This Past Week on TV: My Top Caps

As some shows like Pan Am roll off after their first year run, I have been getting a chance to gain interest in new and old shows alike.

This past week, I saw Jane Curtain's return to TV as coroner on Unforgettable (CBS). It's the first time I have seen her in a drama and I hope she sticks around.

After watching 8x11 "This Magic Moment" and 8x12 "Hope for the Hopeless" of Grey's Anatomy (ABC), I found the super-sized ensemble cast quite endearing.

Lastly, I found myself watching the rest of House (FOX) 8x11 "Nobody's Fault" online, on the recommendation of TV Guide Canada.

Now for the visual portion of this post...

The Finder - Episode 1.05 - The Great Escape

In this episode, while Walter Sherman is hired to find a counterfeiter, he has a dream in an art studio. Interestingly, the characters populating this dream were of a 2-dimensional nature. First, there were three cardboard stand-ups of men. When they moved, they move like flat objects. Then a girl in a painting comes to life.

Grimm - Episode 1.11 - Tarantella

The focus was mostly on Lena the black widow spider creature (Amy Acker) in the case that Detective Nick Burkhardt is investigating. Killing people to stay beautiful troubles her. Much of her self-reflection have no dialogue. The last scene in jail just makes an interesting composition.

Last Week in TV: My Top 3 Caps

In the new year, I am continually impressed by the quality of my favourite shows. These are little moments that stand out in an episode. I am just a little miffed that Global TV doesn't seem to have the stream for Harry's Law for last week's new episode. I am sure that will come when the series return in March.

Harry's Law - Episode 2.11 - Gorilla My Dreams

In the absence of an image, I would like to point out that the gorilla in this episode was played by an actor named Tommy Woodruff, Jr. When I comment on the episode, I kept wanting to refer to the gorilla as a real ape, but the acting of obviously done by man. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact the actor in he suit had played gorilla's before. I loved how emotional his portrayal was. Much of it was conveyed in sign language and facial expressions. And the episode closing on the gorilla's face had quite the impact.

Grimm Danse Macabre or The Pied Piper

Nothing much happened last week, except for two episodes of Grimm. This new TV show has a lot of promise. It tells the fairy tales from the original Grimm Brothers stories. I am really impressed by the look and feel of the show. This image is from the episode called Danse Macabre. The teenager in the picture has the power to make the rats do his bidding with his music. All these rats just walked into frame. With all the VFX used on the show, I am thinking this many rats can't all be real. It makes one heck of cool scene.

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.

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.

Last Week in TV: My Top 3 Caps

Halloween Programming took over. Most of my regular shows were repeats. At times like these, I thoroughly enjoy a movie break on TV. Sleepy Hollow has to be one of my favourite Johnny Depp movies.


Pan Am - Episode 1.06 - Genuine Article

Maggie's job is on the line. She uses Ginny's love for Dean as leverage to get the VP on her side. We see later that she is already regretting her actions. What will happen to Captain Dean Lowry?

Last Week in TV: My Top 3 Caps

Back in the days, I bought a TV with my very first paycheque. OK. It was a Pocketvision. You carry it around like a transistor radio. Before the death of analog, it used to mean I could always catch stuff on it, whenever cable went out, like during the blackout of 2003 or we were down to one TV. Aside from being a cool gadget, it had great sound and picture quality for 3 inches of screen. Today, it may be obsolete, but I still catch American shows on Canadian networks. Less conflicts that way. With the economy the way it is, I find it hard to give up full cable. But times were so much easier when there were less channels. There are so many shows now, I couldn't tell you what came and went anymore.

In the past decade, I came across some interesting short-lived series. Let's see if anyone can remember these without looking them up?

1. In the near future, a law firm handles difficult cases that reflect the time.
2. Three New York couples find their lives becoming intertwined with one another, while living in the same apartment building.
3. A cursed revolver brings violence to a variety of owners in the American west.

Charlie's Angels - Episode 1.05 - Angels in Paradise

Coolest stunt scene ever. The old series featured the Ford Mustangs, so there were a lot more car chases. Firing a weapon from a horseback has to be pretty awesome.

And then something you never expect to hear in the other incarnations... 

"Charles Townsend has an agenda."

We are never going to know what that means.

Last Week in TV: My Top 3 Caps

I once listened to the movie Jerry Maguire. I was painting a plaster sculpture at the time and couldn't really lift my head up until I was done. I do that a lot these days when watching TV. Mostly because my eyes tire often. It gives the program I am 'viewing' a new perspective, the second time around. It's no surprise that what I watch sometimes appeal to all five senses. So I say if you don't like it the first time, try watching it with eyes closed or audio off, as I do a second time. You might be surprised to find something you missed before. Today I was referring to the last aired episode of Charlie's Angels and all four episodes of Free Agents.

With even more shows getting canceled, which some say are too early, it's even more important for us to embrace the shows we love along with all its good and bad qualities. Ignore negative opinions and make a stand for your favourites no matter what. Television has become a popularity contest, Whoever is making the decision, as to which stay, should know what we see. I am just one person. I can't promise what I find worth mentioning is right for you, but at least I am trying.


Harry's Law - Episode 2.04 - Queen of Snark

"This is not good bye."

Jenna's emotional goodbye to the law firm was not easy for her friends. It doesn't make it any easier that we know it was coming.
Jenna to Tommy: I was the first... to say that you're are sweet and sentimental.
Jenna to Adam: And maybe most of all you Scarecrow.
Harry to Jenna: You should have a memento of what you built.

Last Week in TV: My Top 3 Caps

Last week, I started to devote more focus to what I was watching. Writing about it takes away from the experience. What's stands out to me could be a single scene, a line of dialogue, or a memorable performance.

Free Agents - 1.04 - Rebranding

Helen: "We used to talk." Alex: "You don't want to talk about the things I want to talk about."
I can't stress enough that I could watch these guys forever.