention to you. It’s cruel, but it works. So that’s what Joffrey was doing here…the little shit. Luckily for Sansa, his Uncle Tyrion comes storming in insisting that this torture stop. ”She is to be your Queen!” he scolds at his nephew. I love how Tyrion can make the King look so small and weak with just some simple obvious statements. As well as put the King’s minions in their place when they ask stupid questions….”Are you threatening the king?” Minion #1 asks. ”No I’m simply teaching my nephew a lesson. The next time he speaks, kill him. That was a threat. See the difference?” I think I am going to make up t-shirts that say “I love Peter Dinklage/Tyrion Lannister.” Tyrion believes his nephew’s violent ways are the result of sexual frustration so he decides to send him two prostitutes to help him get all that anger out of his system. When Joffrey realizes it was his uncle who sent the girls, he decides to go in another direction. Instead of having sex with the girls, he would rather torture and beat them. Or rather, have the one girl beat the other while aiming a cross-bow at her threatening her life if she doesn’t do what he says. What a nice young man he’s become. Cersei must be so proud.
From one disturbing story to another, let’s talk about what the hell crawled out of Melisandre’s vajay-jay shall we? Well before we get to that, let’s back up a smidge. Renly and Stannis Baratheon have met up with one another on a very windy and rock hillside. But they don’t have a Sam and Dean type of reunion, instead it’s more like Cain and Abel. These two are driving me crazy and I’m not the only one. Catelyn is also annoyed by them. Basically both Renly and Stannis want the Lannisters defeated. Easy enough. The problem is, they both want the throne. Here’s my suggestion….why not band together now to defeat the Lannisters and everyone else who wants a shot at the throne, and then you two can battle it out after that. Don’t they realize that they can’t be the only people wanting to take over King’s Landing? Sheesh. Men. I’ll give Stannis credit for at least trying to throw a compromise out there. Granted it was something that really only suited him, but give the man props for trying. Meanwhile Renly’s acting like Kat from A League of Their Own. But enough of those two.
To solidify his place on the throne (if he ever gets there of course) the god of light’s spokesperson has told him that he needs an heir. So last week, Stannis threw Melisandre down on that massive map and had his way with her. Flash to this week and Davos is taking Meli to a cave where she promises to reveal what she looks like underneath her cloak. Little ho bag that Meli is. Well, not only does she drop her cloak to reveal, everything, but we see her VERY pregnant belly that has something rather large moving around inside it. Wait, didn’t they have sex just last week? I know it’s last week in our time but how long has it been in GoT time? It certainly hasn’t been nine months! Anyhoo, Meli starts her breathing and pushing (I wonder when she had time for a lamaze class) and the next thing you know this black, slick, creepy, thing pushes his or her way out and stands before her. It’s like the smoke monster meets the creature from the black lagoon. I hope Davos was registered at Pottery Barn to he can get the little tyke something special. But seriously what the hell was that? At the end of the scene my husband and I slowly turned towards one another with our jaws dropped and shoulders shrugged. Between the dragons and the comet and now this….I love this show!!
On the battlefield, Robb Stark is killing his way right to Kings Landing. After the latest battle, it was pretty bloody and violent. Lots of casualties, including the foot of a civilian. Robb meets a young woman named Talissa (I think) and was quite smitten with her. Because really, what’s more conducive to romance than watching someone chop off someone’s foot with a hacksaw. For some men it’s lacy lingerie. For Robb Stark, amputation. He tries to find out more about her but she blows him off because if it wasn’t for him, so many lives wouldn’t be destroyed. That’s always the ultimate fight when it comes down to people who are for war or against it. The people against it say it’s too many innocent lives lost for no purpose or not enough payout. The people for it say it’s a necessary means to an end that will result in a better way of life for all citizens and that the people who volunteer to help, know the risk going in. You can see both sides. But I have to believe that won’t be the last we see of her. Especially since Robb was giving her the sexy eyes as she was leaving in the back of a wagon.
