2003-2004 Television Log
w = the writer; s = story credit; d = director. For Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David has a story credit on all episodes, so only the director is listed.
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001. (25 Dec) /The Office, 1.4: Training/
(2001, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) *****
[Don't even ask.]
002. (26 Dec) /The Sopranos, 4.4: The Weight/
(2003, w: Terence Winter d: Jack Bender) ****
003. (26 Dec) /The Sopranos, 4.6: Everybody Hurts/
(2003, w: Michael Imperioli d: Steve Buscemi) ***1/2
[This was awesome: Knock on door. CUT. Jean-Phillipe opens the door. CUT. Furio. CUT.]
004. (26 Dec) /The Sopranos, 4.9: Whoever Did This/
(2003, w: Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess d: Tim Van Patten) ****
005. (26 Dec) /The Sopranos, 4.13: Whitecaps/ (2003, w: Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess & David Chase d: John Patterson) ****
006. (31 Dec) The Ben Stiller Show, 1.1-1.8
(1992, w: various d: Ben Stiller and Troy Miller) *** average
[Bob Odenkirk: ****]
007. (4 Jan) Arrested Development, 1.9: Storming the Castle (2004, w: Brad Copeland d: Greg Mottola) ***1/2
008. (5 Jan) Curb Your Enthusiasm, 4.1: Mel's Offer (2004, d: Larry Charles)**1/2
[The weakest episode of the series, but not without some nice moments, including Larry's fun karoake scene, and a great, sotto-voce Larry line: "that's the least of his problems." Perhaps a straightforward, setting-up-the-season's-storylines thing was the way to go after season 3's profane, brilliant finale. Biggest disappointment: the flat scene in the doctor's office with Philip Baker Hall.]
009. (10 Jan) The West Wing, 5.10: The Stormy Present (2004, w: John Sacret Young s: John Sacret Young & Josh Singer d: Alex Graves) ***
[Come Back to the Oval Office, Aaron Sorkin, Aaron Sorkin. Actually, don't. Just keep working on that new show. Thanks!]
010. (11 Jan) Saturday Night Live, 29.9 (2004, Jennifer Aniston/The Black Eyed Peas) **
011. (11 Jan) Curb Your Enthusiasm 4.2, Ben's Birthday Party (2004, d: Robert B. Weide) ****
[Blind Michael returns (!!) and Larry walks around the Stiller residence with a sharp stick. "I like pigs"?]
012. (11 Jan) Arrested Development, 1.10: Pier Pressure (2004, w: Jim Vallely & Mitchell Hurwitz d: Joe Russo) ***1/2
013. (14 Jan) Angel, 5.9: Harm's Way (2004, w: Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain d: Vern Gillum) ***
014. (15 Jan) The West Wing, 5.11: The Benign Prerogative (2004, w: Carol Flint d: Christopher Misiano) ***
015. (18 Jan) Saturday Night Live, 29.10 (2004, Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey/G-Unit w/ 50 Cent) **1/2
016. (18 Jan) Curb Your Enthusiasm, 4.3: The Blind Date (2004, d: Larry Charles) ***1/2
[Judah Friedlander covered in sunscreen.]
017. (20 Jan) Gilmore girls, 4.10: The Nanny and the Professor (2004, w: Scott Kaufer d: Peter Lauer) ***
["I smell like pipe tobacco." - Paris Geller]
018. (21 Jan) Angel, 5.10: Soul Purpose (2004, w: Brent Fletcher d: David Boreanaz) ***
["I'm just a working-class bloke fulfilling his destiny." - Spike]
019. (24 Jan) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 1.1: The Pants Tent/ (2000, d: Robert B. Weide)****
[Finally realized that the woman who may or may not have aroused Larry is Robin Ruzan, Mike Myers' wife. Amazing work from Louis Nye as Jeff's father - "rotten!", the way he announces that he will be ordering the "fish frenzy", and his commentary on the "rhythm" of Kathy Griffin's gait.]
020. (25 Jan) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 1.2: Ted and Mary/ (2000, d: David Steinberg) ****1/2
[A classic. Delicious exchange 1: Larry confronts the shoe thief at the bowling alley. Delicious exchange 2: The Barney's shoe salesman confronts Larry on the street. Delicious exchange 3: Larry and Mrs. Steenburgen's glass of water.]
021. (25 Jan) Curb Your Enthusiasm, 4.4: The Weatherman (2004, d: Robert B. Weide) ***
022. (25 Jan) Arrested Development, 1.11: Public Relations (2004, w: Courtney Lilly d: Lee Shallat Chamel) ****
[This is a wonderful new television program. A sliver of Buster lurking behind a corner, an admonition from Ron Howard, Jeffrey Tambor via live feed from prison, etc. And a special thanks to David "Never-Nude" Cross for stopping by. Make it a habit, buddy!]
023. (27 Jan) Gilmore girls, 4.11: In the Clamor and the Clangor (2004, w: Sheila R. Lawrence & Janet Leahy d: Michael Grossman) ****
[Sebastian Bach is back and he's jamming on Blur's "Crazy Beat" during band practice. Bach got them a Tuesday, 1 a.m. gig at CBGB's and this news unleashes a flurry of band references, including Sonic Youth, Television, Blondie, etc. This Lane-centric ep is filled with delights, such as a sequence in which Rory sneaks The Shins' Chutes Too Narrow into Lane's room. In return, Lane says "how about The New Pornographers?" Rory accepts. Couldn't catch the album cover, but I'll assume Electric Version. Said record has to be escorted from the residence hidden in a religious text so as to escape the scrutiny of Mrs. Kim. Other things: Luke tells Lorelai that he moved in with Nicole, even though all of his stuff is still in his apartment above the diner. Rory hears that Laundry Room Guy has been telling tales about their awkward encounter from last semester and confronts him in the cafeteria. Turns out his tale was about some other legit stalker. Still not sure why this guy rejected a request to drink coffee with Rory. Dude, she just chatted you up about The Smiths in the damn dorm laundry room. Surely that's worth a latte.]
024. (28 Jan) Angel, 5.11: Damage (2004, w: Steve S. DeKnight & Drew Goddard d: Jefferson Kibbee) ***1/2
[Andrew (Tom Lenk, looking quite Young Sherlock Holmes-y with the longer hair, coat, and pipe) visits Wolfram & Hart and reprises his comic charm (and pronunciations - "Vam-PYRES") from Buffy 7.16. He also unveils his new, Giles-honed toughness, and, in between the usual array of Gandalf, X-Men, and Viggo Mortensen references, drops some news from the Buffyverse.]
025. (1 Feb) Curb Your Enthusiasm, 4.5: The 5 Wood (2004, d: Bryan Gregory) ***1/2
["Is that a cashew?" And: Susie Essman's f-bombs: fierce!]
026. (3 Feb) Gilmore girls, 4.12: A Family Matter (2004, w: Daniel Palladino d: Kenny Ortega) ***
027. (4 Feb) Angel, 5.12: You're Welcome (2004, w/d: David Fury) ***1/2
028. (5 Feb) The West Wing, 5.12: Slow News Day (2004, w: Eli Attie d: Julie Hebert) ***
029. (7 Feb) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 1.3: Porno Gil/ (2000, d: Robert B. Weide) ****1/2
["His finger is red." - Gil]
030. (7 Feb) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 1.4: The Bracelet/ (2000, d: Robert B. Weide) ****
["Are you questioning my sense of space, Larry?" - Blind Michael]
031. (8 Feb) Saturday Night Live, 29.11 (2004, Megan Mullally/Clay Aiken) *1/2
[Poehler is still great and versatile (bemused girlfriend, Sharon Stone - though Paltrow did a slightly better one during her first hosting stint -, Dorothy Gale, etc.), but that's about it. I did manage a chuckle at Seth Myers's Rube Goldberg "zinger" denouement.]
