NEW PODCAST: Episode 23 Covers Mid Season Preview

It’s almost impossible to believe but yes, I did podcast two days in a row!  It up now at www.fortheloveoftvpodcast.com.  So click the link and check it out or download it from iTunes!

Episode 23 talks about the follow shows for Mid Season:

1. Smash
2. Alcatraz
3. The Firm
4. House of Lies
5. Luck
6. Touch
7. The Finder
8. Bent
9. Good Christian Belles/Bitches/GCB
10. The River
11. Are You There, Chelsea
12. Work It
13. Missing
14. Awake
15. Veep
16. Scandal
17. NYC 22
18. Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apt 23
19. Rob
20. Jane by Design
21. Napoleon Dynamite
22. Remodeled
23. Girls

Not every show is in great detail because I’m not hugely familiar with every show.  But the ones I was more familiar with, I talked about in more detail.

I want to hear from you as to what you are looking forward to watching.  Or if maybe it’s too much new TV and you are only going with a handful of new shows.  Quite frankly, that may be what I do.  It gets to the point where there is just too much TV and not enough time (or DVR space) to watch it all.  But I will certainly try my hardest!

 

NEW PODCAST: Episode 22 Covers Dexter, Homeland, Chuck, and How I Met Your Mother

A new episode of For the Love of TV Podcast is up….shocking I know!   Click here and it will take you right to my website!!

Episode 22 covers the following shows and topics:

1. Dexter
2. Homeland
3. Chuck
4. How I Met Your Mother
5. Golden Globe and SAG Nominations
6. Mid Season New Shows

The Mid Season shows are very brief but I hope to have a more detailed podcast on just the new shows before next week.   So let me know what you think….especially about Dexter!!!

 

2012 SAG Awards Nominations

And I thought the Golden Globes were bad (and they really weren’t that bad.)   These are HORRENDOUSLY bad!!!  Oh my Lord.  I was already convinced, but this completely solidifies my position that these people who are in charge of the nominations don’t watch TV and just pick the popular shows and actors because of name and past recognition.

I’m not going to comment on the TV movies or miniseries because the only one I watched was The Kennedys.  The one thing I will say, why not Barry Pepper for The Kennedys?  Greg Kinnear was great, but Barry Pepper was sooooooo much better.

Before I get into my issues with the acting categories, I just want to say, that EVERY SINGLE ONE of these actors nominated, I love and think are fantastic at their craft.  However, just because they rock at their professions as a whole, doesn’t mean they deserve the nominations below.  There are some incredible names listed below, but I have to say, many are getting props for the wrong reasons, in my opinion.   So I just want to be clear, how much I admire and respect the actors below…you know, before I rip them to shreds!  Actually, I’m not ripping them, just the stupid award people.

So as for the actors, I will say that I am THRILLED for Patrick J. Adams from the best new show of the summer, Suits.   That’s awesome!!!  Although in my humble opinion, if one of the actors would be nominated, I would have given it to Gabriel Macht.  Adams was fabulous but I thought Macht was just a tick better.  If only because he had a bigger range to play this season.   Overall, I don’t have a problem with the male category.   Although Damien Lewis is a glaring omission.  The female category, is a bigger issue for me.  Kathy Bates, really?  I like I said when she was nominated for the Emmy last year, I don’t hate KB.  I love her in fact.  But this character, doesn’t deserve a nomination, I’m sorry.  There are other people more worthy of a nomination than her.   While Jessica Lange was the best part of AHS, a best actress nom performance, it was not.  Kyra Sedgwick, I think this is a farewell nomination with this being the last season of the Closer, so I’m ok with it.  And Glenn Close and Julianna Margulies completely deserve the noms.   But where are Monica Potter, Lauren Graham, Emily van Camp, Claire Danes, Stana Katic, Emily Deschanel?  Hell, I would even give Kristen Bauer from True Blood a nom over some of these names.  I’m sure I’m forgetting other people, but come on.  I don’t understand and I never will.