My girl Dani has finally reach a city, Qarth, where she and the other Dothraki’s can finally shower and get something to eat. Boy they must stink to high heaven! She is met by the leader of the thirteen who kindly welcomes her but will only allow her entrance if he can see the dragons. Dani does her best to keep the dragons sleeping in their crates and as a result, the thirteen rescind their invitation. She goes to push for entrance and Mormont warns her to be careful how she handles this. So she proceeds to threaten to burn their city and all of them if they don’t let them in. Something tells me that’s not the approach Mormont meant when he said be careful how you handle this. But it worked. A gentleman from the thirteen emerges and vouches for Dani and her crew. He solidifies his promise by slicing his hand with a dagger and showing it to the rest of his troops. I must say I would be slightly concerned if someone I never met promised to vouch for me and that the way his people believe his promise is after he slices his hand with a Ginsu knife. I would definitely sleep with my eyes open. But the doors open and they are led into what appears to be the beautiful city of Qarth.
In Harrnehal, the Night Watch recruits are being tortured and killed one by one. Arya is about to watch her friend Gendry get eaten by a rat while set on fire just when Superman arrives! Well not really it’s actually Tywin Lannister that stops the nonsense. He tells his vipers that there is more value to these people alive than dead. He instructs them to put all the recruits to work because they are free labor. He wants them all put to work, except for the young girl. One of Lannister’s idiots tries to convince him it’s a boy but Lannister isn’t fooled. He spots her immediately and takes her in as his personal assistant of some kind. I guess that’s going to keep her safe for the time being….that is until he discovers she’s Ned Stark’s daughter. Here’s my question though. I thought all the Night Watch recruits were people everyone in the seven kingdoms supported because they fight for all their freedoms on the Wall. So if that’s the case, then why are Lannister’s men capturing, torturing, and killing them all? I know their initial mission was on asshole Joffrey’s orders to kill all of Robert’s bastard children and there was a bastard in the mix of recruits. But they should have believed that they got their man when Arya pointed out “Gendry” dead on the ground near the skull helmet. So if the mission was complete, why kill all the other recruits? The Lannisters suck. Well, all of them except Tyrion and right now I’m giving a slight pass to Tywin.
What are your thoughts on the new season of GoT? I must admit, it’s much easier when you have a better understand of who everyone is, where they come from, and what their goals are. But for the love of all that’s good, can someone please name their kid Mike or Amy. Please. I’m begging you. At least we have a Robb and a John. More of that would be lovely.
This will be a quick one because I HAVE to get back to work! Veep was awesome and I laughed constantly. Veep stars Julia Louis Dreyfus as a former Senator turned V-POTUS Selina Meyer. She is just starting to get used to her new position (she has her own flag you know!) and trying to focus on a Clean Job Commission that is causing quite a few headaches for her new staff: Chief of Staff, Amy (played by Anna Chlumsky), Director of Communications, Mike (played by Matt Walsh), Personal Aide, Gary (played by Tony Hale), recently poached Strategist, Dan (played by Reid Scott), Executive Assistant, Sue (played by Sufe Bradshaw) and annoying White House liaison, Jonah (played by Timothy Simons.)
Veep was laugh out loud funny, very witty, well paced, and extremely well cast. The thing that caught me most off guard was hearing ladies like JLD and Kate Burton dropping F-bombs during the episode! I’m so used to seeing both ladies on network TV so of course that language isn’t permissible. But I have to remember that they’re on HBO so they were letting it rip. JLD was in rare form and I mean that in a good way. She is incredibly funny and her timing is fantastic. I loved when she came out of a meeting after learning that Amy, who was supposed to sign Selena’s name on a card for a Senator who just passed away, signed her own name instead. Selena freaked out, sent coffee flying through the office, and scolded her people to get the card and fix it. She then calmed down and went right back in her meeting. The cast chemistry right out of the gate is really strong. You would think they’ve been working together for 4 seasons…that’s how well they were clicking. This is quickly going to become one of my must see TV shows, I can tell already!
