The Muppets

All frogs can talk, they just have nothing to say.

The Muppets are timeless characters on TV. Having grown up with them throughout the 1980s, it makes me happy to see them on screen again and so often. Starting with an appearance to promote The Muppets movie on Dancing With The Stars last Tuesday followed by an appearance on last week's Saturday Night Live.

My favourite was the one I stumbled upon. A CBC Radio interview on Studio Q. If you are a fan of Kermit, this is not to be missed. Check it out at www.cbc.ca/video

He talks about life being a frog, fame, and Jim Henson. A charming dude if I ever saw one.

More images below the break.

Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays - Ridicule - Recap

I love surprises. When I found out Tuesday that Sandra Oh was going appear on CBC's latest comedy series, Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays, I jumped at the chance to watch it. I haven't seen many of the episodes since the pilot, but I know it has been getting great reviews. I am glad I did, because it ended up being one enjoyable turn out.

If no one has seen the series, this week's episode summed up well what happened between psychiatrist David Stroper (Bob Martin) and his patient Michael Dyers (Matt Watts).

Episode 109 - Ridicule

David had wrote a book about his patient Michael of 15 years, without his consent. On account of that, Michael, feeling betrayed, has stopped seeing him. When the book is published, Michael's many phobias has resurfaced. David is no better. Days before the book's launching, his face breaks out due to stress.

He agrees to meet with Michael's new therapist, Judy a naturopath (Sandra Oh). She believes it will help Michael get over his fear of his shrink, if he had a session together with David.

In the end, Michael realizes no amount of bugleweed and Oprah quotes will help him, he goes back to David.

Favourite scene: The joint therapy session with Judy.

Favourite line: I invite you to read a book about a man with many fears, who happens to be the bravest man I know.

Last Week in TV: My Top 3 Caps

Best Halloween costume?

Finally, we scared up parity in Canadian and U.S. TV ratings. Except for the most view sports, World Series baseball and NFL football in the States and Hockey Night in Canada over here, the week of October 24 to 30, NCIS, Dancing with the Stars, and NCIS: Los Angeles were among the top ten for both countries in the same order. How often do we get that? The ranking was even one off from each other.


Here are my caps. All this week, the episode I wanted to rewatch most for screencaps was Harry's Law's The Rematch. I already expect to see further insight into Jean Smart's character. I didn't expect to be bowled over by the guest cast. Katherine Helmond and Fyvush Finkel as the elderly couple whose marriage was ending brought out the best of Tommy and Cassie, and even more bad mouth from Ollie. If Paul McCrane's performance on the show, earned him an Emmy, I dare say it could at least get a nomination for them.

Is it so wrong for me to want to know a little of that life before I go? 

Gloria telling Tommy why she preferred a divorce. "For 60 years, I've had to hear those jokes in the privacy of my home, at dinner parties, always at my expense. Now it's all I listen to. How many times do I have to listen to my genitalia being referred to as a black lagoon? I cannot take it anymore. Not for month. Not for a week. Not for a day. I want that man gone."

What am I gonna do?

The jokes are all Abe remembers.

"Well you tell her I get the house. She can keep all the mirrors so she can see what I had to look at all these 

"We were happy for so long... and then we met. When I make love to her, I like to think of something nice, like not making love to her. Oh, I have a recurring nightmare about my wife's funeral, like it would never happen. Ha ha hahaha..."

...we the jury find the defendant Joshua Peyton not guilty.

Harry's Law - Episode 2.06 - The Rematch - Recap

Defendant not guilty

When former prosecutor Josh 'Puck' Peyton is charged with aiding and abetting a child abductor,  it's up to Harry and Adam to defend him and it pits Harry against District Attorney Roseanna Remmick in open court once again. Or as Roseanna put it, "Tree versus troll, a rematch." Meanwhile, Tommy and Cassie counsels an elderly couple in a divorce case.

For a change, Rosie was playing by the book and
was unrelenting in making an example of Puck for turning his back on their life calling: law and order. Because it was personal, her defeat at the end was a blow. We saw a vulnerable person behind the condescending bully. The audience saw it, then Puck and Harry. It was effectively portrayed with no dialogue.

What else do we learn
I like what the divorce case did for Tommy. He really is sentimental, and it showed in how he cared about Abe's plight.
Cassie was also affected by her interactions with Abe. As Harry tells her, having clients can sometimes be rewarding.
Ollie has an opinion on everything, making him quite the devil's advocate.

Worth mentioning
Cassie (Karen Olivo) singing "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" to help reach Abe.
Guest stars Katherine Helmond (Soap, Who's the Boss) and Fyvush Finkel (Picket Fences, Boston Public) delivered some of the most memorable performances. Most impressive was his Abe lapsing from lucidity, jokes, and dementia, sometimes all in one take.