As for the comedic acting categories, the first thing I will say is can we please get off the Betty White bandwagon please?  Yes the woman is hilarious but not better than Amy Poehler on Parks and Rec and no one will convince me otherwise.  And at some point, someone needs to explain to me how Nurse Jackie is a comedy.  IT ISN’T!!!!!  So stop putting a show in a category it doesn’t belong in just so you can nominate Edie Falco.  And while many people love Modern Family (I did in the beginning but have stopped watching it because I don’t think the writing is a strong as its premiere season), they don’t deserve all the acting noms they get.  It’s a great ensemble show, but not THAT many people stand out on that show.  And Jon Cryer?   Really?  I think not.  Also, while I am a HUGE 30 Rock fan, and a major Tina Fey fan, both Fey and Alec Baldwin’s nominations are getting tiring.  They are great at what they do, but haven’t brought anything fresh to the role in a while.   Where is Nick Offerman?  Who does he have to sleep with to get nominated?   The man is a genius on my TV screen every week.  I also think Danny Pudi and Eliza Coupe are constantly overlooked.  They are freaking hilarious!!!!  And I am surprised not to see Zooey Deschanel on the list.  I know she isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but she is perfect as Jess on New Girl.  I also think Jane Levy (Tessa from Suburgatory) should have received some recognition for her work.   And I know this show turns a lot of people off, but Beth Behrs (Caroline from 2 Broke Girls) should have been given consideration.  She is fantastically funny as well as incredibly likable in her role.    And what about Melissa McCarthy from Mike and Molly?  How could she be left off this list?    I think the number one name left off this list is Jason Segal from HIMYM.  His performance last season was incredible and certainly deserved to be on this list.  Not to mention, Neil Patrick Harris should be a staple on here.  There is a large pool of very talented actors to choose from, but that didn’t happen.

As for the shows themselves, I have no real beef with the dramas other than Homeland was missing.  As for the comedies, Big Bang, Glee, and The Office don’t deserve to be there.  I am still a big 30 Rock fan (I know a lot of people have grown tired of it, which I understand, but I don’t have a problem with it) and  I personally don’t think Modern Family should be in this category. I think it is HIGHLY overrated and not one of the best comedies on TV.  What I would have liked to see….Parks and Rec, Happy Endings, Episodes, 2 Broke Girls, New Girl, How I Met Your Mother, and maybe Community.  Community is a very up and down show…when it’s good, it’s the best comedy on TV, but when it’s bad, it’s as awful as Whitney.  So I can understand why it was left off, but this season has to be it’s best so far (especially from a consistency standpoint.)   The other shows are fresh and funny and have fantastic ensemble casts that really bring out the best in each other.  But that’s my list and that counts for exactly, nothing.

I sincerely believe the people making these decisions are incredibly lazy or are getting some sort of kick back.  I don’t know how you can watch TV (and watch the scope of the shows necessary to make these decisions) and pick these actors and shows for nominations.  Again, it’s not a knock on the actors themselves, but these performances aren’t as solid as some of the other performances out there that get constantly overlooked.

I really have to stop getting worked up over these things, but I hate seeing really talented, exceptional people and shows not getting the recognition they deserve for their work.  There are many names on this list who at one point, were the best and have been recognized as such.  Maybe in the roles below and maybe in other roles.   But it’s time to start spreading the wealth and because while the people below are very talented, there are a whole mix of actors out there that are missing their opportunity to get the acknowledgements that is rightly there’s and getting the chance to be publicly honored for their accomplishments.

TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
LAURENCE FISHBURNE – “THURGOOD” (HBO)
PAUL GIAMATTI – “TOO BIG TO FAIL” (HBO)
GREG KINNEAR – “THE KENNEDYS” (REELZ CHANNEL)
GUY PEARCE – “MILDRED PIERCE” (HBO)
JAMES WOODS – “TOO BIG TO FAIL” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
DIANE LANE – “CINEMA VERITE” (HBO)
MAGGIE SMITH – “DOWNTON ABBEY” (PBS)
EMILY WATSON – “APPROPRIATE ADULT” (Sundance Channel)
BETTY WHITE – “HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: THE LOST VALENTINE” (CBS)
KATE WINSLET – “MILDRED PIERCE” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
PATRICK J. ADAMS – “SUITS” (USA)
STEVE BUSCEMI – “BOARDWALK EMPIRE” (HBO)
KYLE CHANDLER – “FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS” (DirecTV)
BRYAN CRANSTON – “BREAKING BAD” (AMC)
MICHAEL C. HALL – “DEXTER” (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
KATHY BATES – “HARRY’S LAW” (NBC)
GLENN CLOSE – “DAMAGES” (DirecTV)
JESSICA LANGE – “AMERICAN HORROR STORY” (FX)
JULIANNA MARGULIES – “THE GOOD WIFE” (CBS)
KYRA SEDGWICK – “THE CLOSER” (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN – “30 ROCK” (NBC)
TY BURRELL – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)
STEVE CARELL – “THE OFFICE” (NBC)
JON CRYER – “TWO AND A HALF MEN” (CBS)
ERIC STONESTREET – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
JULIE BOWEN – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)
EDIE FALCO – “NURSE JACKIE” (Showtime)
TINA FEY – “30 ROCK” (NBC)
SOFIA VERGARA – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)
BETTY WHITE – “HOT IN CLEVELAND” (TV Land)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
BREAKING BAD (AMC)
DEXTER (Showtime)
GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
THE GOOD WIFE (CBS)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 ROCK (NBC)
THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
GLEE (FOX)
MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
THE OFFICE (NBC)

Dick Van Dyke will present Screen Actors Guild’s 48th Life Achievement Award to Mary Tyler Moore.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from For the Love of TV

I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!!!  I hope everyone enjoys the holiday season with friends and family and has a wonderful 2012!

Please make sure that wherever your travels take you, you are safe and healthy.

Happy Holidays everyone!!!!

 

2012 New Year’s Resolution

Everyone always has the standard resolutions…lose weight, get healthy, see my family and friends more, work with a charity, go somewhere new on vacation, etc, etc.  And I probably have 1 or 2 of those on my list as well.   But I have 1 VERY significant resolution for the For the Love of TV fan base…all 5 of you…

POST AND PODCAST MORE FREQUENTLY AGAIN!!!!!!

I miss you guys!!  I miss my TV shows.   My job realignment and adding Franco to our family have been the equivalent of shoving 100 pounds of shit into a 5 pound bag.  And I’m not exaggerating.  So something had to take a back seat.   That something was my TV viewing, blogging, and podcasting.

But have no fear.  I will be back and better than ever in 2012!!!  (God I hope so!)  Well, maybe not better, but I will certainly be back!  Unfortunately, I have to work this one of two ways…not as much detail in the posts but post more often OR keep the same detail and fewer posts.  I’m not sure which way I’ll go, but I’ll just have to go wherever my mood (and time) take me.

I have to say, not blogging and podcasting as much has been stressing me out.  And I don’t need that extra stress in my life (believe me!!!!)  Just ask my husband.  I’m sure I’m getting coal in my stocking this year.  But I have decided that I am not going to let it stress me out.  I will get to blogging and podcasting when I can (because I love it) and if I don’t, I don’t.    There are so many amazing websites and TV bloggers out there, that you can certainly get your fill and not miss me too much.   (You better miss me damn it!!!!  She says with a tear trickling down her cheek.)

So make sure you tell everyone you know to come back to me in 2012!!!  And I look forward to talking TV with all of you in the new year!

 

2012 Mid Season/Winter New Shows

I can’t believe it’s December 23rd already!!!  Where the hell did this year go?  I blinked and it was 8 days away from 2012.  Wow!  But while we say good-bye to 2011, you know what it’s time to say hello to?    NEW SHOWS FOR THE WINTER/SPRING SEASON!!!!!!!