I love TV shows about the White House and politics because I find it fascinating. And I really love when they are comedies. Mostly because politics and the status of our country is no laughing matter. It’s serious stuff. So I find the more serious the topic (in the right context) the funnier it can be. And that’s what you have with Veep.
Veep airs 10am on Sundays on HBO right after Game of Thrones (review on that coming soon.) You must check it out because it’s absolutely terrific!!! Again, sorry for the short recap but duty calls!
And by the way, did the President call? No? Ok.
DVRs: 3 1/2
There were some very eyebrow raising moments in tonight’s TGW. Some confused me and some intrigued me. The only thing I wasn’t confused about was seeing Lemond Bishop again. Wow is that man just beautiful to look at!! But more on him a little later. Let’s break down “The Penalty Box”
Alicia and Diane’s Case
Judge Cuesta (who will always be Leon Kodak to me, played by the fabulous David Paymer) is being asked to step aside from the bench because he is being accused of prosecutorial misconduct stemming from a case in which an innocent man went to prison for 20 years for the murder of his wife. (DNA later exonerated the man.) This has to be difficult when a lawyer has to defend a judge. The judge is used to putting these lawyers in their place and having the power that when they speak their directives are followed, most of the time without question. Likewise lawyers are used to biting their tongues most of the time out of respect for the men and women wearing the robes behind the bench. But when a judge needs a lawyer, those rules are thrown out the window. It’s hard for both sides but if the best case is to be put forward, all egos have to be pushed back to do what’s in the best interest of the client.
This case was my first eyebrow raising moment. It appeared as though Cuesta was bending over backwards to protect his ADA. First there was evidence that was left in the community smoking area where the jury was able to see it. This was also evidence that was inadmissible due to the inflammatory detail that could cause prejudicial bias towards the defendant. Then, there were banking receipts that would have proved the defendant didn’t commit the crime, that were withheld from the defense. On both counts, Cuesta went over and above to protect ADA Lloyd. Why? I understand protecting your people and not being a snitch to save your own skin. I can respect that. I can also respect protecting a good person who made a simple mistake and you don’t want their career ruined over an honest mistake. But Lloyd is out of the practice of law (he’s now in real estate.) Plus, at what point is protecting someone making you just as culpable as the person who made the mistake? This is a man who went to prison for 20 years for something he didn’t do. This is also something that will destroy your career. It’s obvious this ADA was a bad seed. Making a mistake is one thing. But choosing several despicable methods to win your case, shows a pattern of egregious behavior, not a green lawyer making one mistake. So why was Cuesta so willing to destroy his career for a kid who couldn’t care less about him? If Lloyd cared about Cuesta as much as Cuesta seemed to want to protect him, he would have owned up to his decisions and not let Cuesta take the heat. And the other thing I couldn’t get over is that this guy is out of law!!! He’s not a practicing attorney any longer! He’s in real estate! What are you protecting? At some point, it’s gets to be stupid rather than honorable. I didn’t get it. Once you realize there were so many things Lloyd did to send an innocent man to prison, the quest to protect him should have ceased because it proved he could have cared less about protecting you.
Cary vs. Callie
LG needs a new litigator and ASAP. Diane wants Cary, Will doesn’t, and Howard just wants to know who Cary will take with him on a desert island. Which cracked me up when he asked Diane and Will if he was gay considering he mentioned two men and not one woman. Ha! Diane also interviews Callie (played by Julianne Nicholson.) Will didn’t know about this so when she tells him he lets her know that he is sleeping with her. To which Diane replies “can’t you keep your pants on?” I love her! Ultimately Callie takes a job with another firm and Cary is offered the job at LG to which he is welcomed back with open arms…except Will. His arms are only slightly opened and is very cautious with having Cary back on board.