032. (8 Feb) Arrested Development, 1.12: Marta Complex (2004, w: John Levenstein & Jim Vallely d: Joe Russo) ***1/2
[Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech!
"I think the world is about to fall in love with FRIGHTENED INMATE #2." - Tobias
"Is she just some girl I know?" - George Michael
"I've made a huge mistake." - Michael]
033. (8 Feb) Curb Your Enthusiasm, 4.6: The Car Pool Lane (2004, d: Robert B. Weide) ****
["There's a little problem ... I'm with a prostitute." - Larry
The last 10 minutes are delirious fun - feuled by his new glaucoma medicine, Nat David (the brilliant Shelley Berman) unleashes some Yiddish-Ebonics and Larry yells at himself in the mirror ("Get a colonoscopy!").]
034. (10 Feb) Gilmore girls, 4.13: Nag Hammadi Is Where They Found the Gnostic Gospels (2004, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Chris Long) ***1/2
035. (11 Feb) /Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm [pilot]/ (1999, d: Robert B. Weide) *****
036. (11 Feb) Angel, 5.13: Why We Fight (2004, w: Steven S. DeKnight & Drew Goddard d: Terrence O'Hara) ***
037. (13 Feb) The West Wing, 5.13: The Warfare of Genghis Kahn (2004, w: Peter Noah d: Bill D'Elia) **1/2
038. (14 Feb) The Ben Stiller Show, 1.9 - 1.13 (1992-1993, w: various d: Ben Stiller and John Fortenberry) *** average
[Bob Odenkirk: ****1/2. Three best sketches: 1.9's "Woody Allen's Bride of Frankenstein" (great work by Amy Stiller in the Judy Davis role), 1.10's "Manson" (written by and starring Bob Odenkirk: "I'll pet the whole world with a knife, and then I'll rock it to sleep!"), and 1.12's "The Legend of T.J. O'Pootertoot" (written by David Cross, and probably the most Mr. Show-y sketch of the series.)]
039. (15 Feb) Saturday Night Live, 29.12 (2004, Drew Barrymore/Kelis) **1/2
[A few good Drew moments (Theron-as-Wournos, a whispery Meg in the White-Stripes-as-crime-fighters sketch), Armisen's Prince, and "Milkshake" (a recent Entertainment Weekly article revealed that Kelis got Nas into Pedro Almodovar films. Nice.)]
040. (15 Feb) Arrested Development, 1.13: Beef Consomme (2004, w: Richard Rosenstock & Chuck Martin d: Jay Chandrasekhar) ***1/2
[The courtship of Marta causes more fraternal strife (Buster enters the fray along with a rented mariachi band) and pugilism ("Am I in two-thirds of a hospital room?" - Gob); George Michael (Cera is so good) continues to research of the origins of Maebe ("... like soup." - Lucille Bluth); Tambor and Winkler flee a court hearing; and Tobias discards his sock, the last layer of protection, and quickly goes from a "Never Nude" (an affliction not recognized in the States) to an "Always Nude".]
041. (17 Feb) Gilmore girls, 4.14: The Incredible Shrinking Lorelais (2004, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino & Daniel Palladino d: Stephen Clancy) ****1/2
["But my mom doesn't speak in a resonant basso profundo." - Rory
The best episode of the season: Olivia Hack with a soldering iron, Marion Ross returns as Trix and stirs up a glorious, multi-generational Gilmore fracas (Ross expertly balancing familial concern with deliciously nasty quips), Eigeman's Safire/Agnew/grammar riff ("nattering nabobs of negativism"), Paris continues to rampage ("Brobdingnagian"!) Lorelai's "... sounds like a Kids in the Hall character", Edward Herrmann's new mustache (which either recalls Adolph Menjou or Adolph Menjou's coke dealer), culinary dreams and motherhood combine to make Sookie equal parts giddy and forgetful, the Dragon Fly opens in May and Lorelai's finances are unraveling (Luke to the rescue?), Rory gets a D/is advised to drop a class and is unraveling (Dean to the rescue?), the Lane-Mrs. Kim encounter in Stars Hollow, etc. More Amy-Dan script collaborations, please.]
042. (18 Feb) The West Wing, 5.14: An Khe (2004, w: John Wells d: Alex Graves) **1/2
043. (21 Feb) Angel, 5.14: Smile Time (2004, s: Joss Whedon & Ben Edlund w: Ben Edlund d: Ben Edlund) ***1/2
044. (22 Feb) Saturday Night Live, 29.13 (Christina Aguilera/Maroon 5) **
[Two highlights: Aguilera's Kim Cattrall in the Sex and the City sketch and Will Forte on WU ("Gooooooo, blacks!").]
045. (22 Feb) Curb Your Enthusiasm, 4.7: The Surrogate (2004, d: Larry Charles) ***1/2
046. (24 Feb) Gilmore girls, 4.15: Scene From a Mall (2004, w: Daniel Palladino d: Chris Long) ****
[Was gonna go ***1/2, but Kelly Bishop's work in this Emily-centric episode was just too awesome - the confrontation with Richard after the loin was burned, the mustache-and-Moby-feuled shopping spree/meltdown, and the wonderful food court scene (featuring Emily's newfound appreciation for an Orange Julius and Lorelai's professional skills). Lane update: she gets an apartment with her bandmates, which makes her a reluctant heroine for her cousin, who, safe from parental gaze, goes from Kim reserve to pop culture eruption (the usual D. Palladino music riffs: The Libertines, the future of the White Stripes, "that guy from Joy Division", Led Zep III/IV confusion - "if you're going to get into classic rock, know it, don't blow it!"). The apartment lacks things like cups, towels, and a refrigerator, but it does, more importantly, have shelf space reserved for Lane's CDs (beware: encroaching Futurama figures!). Lane - invite Gil over ASAP! Keep scribblin', Palladinos.]
047. (25 Feb)The West Wing, 5.15: Full Disclsoure (2004, w: Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr d: Lesli Linka Glatter) ***
048. (26 Feb) Angel, 5.15: A Hole in the World (2004, w/d: Joss Whedon) ***1/2
049. (29 Feb) Curb Your Enthusiasm, 4.8: Wandering Bear (2004, d: Robert B. Weide) ***1/2
[Auto Focus party at Jeff's house!]
050. (2 March) Gilmore girls, 4.16: The Reigning Lorelai (2004, w: Jane Espenson d: Marita Grabiak) ***1/2
051. (3 March) Angel, 5.16: Shells (2004, w/d: Steven S. DeKnight) ***1/2
052. (6 March) The West Wing, 5.16: Eppur Si Muove (2004, w: Alexa Junge d: Llewellyn Wells) **1/2
053. (7 March) Saturday Night Live, 29.14 (2004, Colin Firth/Norah Jones) *1/2
054. (7 March) Arrested Development, 1.14: Shock and Aww (2004, w: Jim Vallely & Chuck Martin d: Joe Russo) ***1/2
055. (7 March) The Sopranos, 5.1: Two Tonys (2004, w: David Chase & Terrence Winter d: Tim Van Patten) ***1/2
056. (7 March) Curb Your Enthusiasm, 4.9: The Survivor (2004, d: Larry Charles) ***
057. (8 March) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 1.8: Beloved Aunt/ (2000, d: Robert B. Weide) ****
058. (10 March) Cracking Up, 1.1: Pilot (2004, w: Mike White d: Marc Buckland) **
059. (10 March) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 4.9: The Survivor/ (2004, d: Larry Charles) **** [first viewing: ***]
["No snacks" - Colby
"It's a go-home stain, but I didn't go home" - Larry
"The first one." - Larry, after being given two options from his Hasidic dry cleaner (Gina Gershon!)]