Here is my quick snapshot of what I am most looking forward to, what I’m not sure about, and what I could care less about:

Most Looking Forward to Watching:

1. Smash NBC 2/6 10pm
2. Alcatraz FOX 1/16 8pm (1/23 9pm regular time slot)
3. The Firm NBC 1/8 9pm (1/12 10pm regular time slot)
4. House of Lies Showtime 1/8 10pm
5. Touch FOX 1/25 9pm (sneak peek) (3/19 9pm regular time slot)
6. Bent NO PREMIERE DATE YET
7. Good Christian Bitches/Good Christian Belles/GCB ABC 3/4 10pm
8. The Finder FOX 1/12 9pm

Not Sure About But Will Watch The First 2-3 At Least

1. The River ABC 2/7 9pm
2. Are You There, Chelsea NBC 1/11 8:30pm
3. Work It ABC 1/3 8:30pm
4. Missing ABC 3/15 8pm
5. Luck HBO 1/29 9pm
6. Awake NO PREMIERE DATE YET
7. Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apt 23 NO PREMIERE DATE YET
8. Veep NO PREMIERE DATE YET
9. Scandal NO PREMIERE DATE YET
10. NYC 22 NO PREMIERE DATE YET

Could Care Less About

1. Rob CBS 1/12 8:30pm
2. Jane by Design ABC Family 1/3 9pm
3. Napoleon Dynamite FOX 1/15 8:30pm
4. Remodeled The CW 1/17 9pm
5. Girls NO PREMIERE DATE YET

Holy crap that’s a lot of shows!!!   Dear Lord.  I still have 7 “Boss”, 10 “Dexter”, 13 “Survivor”, All “Grey’s” and 4 “Person of Interest” on my DVR I haven’t watched yet.  Not to mention, all the shows I regularly watch and adding these to it?  I seriously don’t know how reviewers do this all the time!  But then again, they probably have more than one person to review all these shows!!!

I have to make one comment.  I HATE when shows premiere a show at one time slot and day and then move it to it’s “real time slot and day of the week” after the premiere.    Why?   Just premiere the show at its regular time slot and its regular day.  I don’t get it.  Why confuse people?   Or in the case of Touch, let’s do a sneak peek in January but not come back with episode until mid March.   Huh?   How does that make any sense?  I know it’s not the biggest deal, but it’s a HUGE pet peeve of mine.  It’s hard enough with all these channels and shows for people to keep track of what show is on when.  So let’s make it even more challenging for a NEW show by moving it all over the place right out of the gate!   Ugh.

Well the first 8 shows, I will definitely watch and comment on.  But the rest, if I get to them, I get to them.  If something is really good, or really bad, then I will probably comment on it.  So stay tuned.

Next week I’ll dive more into each show in detail and let you know what I like and don’t.  But in the meantime, what about you?  What are you most interested in seeing or does nothing really strike your fancy too much?   Let me know!

 

2012 Mid Season Premiere Dates – Returning Shows

Again, because I am (at this point) just a blogger and they are the professionals, the awesome people at www.tvovermind.com (Clarissa you rock) listed all the mid season return dates.  Check it out below:

Monday, January 2
8:00 p.m. How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
8:30 p.m. 2 Broke Girls (CBS)
9:00 p.m. Two and a Half Men (CBS)
9:30 p.m. Mike & Molly (CBS)
10:00 p.m. Hawaii Five-0 (CBS)

Tuesday, January 3
8:00 p.m. NCIS (CBS)
8:00 p.m. Last Man Standing (ABC)
9:00 p.m. NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
10:00 p.m. Parenthood (NBC)
10:00 p.m. Body of Proof (ABC)
10:00 p.m. Unforgettable (CBS)

Wednesday, January 4
8:00 p.m. The Middle (ABC)
8:30 p.m. Suburgatory (ABC)
9:00 p.m. Modern Family (ABC)
9:00 p.m. Mobbed (Fox)
9:30 p.m. Happy Endings (ABC)
10:00 p.m. Revenge (ABC)