Eyebrow raising moments #2 and #3. The #2 moment was Will’s reaction to bringing Cary back into the fold. Why was he so hesitant? I know Cary was one of the ASAs prosecuting Will but as he explained to him, it wasn’t his choice. He was given the case and it was his job to pursue it. While Will might be upset about that, he has to understand that it wasn’t personal between him and Cary. He had a job to do and he did it. So other than the target was you, what’s your beef? He also has to know that most of the dirty tactics being used were Wendy Scott Carr. Will’s been around the block long enough to know who was driving the train on that inquiry.
Having said all that, could Will have another reason to not trust bringing Cary back to LG? Which brings me to moment #3: the end of the episode where Peter calls Cary. Is this all a set up? My conspiracy theory mind is going crazy trying to put all these pieces together. Let’s go back to last season’s season finale. The final scene is Cary going into Peter’s office to discuss getting his job back. Peter realizes that he used to work with Alicia and LG. So all indications were that Peter was going to use Cary to go after LG, Will, and possibly Alicia. My guess was that Peter wasn’t going to go after Alicia because he still loved her and eventually wanted her back. But if he can take down LG or Will, then ok. That seemed to go by the waste side this year though. I thought that final scene was going to set up a massive showdown with Cary in the middle. While it did happen (sort of), it didn’t in the way I thought. Yes Peter wanted to go after Will but when he put Wendy Scott Carr on it and she took it down paths Peter didn’t want it to go, he nipped her and her agenda in the bud. But Cary was put in the middle of that. I think since Peter realized that going after Will meant, by extension, going after Alicia, he pulled back. But maybe he isn’t finished yet and is trying to go about this another way. That’s where Cary working for LG comes into play.
I think Cary going to LG for a job was originally an innocent proposition. He lost favor in the SA office so he’s looking for another opportunity. He loved working there, his relationship with Alicia is much better (or is it), so he took the jump back to the “dark side.” When Peter found out, he was genuinely upset. He brings Cary into his office and they discuss the information that was brought to Peter’s attention. Peter talks about loyalty and Cary tells him that he is loyal. After Peter tells him to turn his cases over to Geneva and that he’ll receive 1 month’s severance, the scene is over. Was there another conversation that was had that we weren’t privy to? I don’t know. After Cary bumped into Alicia at LG and asked her not to say anything to Peter, does Cary assume it was Alicia who spilled the beans? I don’t know. Does that phone call by Peter that Cary took while talking to Alicia (celebrating his return to the “dark side”) mean something more than Peter asking him where he left his stapler? I don’t know! As usual, I’m probably reading MUCH more into this than there actually is. But I can’t help it! I always think there is more to something than meets the eye and while TGW, for the most part, has been a straight forward show, that doesn’t mean there isn’t something bigger brewing.
Kalinda
Someone needs to explain to me what happened with her and Lemond Bishop…yum. My husband and I were on opposite sides. I think my husband was right though (don’t you dare tell him I said that!!!) He thought Kalinda did some work for Bishop and he was pissed that the FBI found out about and are questioning him. I thought, you know what, never mind. What I thought was dumb. Even revisiting it in my head it makes no sense. I change my mind, hubby was 100% right. Anyhoo, Bishop tells Alicia and Kalinda that he doesn’t like the FBI sniffing around him (what a shock) and tells them to handle it. Kalinda goes to see Agent Delany and tells her…I’m sorry fondles her into submission…to stop going after Lemond Bishop because it will get her killed. Lana tells her no can do and Kalinda leaves.
This does drive me crazy about Kalinda. She always uses sex to get what she wants. Isn’t that how she lost her only friend for a while there? Hasn’t she learned from that? Kalinda is sharp and she’s a bad ass. She doesn’t need to resort to the sex thing every time. It’s one area I wish the writers would clean up. In fairness to Lana, it’s not fair of Kalinda to ask her to not do her job. As a FBI agent and with Lemond Bishop the biggest criminal in Chicago, Lana has to go after him. On the flip side, can’t she go after Bishop without dragging Kalinda into it? There has to be a million other ways she can pursue him without bringing Kalinda into the fold. I don’t think the writers would kill off Kalinda because she’s way too popular a character, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit that this storyline does have me a bit concerned.