060. (10 March) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 1.5: Interior Decorator/ (2000, d: Andy Ackerman) ****
061. (10 March) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 1.6: The Wire/ (2000, d: Larry Charles) ****
062. (10 March) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 1.7: AAMCO/ (2000, d: Robert B. Weide ***1/2
063. (10 March) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 1.9: Affirmative Action/ (2000, d: Bryan Gordon) ****
064. (10 March) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 1.10: The Group/ (2000, d: Robert B. Weide) ***
065. (11 March) Cracking Up, 1.2: Birds Do It (2004, w: David Hemingson d: Miguel Arteta) *1/2
[Always nice to see Zooey Deschanel, but she's given nothing to work with in Hemingson's completely inept script (McDonald and Shannon manage some nice deliveries -- the way Shannon says "fornicating" is pretty much the highlight of this episode). If Zooey can't help this thing, who can? Next episode: Jack Black gives it a try. Dear Mike White, just round up those kids from School of Rock and let them jam with JB for a half hour every Monday night. Call it Rocking Out and tell Fox to air it at 8:30 p.m. Thanks.]
066. (12 March) Wonderfalls, 1.1: Wax Lion (2004, s: Todd Holland & Bryan Fuller w: Bryan Fuller d: Todd Holland) **1/2
067. (14 March) Saturday Night Live, 29.15 (2004, Ben Affleck/N.E.R.D.) **
068. (14 March) Arrested Development, 1.15: Staff Infection (2004, w: Brad Copeland d: John Fortenberry) ***
069. (14 March) The Sopranos, 5.2: Rat Pack (2004, w: Matthew Weiner d: Alan Taylor) ***1/2
070. (14 March) Curb Your Enthusiasm, 4.10: Opening Night (2004, d: Robert B. Weide) ***1/2
071. (16 March) Cracking Up, 1.3: Scared Straight (2004, w: Rebecca Hughes d: Greg Mottola) **
[Stephen Colbert on Cracking Up (with finger wiggling): "It will FAAAAIIIILLLL." JB unleashes some good JB-isms (fave: "Bingo Longstockings!") playing drug counselor Bruce Phillipoussis, who probably lives in a van down by the RIVER! Dear people that write "comedies", accidental consumption of pot-infused desserts (combined with requisite paranoia and general kookiness) is no longer a good idea. Though, to be fair, the shot of a kite-high Chris McDonald flashing a chocolatey smile was pretty funny.]
072. (17 March) Arrested Development, 1.16: Alter Egos (2004, w: Barbie Feldman Adler d: Jay Chandrasekhar) ***
["A self-choking for the ages." - Warden Stefan Gentles (James Liption)
Obey the Flux and watch this show. Tune in Sunday for the continuing adventures of Jareth Cutestory, Pirate Lawyer. Also, Cera continues to amaze - fantastic little scene with Maebe (Alia Shawkat) in which he quickly realizes the problem with one of her school assignments.]
073. (19 March) Wonderfalls, 1.2: Karma Chameleon (2004, w: Tim Minear d: Marita Grabiak) **
074. (21 March) Arrested Development, 1.17: Blind Justice (2004, w: Abraham Higginbottam* d: Jay Chandrasekhar) ***
["Something smells wonderful." - Barry Zuckerhorn (Henry Winkler)
Nice little weekend for David Cross - he's very funny in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ("I'm building a birdhouse!") and the highlight of this episode is Tobias in stealth mode (complete with Mission: Impossible-y twirly-rolls) while attempting to extract boxes of evidence from the home of the not-so-blind attorney, Maggie Lizer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).
*Abraham Higginbottam? That name is way too Mr. Show to be legit. Who really wrote this episode?]
075. (21 March) The Sopranos, 5.3: Where's Johnny? (2004, w: Michael Caleo d: John Patterson) ***1/2
[Has anyone ever been better on the television than this guy Jim Gandolfini (more than making up for his failure to be a varsity athlete)? We finally get to see that Larry David scene and it's great ("Bobby?"). Great Uncle Junior-Tony stuff in this episode, especially the final scene. Also: Loggia in full-on Lost Highway mode - looks like Feech is going to be a total lunatic/Richie Aprile-esque nuisance. Zero Edie Falco. Is that a first? It must be.]
076. (22 March) Cracking Up, 1.4: Panic Room (2004, w: Al Higgins d: Michael Spiller) *1/2
[The guest stars continue to appear - this time it's Kyle Gass as "Naked Man". Show still stinks. Who's next?]
077. (24 March) Deadwood, 1.1: Deadwood (2004, w: David Milch d: Walter Hill) **1/2
078. (24 March) The West Wing, 5.17: The Supremes (2004, w: Debora Cahn d: Jessica Yu) ****
[Best episode of the season, confirmed by Miss Alli.]
079. (26 March) Wonderfalls, 1.3: Wound-Up Penguin (2004, w: Liz W. Garcia d: Todd Holland) *1/2
080. (27 March) Once and Again, 1.1: Pilot (1999, s: Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick w: M. Herskovitz d: E. Zwick) ***
081. (27 March) Once and Again, 1.2: Let's Spend the Night Together (1999, w: Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick d: M. Herskovitz) ***
082. (27 March) Once and Again, 1.3: The Scarlet Letter Jacket (1999, w: Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick d: Dan Lerner) ***
083. (28 March) Once and Again, 1.4: Liars and Other Strangers (1999, w: Winnie Holzman d: Ron Lagomarsino) ***1/2
084. (28 March) Arrested Development, 1.18: Missing Kitty (2004, w: John Levenstein & Mitchell Hurwitz d: Joe Russo) ***1/2
085. (28 March) The Sopranos, 5.4: All Happy Families... (2004, w: Toni Kalem d: Rodrigo Garcia) ***1/2
086. (29 March) Once and Again, 1.5: There Be Dragons (1999, w: Liberty Godshall d: Ron Lieberman) ****
087. (29 March) Once and Again, 1.6: A Dream Deferred (1999, w: Jan Oxenberg d: Scott Winant) ***1/2
088. (29 March) Once and Again, 1.7: The Ex-Files (1999, w: Winnie Holzman d: Robert Black) ****
089. (29 March) Once and Again, 1.8: The Past is Prologue (1999, w: Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick d: Patrick Norris) ***1/2
090. (30 March) Cracking Up, 1.5: Grudge Match (2004, s: Rebecca Hughes & Mike White w: Mike White d: Jay Chandrasekhar) **
091. (30 March) Once and Again, 1.9: Outside Hearts (1999, w: Alexa Junge d: Todd Field) ***1/2
092. (31 March) Deadwood, 1.2: Deep Water (2004, w: Malcolm MacRury d: Davis Guggenheim) ***
093. (31 March) Once and Again, 1.10: Thanksgiving (1999, w: Donald Margulies d: Claudia Weill) ****1/2
094. (31 March) Once and Again, 1.11: Where There's Smoke (1999, w: Michael Weller d: Edward Zwick) *****
095. (1 April) Once and Again, 1.12: The Gingerbread House (1999, s: Pamela Gray w: P. Gray & Winnie Holzman d: Dan Lerner) ****1/2
096. (2 April) The West Wing, 5.18: Access (2004, w: Lauren Schmidt d: Alex Graves) **
097. (2 April) Wonderfalls, 1.4: Pink Flamingos (2004, w: Gretchen J. Berg & Aaron Harberts d: Todd Holland) *1/2
098. (2 April) Once and Again, 1.13: Mediation (2000, w: Pamela Gray d: Peter Horton) ****
099. (3 April) Once and Again, 1.14: Sneaky Feelings (2000, w: Sue Paige & Daniel Paige d: Claudia Weill) ****1/2
100. (4 April) Saturday Night Live, 29.16 (2004, Donald Trump/Toots and the Maytals) **
101. (4 April) Arrested Development, 1.19: Best Man for the Gob (2004, w: Mitchell Hurwitz & Richard Rosenstock d: Lee Shallat-Chemel) ***
102. (4 April) The Sopranos, 5.5: Irregular Around the Margins (2004, w: Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess d: Allen Coulter) ****
103. (5 April) Once and Again, 1.15: The Mystery Dance (2000, w: Sue Paige & Daniel Paige d: Dan Lerner) ****
104. (6 April) Cracking Up, 1.6: Prom Night (2004, w: Deborah Swisher d: Penelope Spheeris) ***
[This episode was not very funny (an alarming trend for this "comedy"), but the grade is inflated due to: John C. Reilly. JCR was in Reed Rothchild mode playing Steve Evers, Molly Shannon's high school prom date (and still-threatening nemesis to Chris McDonald) whose stalled music career in NYC brought him back to California where he's working at a coffee shop owned by his girlfriend, Marla (Amy Sedaris in full orthodontic headgear!). Best bit of JCR: he serenades Molly Shannon with Cat Stevens's "I Want to Live in a Wigwam".