Thursday, January 5
8:00 p.m. The Vampire Diaries (The CW)
9:00 p.m.The Secret Circle (The CW)
9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
10:00 p.m. Private Practice (ABC)

Friday, January 6
8:00 p.m. Nikita (The CW)
8:00 p.m. A Gifted Man (CBS)
9:00 p.m. Supernatural (The CW)
9:00 p.m. CSI: NY (CBS)
9:00 p.m. Grimm (NBC)
10:00 p.m. Blue Bloods (CBS)

Saturday, January 7
8:00 p.m. Cops (Fox)
11:30 p.m. Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Sunday, January 8
8:00 p.m. The Simpsons (Fox)
8:00 p.m. Once Upon a Time (ABC)
8:30 p.m. The Cleveland Show (Fox, will move to 7:30 beginning Jan. 15)
9:00 p.m. Family Guy (Fox)
9:00 p.m. Desperate Housewives (ABC)
9:00 p.m. The Good Wife (CBS)
9:30 p.m. American Dad (Fox)
10:00 p.m. Pan Am (ABC)
10:00 p.m. CSI: Miami (CBS)

Monday, January 9
10:00 p.m. Castle (ABC)

Wednesday, January 11
8:00 p.m. Whitney (NBC, new timeslot)
10:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

Thursday, January 12
8:00 p.m. Bones (Fox, show will be on hiatus again after this episode)
8:00 p.m. The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
8:30 p.m. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
9:00 p.m. Person of Interest (CBS)
9:00 p.m. The Office (NBC)
9:30 p.m. Up All Night (NBC, new timeslot)
10:00 p.m. The Mentalist (CBS)

Friday, January 13
8:00 p.m. Kitchen Nightmares (Fox)
9:00 p.m. Fringe (Fox)

Monday, January 16
8:00 p.m. Gossip Girl (The CW)

Tuesday, January 17
8:00 p.m. 90210 (The CW)
8:00 p.m. Glee (Fox)
9:00 p.m. New Girl (Fox)
9:30 p.m. Raising Hope (Fox)

Wednesday, January 18
9:00 p.m. Criminal Minds (CBS)
10:00 p.m. CSI (CBS)

Monday, January 23
8:00 p.m. House (Fox)
9:00 p.m. Hart of Dixie (The CW)

Friday, January 27
8:00 p.m. Chuck (NBC, 2 hour series finale)

Tuesday, January 31
9:00 p.m. Ringer (The CW)

Sunday, February 12
9:00 p.m. The Walking Dead (AMC)

Unknown Return Dates
Community

 

SEASON FINALE REVIEW: Homeland “Marine One” S1 E12

Ok so it took me a little longer to get to this than I would have liked.  So what did I think of the season finale?  It was overall a good, solid finale.  There were some answers I would have liked to have had, but moving into Season Two, I think those answers will come out and it’s always good to have some questions moving into the next season.  Personally, with shows like this, I like it tied up in a neat little bow at the end of the season with new questions arising.  But it certainly didn’t detract from how good this episode or the season as a whole was.