Next week….the season finale!!!! It’s hard to believe with the way CBS has scheduled this show all year that it’s already time for the last episode. But it is. I have to say, I don’t have nearly the giddiness I had last season for that finale, but I am thrilled to see Patti Nyholm (Martha Plimpton) and Louis Canning (Michael J. Fox) returning for the finale. Will we be seeing a little Chandler Bing as well? One could hope!
I am so mad. It’s times like these I can’t see straight with anger and my husband needs to remind me that it’s only a TV show. But I am furious because it looks like this show isn’t going to make it to next season and this show is AWESOME!! BFF tells the story of Jessica and Lennon, two BFFs from college who mean the world to one another.
Jessica’s husband is an ass, to put it mildly. He cheated on her and then served her divorce papers (while Jess was Skyping with Lennon.) She is devastated so Lennon tells her to come home and stay with her. Jess flies right back to NYC. Complicating matters, while Jess is moving back into her old apartment with Lenn, Lenn and her boyfriend Joe have just recently moved in together. Needless to say, hilarity ensues.
I really feel bad for Lennon. She’s caught in the middle of wanting to be there for her best friend yet still being respectful to this life she is building with Joe. The scene that best captures this is when they are watching Steel Magnolias (I love that movie!) Joe is trying to be supportive by watching this movie he could care less about and immediately becomes my husband in the scene. My husband is famous for walking in on me watching a show or a movie and start asking 50 thousand questions about what I’m watching distracting me from the show. It drives me crazy. And it starts to drive Jess crazy when Joe does this. She asks him to stop interrupting their favorite movie, when Joe corrects her and says that Braveheart is actually her favorite movie. They both look at her. ”Well I have a favorite movie with you and I have a favorite movie with you!” Well handled Lennon!
The thing I love most about the show, and what I love most about all good comedies, is that this show has heart. This isn’t just making up stupid crazy situations to put people to try to make an audience laugh. This is a show about when bad things happen, you need the support of your friends to get you through it. It’s about learning to compromise and how to adapt to new situations for the people you love. Jess and Lennon are a little strange. I love that! They are odd and quirky but so relatable and funny. I completely believe they are BFFs. They would do anything for each other. From Lennon asking Rav to put on this elaborate scheme to make Jess feel better about herself, to Jess asking around about Joe to make sure he’s right for Lenn. From Lennon chasing Jessica’s ex-husband away and screaming at him to leave her alone, to Jess questioning Lennon to see where she stands on marriage since she thinks Joe is about to propose.
BFF is well written, the cast chemistry is fantastic, and it will make you laugh and tear up. The scene where Jess is taking a bath and Lenn wants to get her out because Joe needs to do a twosie, is hysterical. Eventually the girls start fighting and Joe is torn as to whether or not he should go in and help. He decides to go in and just as he does, Jess pulls Lenn into the tub with her while they are still fighting and Joe laments “this isn’t as hot as I thought it would be.”
I can’t stress enough why you should watch this show. If freaking Rules of Engagement can last 3 or 4 seasons (and that show is dreadful) then this show should last 5-6. You need to watch this show!!!! I can’t believe a show like Whitney will be back next season but this show won’t. Again, bad timing and lack of promotion will doom a show before it starts. If NBC “LOVES” this show as much as it says it does, then why did it treat the cast and crew like crap and premiere it when it did? See my TV Rant post for more on the scheduling debacle in network TV these days. But I am so pissed off that this show doesn’t have a chance but other crap shows do. So enjoy this show while you can because it’s terrific!
DVRs: 4