Note: Cracking Up is going on hiatus and the show's final six episodes (renewal seems improbable, especially after Fox's quick trigger on Wonderfalls) will air this summer. Who will show up in these? Philip Seymour Hoffman? Julianne Moore? Macy?]
105. (6 April) Once and Again, 1.16: Daddy's Girl (2000, w: Liberty Godshall d: Barnet Kellman) ***1/2
106. (7 April) Deadwood, 1.3: Reconnoitering the Rim (2004, w: Davis Guggenheim d: Jody Worth) ***
107. (7 April) Once and Again, 1.17: Unfinished Business (2000, w: Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick d: Edward Zwick) ****1/2
108. (7 April) Once and Again, 1.18: Strangers and Brothers (2000, w: Richard Kramer d: Marshall Herskovitz) *****
109. (8 April) Once and Again, 1.19: Cat-In-Hat (2000, w: Michael Weller d: Claudia Weill) ***1/2
110. (11 April) Saturday Night Live, 29.17 (2004, Janet Jackson) **
111. (11 April) Arrested Development, 1.20: Whistler's Mother (2004, w: Jim Vallely & John Levenstein d: Paul Feig!) ***1/2
112. (11 April) The Sopranos, 5.6: Sentimental Education (2004, w: Matthew Weiner d: Peter Bogdonavich) **1/2
113. (12 April) Deadwood, 1.4: Here Was a Man (2004, w: Elizabeth Sarnoff d: Alan Taylor) ***1/2
113. (12 April) Once and Again, 1.20: My Brilliant Career (2000, w: Jan Oxenberg d: Dan Lerner) ****
114. (13 April) Gilmore girls, 4.17: Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist (2004, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Jamie Babbit) ***
115. (14 April) Once and Again, 1.21: Letting Go (2000, w: Alexa Junge d: Peter Horton) ****
116. (17 April) Angel, 5.17: Underneath (2004, w: Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft d: Skip Schoolnik) ***1/2
117. (17 April) Once and Again, 1.22: A Door, About to Open (2000, w: Winnie Holzman d: Dan Lerner) ****
[Substantial cash money reward for anyone who can provide me with season 2 (while you're at it, season 3 would be appreciated as well) of this glorious television program.]
118. (17 April) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.1: Pilot/ [uncut] (1999, w: Paul Feig d: Jake Kasdan) ****1/2
119. (18 April) The Sopranos, 5.7: In Camelot (2004, w: Terence Winter d: Steve Buscemi) **1/2
120. (19 April) Deadwood, 1.5: The Trial of Jack McCall (2004, w: Ed Bianchi d: John Belluso) ***
121. (20 April) Gilmore girls, 4.18: Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom! (2004, w/d: Daniel Palladino) ***1/2
122. (21 April) Angel, 5.18: Origin (2004, w: Drew Goddard d: Terrence O'Hara) ***1/2
123. (25 April) Arrested Development, 1.21: Not Without My Daughter (2004, w: Mitchell Hurwitz & Richard Rosenstock d: Lee Challat-Chemel) ****
[Note: Per tvtome.com, episode 1.22 will air on June 6th.]
124. (25 April) The Sopranos, 5.8: Marco Polo (2004, w: Michael Imperioli d: John Patterson) ****
125. (27 April) Gilmore girls, 4.19: Afterboom (2004, w: Sheila R. Lawrence d: Michael Zinberg) ***1/2
126. (28 April) Deadwood, 1.6: Plague (2004, w: Malcolm MacRury d: David Guggenheim) ***1/2
127. (28 April) Angel, 5.19: Time Bomb (2004, w: Ben Edlund d: Vern Gillum) ***1/2
128. (1 May) The West Wing, 5.19: Talking Points (2004, w: Eli Attie d: Richard Schiff) ***
129. (1 May) The West Wing, 5.20: No Exit (2004, s: Carol Flint & Mark Goffman w: Carol Flint & Debora Cahn d: Julie Hebert) ***1/2
130. (2 May) Saturday Night Live, 29.18 (2004, Lindsay Lohan/Usher) **1/2
[Some good stuff: monologue was very fun due to another dose of Poehler's A. Lavigne and a great turn by Parnell, including a Lovah-ly pronounciation of "freQUENT". "Turlington's Lower Back Tattoo Remover" was a welcome advert, i.e., it wasn't one of the previously-aired adverts that have repeated 38 times. Dratch's Debbie Downer crack-up actually enhanced the punch, unlike the increasingly silly Fallon/Sanz goof-em-ups, i.e.: "It's official [Dratch pauses to contain emerging laughter, hold, hold, hold] ... I can't have children" [RELEASE]. And then the best sketch: Poehler's awesome, sleepover-crazed, stepdad-tormenting ("Rick!") Kaetlin. Finally: Please stop with the Jarrett's Room - it's Fallon and Sanz at their worst.]
131. (2 May) The Sopranos, 5.9: Unidentified Black Males (2004, w: Matthew Weiner & Terence Winter d: Tim Van Patten) ***1/2
["Put me in, coach" - Tony B.]
132. (3 May) Deadwood, 1.7: Bullock Returns to Camp (2004, w: Michael Engler d: Jody Worth) ***1/2
133. (4 May) Gilmore girls, 4.20: Luke Can See Her Face (2004, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino & Daniel Palladino d: Matthew Diamond) ***1/2
[Very close to **** - you had the self-helped Luke's big realization ("Whoah"), some nice Jess scenes (reading in a strip club!), the final pre-opening Dragon Fly prep work (e.g., sleeping with the prized zucchinis), and very fun Paris/Rory stuff (Paris's "Toby from American Splendor" reference, Paris's "Are the kids still into the discotheque?", Rory's "I'm going home now because there's no rest for the wicked.", etc.)]