Were My Three Main Questions Answered

Yes and no.  Two out of the three were answered…were Brody and Walker working together and will Brody go through with it.   Let’s take the first one.  Brody and Walker were working together….Brody just didn’t know it.  As we saw in the finale, Walker was the sharp shooter set up to distract everyone and break down security so that Brody could get inside with the vest and through security without an issue (the metal detectors were all going off because of all the secret service going through them with their weapons.  Therefore Brody was undetected.)  So it looks like Walker was also turned and working for Nazir but without Brody’s knowledge.  More on this in a minute.   As for the second question of whether Brody would do it or not, it was a yes and no answer…which I liked.  He tried to go through with it, but the vest malfunctioned.  He went to go through with it a second time (after fixing the vest) but then his daughter called and made him promise to come home.  He makes the promise and doesn’t go through with it.  It’s a moment like this that you REALLY have to suspend your disbelief.  There is NO WAY after a shooting involving the Vice President that secret service would allow Brody to take a phone call.  I’m sorry, there is just no way.  It’s too much of a security risk.   But hey, they had to stop him somehow right?  I loved Damien Lewis in this scene.  I’ve loved him all season but the breadth of his emotions was so incredible to watch in this scene.  You see his pale, sweaty, panicked face.  You can tell he doesn’t want to go through with this but he has no choice.   He HAS to and not for Nazir, but for his love of country.   The finale opened with the video he made explaining why he did what he is about to do.  You learn that, in Brody’s mind, he is not turned and he is not a terrorist.  He loves his country and will do anything for it.  As a result, he exposes the what happened behind the drone attacked and who suffered as a result.  So he wants to rid the United States of these corrupt, disgusting politicians because he feels we are better than that.  It’s fascinating!!!!  Now it makes sense why he is doing this.   It also shows you how diabolical terrorist leaders can be.  Nazir knows how good a person Brody is and how loyal he is to his country.   He is able to spin his goodness and loyalty in such a way that he gets Brody to do his bidding in the US.  Words can’t even begin to describe how scary that is.

After the mass murder plot doesn’t happen, he meets up with Walker in what looks like an underground sewage area to discuss what happened.   Brody is still stunned to see his former partner alive and is confused by what has transpired.  He had no idea Walker was in on this but it appears Walker knew the entire plan. When he questions Brody about what happened, Brody tells him that there may be another way.  Unbeknownst to him, Walker his him on speaker phone (there is a cell phone attached to his shoulder) and Nazir is on the other end of the phone listening to every word.  Brody reveals to Nazir that since the VP is in Brody’s corner and wants him to run for congress, he can get at him from the inside, which is much more powerful.  Nazir likes the idea and tells him to move forward with it.   However, there is one big obstacle in their way who knows too much.  Brody give the phone back to Walker and promptly shoots him in the head.  Walker’s really dead now.

I know it’s not huge on the list of questions to be answered, but I want to understand what happened to Walker.  How is he still alive?  Where did he go all that time?   What happened to him?   What made him want to turn?  I read a column by a TV critic who said what this show is about perfectly…it’s 100% a show about the characters and about how what is happening affects them and their relationships.  This is not a who done it show or a show driven by the plot.  Yes the plot is intriguing and captivating, but it doesn’t drive the show…the characters do.   I couldn’t agree with him more.   And as a result, I wanted to learn more about Walker and what happened to him.  So I am disappointed that it seems we won’t get any resolution to that.

I know a lot of people were unhappy that it seemed the show took the easy way out in letting Brody live and having his daughter’s phone call “save him.”  Well I already told you what I felt about the phone call.  But I don’t think the show took the easy way out.  As we have all agreed, since this show is about driving the characters, isn’t a much more interesting storyline watching Brody become a congressman and see how he plans to take down the VP or anyone else involved in the drone attack, from the inside?  To see how it would pull at him and how it would affect his relationship with his family?  I do!  Now I think you can only take this story so far with these characters before you do have to do something drastic and move on, but we aren’t there yet.  There is still a lot of story to tell and therefore, I think it makes sense that Brody lived.   You can tell Brody, while really believing in what he is doing, is very torn about how his decisions will affect his family.  He doesn’t want to hurt them for anything in the world.  Yet this drive to do what his right for his country is strong (even if it is twisted) that he can’t ignore it.  He can’t turn it off no matter how much he may want to.   Add in the Carrie element and there is still SO much more to tell.  And I can’t wait.  Speaking Carrie…..

Thoughts on Carrie and Where Her Character Goes From Here

I think Claire Danes sowed up her Golden Globe win and Emmy nomination (and possible win) with these last two episodes.  What happened with her is incredible.  Here is this “disgraced” former CIA operative, who has no idea that everything her instincts and experience were telling her were 100% right, finally coming to the realization that she is mentally unstable and that she needs help.  She is even going to the extreme of doing shock therapy to treat her mental instability.  And how about that last scene where right before she goes under, she remembers that Brody knew Issa and that there was a connection.  Hopefully she is able to remember that or her sister heard her.

But looking at next season, where does Carrie go from here?  Let’s assume she comes out of shock therapy in tact.  She is on medication regularly to control her bi-polar disorder.   And she is taking better care of herself physically and mentally.  It all doesn’t matter if she is out at Langley for good.  Let me rephrase that.  It does matter for her own sanity and well-being (which is the most important thing.)   But from a professional standpoint, it doesn’t matter.  If she doesn’t get back into the CIA, what does she do?  Does she go rogue?   Does she open her own spy agency (she should team with Chuck and Sarah at Carmichael Industries!!!!)  What does Carrie do?   Without all her resources, how does she stop Brody?

Carrie is another amazing character.  She is exactly like Brody in that there is NOTHING she wouldn’t do for her country.  It drives her every decision.  To hell with everyone and everything else because protecting her country is second to nothing and no one.   She cannot let 9/11 happen again and she will die stopping it if she has to.  Well, in Brody’s mind, isn’t he doing the same thing?  Isn’t he making decisions to better the country?   I love how these world parallel each other in so many ways but yet are so markedly different at the same time.  It’s probably why they are so drawn to each other.  And while I love Moreana Baccarin, Jess and Brody’s chemistry can’t even touch Brody and Carrie’s with a 20 foot pole.

Ultimately, I’d like to see Carrie back at the CIA in some capacity so she can do what she does best…stopping killers.

What Didn’t I Like…A.K.A. What Question of Mine Wasn’t Answered

Who is the mole?  All season long, I said it was Saul.  Then it was looking like David but it’s not David.  I don’t think it will be Saul because I don’t think the writers would do that to Carrie’s mental state.  Can you imagine what THAT would do to her?  But until I am proven wrong, or find other clues, I have to stick with Saul because there are so many signs pointing toward it.  I just hope it’s not someone like Galvez because that would be really lame.

With so many references to the mole, I really thought he/she would be exposed in the finale.   But they weren’t.  See, I would rather, as the audience, know who the mole is, but the characters on the show have no idea.  It’s still great story telling because we can try to find out why they are the mole and why they are working for who they are working for.  How did it come about?   Were they already part of the CIA when turned or was that person a plant?  What is that person’s end game?  I would have LOVED that going into next season.   But no, I was denied.   So that was my only disappointment.

The only other slight twinge I had with the finale is that I thought it moved slowly at times.  The other 11 episodes had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.  This episode did as well but I also thought there were many filler moments.  So maybe Homeland didn’t need 90 minutes for the finale.  Maybe they only needed 75.  Again, not a huge issue, but enough that I had to bitch about it!

So what did you think of the Homeland season finale and where do you think everything goes from here?  Sound off below!

 

Homeland Season Finale Recap Coming Tonight!

I unfortunately fell asleep before the finale last night..I was so mad when I woke up at 3am!!!   But I will watch it today and have the recap up later tonight.  I’m dying to know what happened!!!

 

2012 Winter/Spring Premiere Dates

Thank you to the awesome website, TV Overmind, for so beautifully putting together the list of premiere dates for new and returning shows.  Check it out below:

Sunday, January 1
10:00 p.m. Angry Boys (HBO)

Monday, January 2
8:00 p.m. The Bachelor (ABC)
8:00 p.m. Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family)
9:00 p.m. The Lying Game (ABC Family)

Tuesday, January 3
8:00 p.m. The Biggest Loser (NBC)
8:00 p.m. Switched at Birth (ABC Family)
8:30 p.m. Work It (ABC)
9:00 p.m. Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC)
9:00 p.m. Jane by Design (ABC Family)

Thursday, January 5
8:00 p.m. Winter Wipeout (ABC)
10:00 p.m. American Stuffers (Animal Planet)