134. (7 May) Angel, 5.20: The Girl In Question (2004, w: Steven S. DeKnight & Drew Goddard d: David Greenwalt) ****
135. (8 May) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.2: Beers and Weirs/ (1999, w: J. Elvis Weinstein & Judd Apatow d: Jake Kasdan) ****
136. (8 May) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.3: Tricks and Treats/ (1999, w: Paul Feig d: Bryan Gordon) ****
137. (9 May) Saturday Night Live, 29.19 (2004, Snoop Dogg/Avril Lavigne) **1/2
138. (9 May) The Sopranos, 5.10: Cold Cuts (2004, w: Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess d: Mike Figgis) ***1/2
139. (11 May) Deadwood, 1.8: Suffer the Little Children (2004, w: Elizabeth Sarnoff d: Dan Minahan) ***1/2
140. (11 May) Gilmore girls, 4.21: Last Week Fights, This Week Tights (2004, w: Daniel Palladino d: Chris Long) ****
141. (12 May) Angel, 5.21: Power Play (2004, w: David Fury d: James A. Contner) ***
142. (14 May) The West Wing, 5.21: Gaza (2004, w: Peter Noah d: Christopher Misiano) ***
143. (15 May) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.4: Kim Kelly is My Friend/ (Unaired on NBC, w: Mike White d: Lesli Linka Glatter) ****
144. (16 May) Saturday Night Live, 29.20 (2004, Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen/J-Kwon) *1/2
145. (16 May) The Sopranos, 5.11: The Test Dream (2004, w: Matthew Weiner & David Chase d: Allen Coulter) ***
146. (16 May) Deadwood, 1.9: No Other Sons or Daughters (2004, w: George Putnam d: Ed Bianchi) ***
147. (17 May) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.5: Tests and Breasts/ (1999, w: Bob Nickman d: Ken Kwapis) ****
148. (18 May) Gilmore girls, 4.22: Raincoats and Recipes (2004, w/d: Amy Sherman-Palladino) ****1/2
149. (19 May) Angel, 5.22: Not Fade Away [Series Finale] (2004, w: Jeffrey Bell & Joss Whedon d: Jeffrey Bell) ***1/2
150. (20 May) The West Wing, 5.22: Memorial Day (2004, w: John Sacret Young & Josh Singer d: Christopher Misiano) ***
151. (21 May) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.6: I'm With the Band/ (1999, w: Gabe Sachs & Jeff Judah d: Judd Apatow) ***1/2
152. (22 May) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.7: Carded and Discarded/ (2000, w: Judd Apatow & Paul Feig d: Judd Apatow) ****
153. (23 May) The Sopranos, 5.12: Long Term Parking (2004, w: Terence Winter d: Tim Van Patten) ****1/2
154. (24 May) Deadwood, 1.10: Mister Wu (2004, w: Bryan McDonald d: Dan Minahan) ***
155. (24 May) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.8: Girlfriends and Boyfriends/ (2000, w: Patty Lin & Paul Feig d: Lesli Linka Glatter) ****
156. (31 May) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.9: We've Got Spirit/ (2000, w: Mike White d: Danny Leiner) ***1/2
157. (31 May) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.10: The Diary/ (2000, s: Judd Apatow & Rebecca Rand Kirshner w: Rebecca Rand Kirshner d: Ken Olin) ****1/2
158. (31 May) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.11: Looks and Books/ (2000, w: Paul Feig d: Ken Kwapis) ****1/2
159. (31 May) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.12: The Garage Door/ (2000, w: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah & Patty Lin d: Bryan Gordon) ****
160. (3 June) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.13: Chokin' and Tokin'/ (2000, w: Judd Apatow d: Miguel Arteta) ****1/2
161. (4 June) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.14: Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers/ (unaired on NBC, w: Judd Apatow & Bob Nickman d: Judd Apatow) ****1/2
162. (5 June) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.15: Noshing and Moshing/ (2000, w: J. Elvis Weinstein d: Jake Kasdan) *****
163. (5 June) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.16: Smooching and Mooching/ (Unaired on NBC, w: Steve Bannos d: Jake Kasdan) ****
164. (5 June) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.17: The Little Things/ (2000, s: Jon Kasdan, Judd Apatow, Mike White w: Jon Kasdan d: Jake Kasdan) ****
165. (6 June) Arrested Development, 1.22: Let 'Em Eat Cake (2004, w: Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely d: Paul Feig) ****
166. (6 June) The Sopranos, 5.13: All Due Respect (2004, w: Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess, David Chase d: John Patterson) ****
167. (7 June) Deadwood, 1.11: Jewell's Boot is for Walking (2004, w: Ricky Jay d: Steve Shill) ***1/2
168. (7 June) /Freaks and Geeks, 1.18: Discos and Dragons/ [Series Finale] (2000, w/d: Paul Feig) *****
169. (13 June) Six Feet Under, 4.1: Falling Into Place (2004, w: Craig Wright d: Michael Cuesta) ***
170. (14 June) Deadwood, 1.12: Sold Under Sin (2004, w: Ted Mann d: Davis Guggenheim) ****1/2
171. (21 June) Six Feet Under, 4.2: In Case of Rapture (2004, w: Rick Cleveland d: Daniel Attias) ***
172. (26 June) /The Office, 1.1: Downsize/ (2001, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) ***1/2
173. (26 June) /The Office, 1.2: Work Experience/ (2001, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) ****
174. (26 June) /The Office, 1.3: The Quiz/ (2001, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) ****
175. (26 June) /The Office, 1.4: Training/ (2001, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) *****
176. (26 June) /The Office, 1.5: New Girl/ (2001, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) ***1/2
177. (26 June) /The Office, 1.6: Judgment/ (2001, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) ****
178. (26 June) /The Office, 2.1: Episode 1/ (2002, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) ****
179. (26 June) /The Office, 2.2: Episode 2/ (2002, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) ****1/2
180. (26 June) /The Office, 2.3: Episode 3/ (2002, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) ***1/2
181. (26 June) /The Office, 2.4: Episode 4/ (2002, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) ***1/2
182. (26 June) /The Office, 2.5: Episode 5/ (2002, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) ****
183. (26 June) /The Office, 2.6: Episode 6/ (2002, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) *****
184. (27 June) Six Feet Under, 4.3: Parallel Play (2004, w: Jill Soloway d: Jeremy Podeswa) ***
185. (29 June) /Gilmore girls, 1.1: Pilot/ (2000, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Lesli Linka Glatter) ****1/2
186. (29 June) /Gilmore girls, 4.12: A Family Matter/ (2004, w: Daniel Palladino d: Kenny Ortega) ***1/2 [first viewing: ***]
187. (4 July) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2.1: The Car Salesman/ (2001, d: Robert B. Weide) ****
188. (4 July) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2.2: Thor/ (2001, d: Robert B. Weide) ***1/2
189. (4 July) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2.3: Trick or Treat/ (2001, d: Larry Charles) ****
190. (8 July) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2.4: The Shrimp Incident/ (2001, d: David Steinberg) ****
191. (8 July) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2.5: The Thong/ (2001, d: Jeff Garlin) ***1/2
192. (10 July) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2.6: The Acupuncturist/ (2001, d: Bryan Gordon) ***
193. (10 July) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2.7: The Doll/ (2001, d: Robert B. Weide) ****1/2
194. (10 July) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2.8: Shaq/ (2001, d: Dean Parisot) ****
195. (10 July) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2.9: The Baptism/ (2001, d: Keith Truesdell) ***1/2
196. (10 July) /Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2.10: The Massage/ (2001, d: Robert B. Weide) ****
197. (11 July) Six Feet Under, 4.4: Can I Come Up Now? (2004, w: Alan Ball d: Dan Minahan) ***
[The parade of ***s continues and some of these may be a bit generous. Dear Mr. Ball: more Richard Jenkins, please. Jenkins and Krause just walking around and talking about stuff, like the Delpy-Hawke Linklater pictures! Come on, do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Also: nice to hear Magnapop's "Texas" in this episode.]