Friday, January 6
10:00 p.m. Merlin (Syfy)
10:00 p.m. Portlandia (IFC)
10:30 p.m. The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (IFC)

Sunday, January 8
9:00 p.m. The Firm (NBC, two hours)
9:00 p.m. Shameless (Showtime)
10:00 p.m. House of Lies (Showtime)
10:30 p.m. Californication (Showtime)

Tuesday, January 10
9:00 p.m. Dance Moms (Lifetime)

Wednesday, January 11
8:00 p.m. Whitney (NBC, new timeslot)
8:00 p.m. One Tree Hill (The CW)
8:30 p.m. Are You There, Chelsea? (NBC)
9:00 p.m. Rock Center with Brian Williams (NBC, new timeslot)
10:00 p.m. Face Off (Syfy)

Thursday, January 12
8:00 p.m. 30 Rock (NBC)
8:30 p.m. Rob (CBS)
9:00 p.m. The Finder (FOX)
9:30 p.m. Up All Night (NBC, new timeslot)
10:00 p.m. The Firm (NBC, time period premiere)

Saturday, January 14
9:00 p.m. The Fades (BBC America)
10:00 p.m. The Nerdist (BBC America)

Sunday, January 15
8:00 p.m. Undercover Boss (CBS)
8:30 p.m. Napoleon Dynamite (FOX)

Monday, January 16
8:00 p.m. Alcatraz (FOX, two hours)
9:00 p.m. Being Human (Syfy)
10:00 p.m. Lost Girl (Syfy)

Tuesday, January 17
9:00 p.m. Remodeled (The CW)
10:00 p.m. Justified (FX)
10:00 p.m. Southland (TNT)
10:00 p.m. White Collar (USA)

Wednesday, January 18
8:00 p.m. American Idol (FOX)
10:00 p.m. Royal Pains (USA)
10:00 p.m. Mistresses (BBC America)

Thursday, January 19
10:00 p.m. Archer (FX)
10:30 p.m. Unsupervised (FX)

Friday, January 20
8:00 p.m. Shark Tank (ABC)

Monday, January 23
9:00 p.m. Alcatraz (FOX, time period premiere)

Wednesday, January 25
9:00 p.m. Touch (FOX, special preview)

Friday, January 27
10:00 p.m. Spartacus: Vengeance (Starz)
10:00 p.m. Bering Sea Gold (Discovery)

Sunday, January 29
9:00 p.m. Luck (HBO)

Friday, February 3
8:00 p.m. Who Do You Think You Are? (NBC)

Sunday, February 5
10:00 p.m. The Voice (NBC, immediately following the Super Bowl)

Monday, February 6
8:00 p.m. The Voice (NBC, time period premiere)
10:00 p.m. Smash (NBC)

Tuesday, February 7
9:00 p.m. The River (ABC)

Sunday, February 12
9:00 p.m. The Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)

Sunday, February 19
10:00 p.m. Eastbound & Down (HBO)
10:30 p.m. Life’s Too Short (HBO)

Sunday, March 4
9:00 p.m. Harry’s Law (NBC, new timeslot)
10:00 p.m. GCB (ABC)

Tuesday, March 6
8:30 p.m. Breaking In (FOX)

Sunday, March 11
8:30 p.m. Bob’s Burgers (FOX)

Tuesday, March 13
9:00 p.m. Fashion Star (NBC, two hours; moves to 10:00 p.m. on March 20)

Thursday, March 15
8:00 p.m. Missing (ABC)

Monday, March 19
8:00 p.m. Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
9:00 p.m. Touch (Fox)

Unknown Premiere Dates:
Cougar Town (ABC)
Don’t Trust the B**** in Apartment 23 (ABC)
Scandal (ABC)
Mad Men (AMC, to premiere in March but specific date unknown)
NYC 22 (CBS)
Awake (NBC)
Bent (NBC)
BFF (NBC)
The Frame (The CW)
Game of Thrones (HBO, to premiere in April but specific date unknown)
Girls (HBO)
Veep (HBO)