198. (18 July) Six Feet Under, 4.5: That's My Dog (2004, w: Scott Buck d: Alan Poul) ***1/2
[Michael C. Hall: ****1/2]
199. (18 July) Entourage, 1.1: Entourage (2004, w: Dave Ellin d: David Frankel) *1/2
200. (20 July) /Gilmore girls, 4.14: The Incredible Shrinking Lorelais/ (2004, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino & Daniel Palladino d: Stephen Clancy) ****1/2
201. (22 July) Rescue Me, 1.1: Guts (2004, w: Denis Leary & Peter Tolan d: Peter Tolan) **1/2
202. (23 July) Once and Again, 2.1: Wake Up, Little Susie (2000, w: Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick d: Edward Zwick) ***1/2
203. (23 July) Once and Again, 2.2: Booklovers (2000, w: Winnie Holzman d: Dan Lerner) **1/2
204. (24 July) Once and Again, 2.3: I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down (2000, w: Sue Paige & Daniel Page d: Peter Horton) ***1/2
205. (24 July) Once and Again, 2.4: Feast or Famine (2000, w: Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick d: Claudia Weill) ****1/2
206. (24 July) Once and Again, 2.5: Ozymandias 2.0 (2000, w: Joseph Dougherty d: Michael Engler) ***
207. (24 July) Once and Again, 2.6: Food For Thought (2000, w: Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick d: Edward Zwick) ****1/2
208. (25 July) Once and Again, 2.7: Scribbling Rivalry (2001 [sic], w: Jan Oxenberg d: Dan Lerner) ***
209. (25 July) Once and Again, 2.8: Learner's Permit (2000, w: Liberty Godshall d: Arvin Brown) ***1/2
210. (25 July) Once and Again, 2.9: Life out of Balance (2001, w: Lynn Siefert d: James Eckhouse) ****
211. (25 July) Once and Again, 2.10: Love's Laborers' Lost (2001, w: Emily Whitesell d: Michael Engler) ***
212. (25 July) Once and Again, 2.11: Thieves Like Us (2001, w: Winnie Holzman d: Claudia Weill) ***1/2
213. (25 July) Once and Again, 2.12: Suspicion (2001, w: Liberty Godshall d: James "Lloyd Lloyd" Eckhouse) ***1/2
214. (25 July) Once and Again, 2.13: Edifice Wrecked (2001, w: Winnie Holzman d: Dan Lerner) ***1/2
215. (25 July) Once and Again, 2.14: The Other End of the Telescope (2001, w: Sue Paige & Daniel Paige d: Robert Berlinger) ***1/2
216. (26 July) Six Feet Under, 4.6: Terror Starts At Home (2004, w: Kate Robin d: Miguel Arteta) ***1/2
217. (26 July) Entourage, 1.2: The Review (2004, w: Doug Ellin d: Julian Farino) *1/2
218. (26 July) Once and Again, 2.15: Standing Room Only (2001, w: Jan Oxenberg d: Arlene Sanford) ****
219. (26 July) Once and Again, 2.16: Aaron's Getting Better (2001, w: Richard Kramer d: Susan Kramer) ***1/2
220. (26 July) Once and Again, 2.17: Forgive Us Our Trespasses (2001, s: Lynn Siefert w: Lynn Siefert & Winnie Holzman d: Dan Lerner) ****
221. (27 July) Once and Again, 2.18: Best of Enemies (2001, w: Emily Whitesell d: Barnet Kellman) ****1/2
222. (27 July) Once and Again, 2.19: Armageddon (2001, w: Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick d: Marshall Herskovitz) ***1/2
223. (27 July) Once and Again, 2.20: Will Someone Please Help George Bailey Tonight? (2001, w: Liberty Godshall & Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick d: Dan Lerner) ***1/2
224. (28 July) Once and Again, 2.21: Moving On (2001, w: Sue Paige & Daniel Page d: Ken Collins) ****1/2
225. (28 July) Once and Again, 2.22: The Second Time Around (2001, w: Winnie Holzman d: Dan Lerner) ****
226. (1 August) Six Feet Under, 4.7: The Dare (2004, w: Bruce Eric Kaplan d: Peter Webber) **1/2
227. (2 August) Entourage, 1.3: Talk Show (2004, w: Larry Charles d: Julian Farino) **
[Sarah Silverman helps take this show out of the gross bin with a fun scene with Piven's Ari (who is banned from the J. Kimmel green room due to an incident with Natalie Portman's father). Also nice to see the show's use of the Apatowverse (yes, such a place exists! Whedon's not the only showrunner to get his own 'Verse) expand - Samaire Armstrong, who played Deadhead Laurie on Freaks and Geeks, returns, and Monica Keena makes her first appearance.]
228. (4 August) Rescue Me, 1.2: Gay (2004, w: Denis Leary & Peter Tolan d: John Fortenberry) **1/2
229. (6 August) Rescue Me, 1.3: Kansas (2004, w: Denis Leary & Peter Tolan d: John Fortenberry) **1/2
230. (8 August) Six Feet Under, 4.8: Coming and Going (2004, w: Nancy Oliver d: Daniel Attias) ***
231. (9 August) Entourage, 1.4: Date Night (2004, w: Doug Ellin & Rob Weiss d: Daniel Attias) *1/2
232. (10 August) /Gilmore girls, 4.17: Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist/ (2004, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Jamie Babbit) **** [first viewing: inexplicably only ***]
233. (12 August) Rescue Me, 1.4: DNA (2004, s: John Scurti w: Denis Leary & Peter Tolan d: Jace Alexander) **1/2
234. (14 August) Once and Again, 3.1: Busted (2001, w: Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick d: Dan Lerner) ****
235. (14 August) Once and Again, 3.2: The Awful Truth (2001, w: Winnie Holzman d: Michael Engler) ****
236. (15 August) Six Feet Under, 4.9: Grinding the Corn (2004, w: Rick Cleveland d: Alan Caso) ***
237. (15 August) Entourage, 1.5: The Script and the Sherpa (2004, w: Doug Ellin & Stephen Levinson d: Adam Bernstein) **
238. (17 August) /Gilmore girls, 4.18: Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!/ (2004, w/d: Daniel Palladino) ***1/2
239. (18 August) Once and Again, 3.3: Kind of Blue (2001, w: Richard Kramer d: Peter Horton) ****
240. (18 August) Once and Again, 3.4: Acting Out (2001, w: Sue Paige & Daniel Page d: Michael Engler) ****
241. (19 August) Rescue Me, 1.5: Orphans (2004, w: Salvatore Stabile d: Jace Alexander) **1/2
242. (20 August) Once and Again, 3.5: Destiny Turns on the Radio (2001, w: Winnie Holzman d: Ken Collins) ***
243. (21 August) Once and Again, 3.6: Jake and the Women (2001, w: Sue Paige & Daniel Paige d: Mark Piznarski) ****
244. (22 August) Six Feet Under, 4.10: The Black Forest (2004, w: Craig Wright & Jill Soloway d: Peter Care) **1/2
245. (25 August) Once and Again, 3.7: Chaos Theory (2001, w: Liberty Godshall d: James "Lloyd Lloyd" Eckhouse) ****1/2
246. (25 August) Once and Again, 3.8: The Sex Show (2001, w: Emily Whitesell d: Dan Lerner) ***
247. (26 August) Entourage, 1.6: Busey and the Beach (2004, w: Doug Ellin & Larry Charles d: Julian Farino) **1/2
248. (26 August) /Gilmore girls, 4.19: Afterboom/ (2004, w: Sheila R. Lawrence d: Michael Zinberg) ***1/2
249. (28 August) Rescue Me, 1.6: Revenge (2004, w: Michael Caleo d: Adam Bernstein) **1/2
250. (28 August) Once and Again, 3.9: Tough Love (2001, w: Maggie Friedman d: Jim Kramer) ****
251. (28 August) Once and Again, 3.10: Pictures (2001, w: Alexa Junge d: Dan Lerner) ****
252. (29 August) /Once and Again, 2.17: Forgive Us Our Trespasses/ (2001, s: Lynn Siefert w: Lynn Siefert & Winnie Holzman d: Dan Lerner) ****
253. (29 August) /The Wire, 2.11: Bad Dreams/ (2003, s: David Simon & George Pelecanos w: George Pelecanos d: Ernest Dickerson) ****1/2
["Indeed." - Omar]
254. (29 August) Six Feet Under, 4.11: Bomb Shelter (2004, w: Scott Buck d: Nicole Holofcner) ***1/2
255. (30 August) Entourage, 1.7: The Scene (2004, w: Rob Weiss d: David Frankel) *1/2
256. (30 August) Once and Again, 3.11: Taking Sides (2002, w: David Schulner d: Mark Piznarski) **1/2
257. (1 September) Once and Again, 3.12: Gardenia (2002, w: Richard Kramer d: Edward Zwick) *****
[ALL HAIL EVAN RACHEL WOOD AND SUSANNA THOMPSON.]
258. (2 September) Rescue Me, 1.7: Butterfly (2004, w: Robert Krausz d: Adam Bernstein) *1/2
[I finally figured it out: This show stinks.]
259. (2 September) /Gilmore girls, 4.20: Luke Can See Her Face/ (2004, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino & Daniel Palladino d: Matthew Diamond) **** [first viewing: ***1/2]
[We all know that Graham is a national treasure, but guess what? So is Scott Patterson.]
260. (2 September) Once and Again, 3.13: Falling Into Place (2002, w: Sue Paige & Daniel Paige d: Eric Stoltz) ****1/2
261. (2 September) Once and Again, 3.14: The Gay-Straight Alliance (2002, w: Winnie Holzman & Maggie Friedman d: Patrick Norris) ***1/2
262. (3 September) Once and Again, 3.15: One Step (Parent) Backward (2002, w: David Schulner d: Elodie Keene) ***1/2
263. (3 September) Once and Again, 3.16: Aaron's List of Dreams (2002, w: Richard Kramer d: Dan Lerner) ***1/2
264. (4 September) Once and Again, 3.17: Experience is the Teacher (2002, w: Winnie Holzman & Maggie Friedman d: Matt Shakman) **
265. (4 September) Once and Again, 3.18: Losing You (2002, w: Liberty Godshall d: Jim Kramer) ***
266. (4 September) Once and Again, 3.19: Chance of a Lifetime [Series Finale] (2002, w: Sue Paige & Daniel Paige & Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick d: Dan Lerner) ***1/2
[Marshall Herskovitz (with Edward Zwick) - "A long time ago, we realized that most of the process of making a movie or a television show was about the people who were involved and, in fact, there was a deep connection between the people who were involved and the product you came up with."
Sela Ward - "Oh my God; I have to play this woman. You know, by the time I finished the script, I went, ‘Damn! I got to do it, I got to do it.’"
Billy Campbell - "I've done probably as many pilots as George Clooney."
Susanna Thompson (with Shane West and Evan Rachel Wood) - "This one right here, just um, he just opened his arms and, you know, just said hello and gave me a huge hug and I knew I was okay."
BC - "You don't remember that?"
SW - "We didn't meet there."
BC - "We didn't?"
SW - "No, we had a drink at the, at a, at a restaurant. Do you remember?"
BC - "You were having lunch at the same restaurant?"
SW - "No."
BC - "Oh."
SW - "I wanted to meet you, to make sure you weren't a real jerk."
BC - (laughs)
Jeffrey Nordling - "The hardest thing for me, I think, was I had no experience with teenaged daughters."
Ever Carradine - "I was only supposed to do one, and I stuck."
Marin Hinkle (and Steven Weber) - "Do you remember that when we first met, that day we had to, to, to passionately kiss?"
SW - "You were incredibly charming and we, we did have a drink. Do you remember this?"
BC - "I don't. Where was I?"
SW - "That's so frightening."
BC - laughs
EZ - "What I'm afraid about the possibility of the show ending is that no one will ever hire me to act again."
ERW - "I can't really put it into words."
ST - "Oh, no. I feel way too much."
JN - "I don't know how it's going to feel until I, um, it's not there anymore."
Julia Whelan - "It's going to be weird just being away from the place."
Meredith Deane - "You know, it's really sad because you've become so close to all these people here."
ERW - "We've gotten so close and we've just become a family."
SW - "I don't know if I can."
ST - "There's a big part of me that hasn't let go of the show so I'm not so convinced that it's over."
MH - "Wow, this is hard."
Shane West - "I've never had a, a …"
BC - (sigh and sad smile)
SW - (sad smile)]
267. (4 September) /Once and Again, 2.22: The Second Time Around/ (2001, w: Winnie Holzman d: Dan Lerner) *** [first viewing: ****]
268. (5 September) /Once and Again, 1.1: Pilot/ (1999, s: Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick w: M. Herskovitz d: E. Zwick) **** [first viewing: a totally absurd ***]
269. (6 September) /The Wire, 2.12: Port in a Storm/ (2003, s: David Simon & Edward Burns w: David Simon d: Robert F. Colesberry [RIP]) ****
270. (8 September) /Gilmore girls, 4.21: Last Week Fights, This Week Tights/ (2004, w: Daniel Palladino d: Chris Long) ****
271. (9 September) Joey, 1.1: Pilot (2004, w: Shana Goldberg-Meehan & Scott Silveri d: Kevin S. Bright) *1/2
[I watched this for Drea and she's good even when she has to deal with awful material. Note to the idiots who run/write this show: let Jennifer Coolidge come up with her own lines, preferably about model trains.]
272. (11 September) Rescue Me, 1.8: Inches (2004, w: Stephen Belber d: John Fortenberry) **
273. (12 September) Six Feet Under, 4.12: Untitled (2004, w: Nancy Oliver d: Alan Ball) ***
274. (13 September) /Gilmore girls, 4.22: Raincoats and Recipes/ (2004, w/d: Amy Sherman-Palladino) ****1/2
275. (13 September) Entourage, 1.8: New York (2004, w: Doug Ellin & Larry Charles d: Julian Farino) **
[The season finale has a couple of nice guest spots, including Larry David yelling at Jeremy Piven about Lakers tickets. There is some potential here: the Eric-Vince dynamic got a bit more interesting late in the season, I've warmed to the goofy charisma and self-parody of Kevin Dillon's "Johnny Drama", Piven is fun, etc.]
276. (14 September) /Sports Night, 2.21: La Forzo Del Destino/ (2000, w: Aaron Sorkin d: Timothy Busfield) ***1/2
277. (14 September) /Sports Night, 2.22: Quo Vadimus/ (2000, w: Aaron Sorkin d: Thomas Schlamme) ****1/2
278. (16 September) Rescue Me, 1.9: Alarm (2004, w: Salvatore Stabile d: John Fortenberry) *
279. (17 September) Jack & Bobby, 1.1: Pilot (2004, s: Greg Berlanti & Vanessa Taylor & Steve Cohen & Brad Meltzer w: V. Taylor & G. Berlanti d: David Nutter) *1/2
280. (18 September) /Gilmore girls, 1.2: The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton/ (2000, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Arlene Sanford) ***1/2
281. (18 September) /Gilmore girls, 1.3: Kill Me Now/ (2000, w: Joanne Waters d: Adam Nimoy) ***1/2
282. (18 September) /Gilmore girls, 1.4: The Deer-Hunters/ (2000, w: Jed Seidel d: Alan Myerson) ****
283. (19 September) The Wire, 3.1: Time After Time (2004, s: David Simon & Edward Burns w: D. Simon d: Ed Bianchi) ***1/2
284. (20 September) Two and a Half Men, 2.1: Back Off Mary Poppins [aka, I've Been Meaning to Check Out This Show to See Once and Again's Marin Hinkle and Tonight's Season Premiere Featured Guest Stars Sean Penn, Elvis Costello, and Harry Dean Stanton So I Checked It Out] (2004, s: Chuck Lorre w: Lee Aronsohn & Susan Beavers d: Pamela Fryman) *
[The great M. Hinkle only appeared in one scene for about 10 seconds. The network executives who failed to pick up this pilot are BASTARD PEOPLE.]
285. (21 September) Gilmore girls, 5.1: Say Goodbye to Daisy Miller (2004, w/d: Amy Sherman-Palladino) ****
[Gil: "It's not a parental issue, it's being part of the cycle of life, and that, my friend, is pure rock and roll."
Zach: "Go join the Polyphonic Spree, you fruitcake."]
286. (22 September) Lost, 1.1: Pilot I (2004, s: Jeffrey Lieber & J.J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof w: J.J. Abrams & D. Lindelof d: J.J. Abrams) ***1/2
287. (22 September) Veronica Mars, 1.1: Pilot (2004, w: Rob Thomas d: Mark Piznarski) **1/2
288. (26 September) The Wire, 3.2: All Due Respect (2004, s: David Simon & Richard Price w: R. Price d: Steve Shill) ****
289. (28 September) Gilmore girls, 5.2: A Messenger, Nothing More (2004, w/d: Daniel Palladino) ***1/2
290. (29 September) Veronica Mars, 1.2: Credit Where Credit is Due (2004, w: Rob Thomas d: Mark Piznarski) **
291. (29 September) Lost, 1.2: Pilot II (2004, s: Jeffrey Lieber & J.J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof w: J.J. Abrams & D. Lindelof d: J.J. Abrams) ****1/2
292. (30 September) Rescue Me, 1.10: Immortal (2004, w: Denis Leary & Peter Tolan d: ?) **
293. (2 October) /Gilmore girls, 1.5: Cinnamon's Wake/ (2000, w: Daniel Palladino d: Michael Katleman) ***1/2
294. (3 October) Saturday Night Live, 30.1 (2004, Ben Affleck/Nelly) **
[All hail Alec Baldwin, who gave the opening monologue a great Glengarry-ish kick (ABH); the notion of Baldwin and Goodman circling the studio to monitor others regular hosts who may be stealing their "moves" = nice. Dear Lorne, those Cold Opens might be a bit better if they didn't last for 6 hours. We already watched the debate on Thursday -- no need to reenact it, though Forte nailed the exasperated, Lundegaardian Bushisms.]
295. (3 October) The Wire, 3.3: Dead Soldiers (2004, s: David Simon & Dennis Lehane w: D. Lehane d: Rob Bailey) ****
296. (5 October) Gilmore girls, 5.3: Written in the Stars (2004, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Kenneth Ortega) ****
297. (6 October) Lost, 1.3: Tabula Rasa (2004, w: Damon Lindelof d: Jack Bender) ***
298. (9 October) life as we know it, 1.1: Pilot (2004, w: Gabe Sachs & Jeff Judah d: Michael Engler) *1/2
299. (9 October) Rescue Me, 1.11: Mom (2004, w: Denis Leary & Peter Tolan d: Jace Alexander) **
300. (9 October) Rescue Me, 1.12: Leaving (2004, w: Denis Leary & Peter Tolan d: P. Tolan) *1/2
301. (10 October) Saturday Night Live, 30.2 (2004, Queen Latifah) **
302. (10 October) The Wire, 3.4: Amsterdam (2004, s: David Simon & George Pelecanos w: G. Pelecanos d: Ernest Dickerson) ***1/2
303. (11 October) Desperate Housewives, 1.1: Pilot (2004, w: Marc Cherry d: Charles McDougall) *1/2
304. (12 October) Gilmore girls, 5.4: Tippecanoe and Taylor, Too (2004, w: Bill Prady d: Lee Shallat-Chemel) ***1/2
305. (14 October) Lost, 1.4: Walkabout (2004, w: David Fury d: Jack Bender) ***
306. (15 October) Veronica Mars, 1.3: Meet John Smith (2004, w: Jed Seidel d: Harry Winer) *1/2
307. (16 October) life as we know it, 1.2: Pilot Junior (2004, w: Gabe Sachs & Jeff Judah & Donald Todd d: Michael Engler) **
308. (16 October) Rescue Me, 1.13: Sanctuary (2004, w: Denis Leary & Peter Tolan d: P. Tolan) **1/2
309. (16 October) /Gilmore girls, 1.6: Rory's Birthday Parties/ (2000, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Sarah Pia Anderson) ****1/2
310. (17 October) The Wire, 3.5: Straight and True (2004, s: David Simon & Edward Burns w: E. Burns d: Daniel Attias) ***1/2
311. (19 October) Gilmore girls, 5.5: We Got Us a Pippi Virgin! (2004, w: Daniel Palladino d: Stephen Clancy) ****
["After seeing the Gilmore women skulk around in the dark, it is now my goal in life to see Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, and Kelly Bishop in a jewel heist movie. Kirk can be their Boswell." - "Kristi" on the Television Without Pity Gg forum.]
312. (20 October) Veronica Mars, 1.4: Wrath of Con (2004, w: Diane Ruggiero d: Michael Fields) **1/2
313. (20 October) Lost, 1.5: White Rabbit (2004, w: Christian Taylor d: Kevin Hooks) **1/2
314. (22 October) The Office, Christmas Special [Series Finale] (2003, w/d: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) ****
315. (23 October) /Arrested Development, 1.1: Pilot/ [extended version] (2003, w: Mitchell Hurwitz d: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo) ***1/2
316. (23 October) /The Wire, 1.1: The Target/ (2002, s: David Simon & Edward Burns w: D. Simon d: Clark Johnson) ****
317. (23 October) life as we know it, 1.3: The Best Laid Plans (2004, w: Allison Adler d: Michael Engler) *1/2
[Help is on the way? Samm Levine's 4-episode arc begins next week.]
315. (23 October) /Arrested Development, 1.2: Top Banana/ (2003, w: Mitchell Hurwitz & John Levenstein d: Anthony Russo) ***1/2
315. (23 October) /Arrested Development, 1.3: Bringing Up Buster/ (2003, w: Mitchell Hurwitz & Richard Rosenstock d: Joe Russo) ****
320. (24 October) Saturday Night Live, 30.3 (2004, Jude Law/sort of Ashlee Simpson) *1/2
315. (23 October) /Arrested Development, 1.4: Key Decisions/ (2003, w: Brade Copeland d: Joe Russo) ***
315. (23 October) /Arrested Development, 1.5: Visiting Ours/ (2003, w: Richard Rosenstock & John Levenstein d: Greg Mottola) ***1/2
316. (25 October) /Arrested Development, 1.6: Charity Drive/ (2003, w: Barbie Feldman Adler d: Greg Mottola) **1/2
317. (25 October) /Arrested Development, 1.7: My Mother the Car/ (2003, w: Chuck Martin d: Jay Chandrasekhar) ***
318. (25 October) /Arrested Development, 1.8: In God We Trust/ (2003, w: Abraham Higginbotham d: Joe Russo) ***1/2
319. (26 October) Gilmore girls, 5.6: Norman Mailer, I'm Pregnant! (2004, w: James Berg & Stan Zimmerman d: Matthew Diamond) ***1/2
320. (27 October) The Office (US), 1.1: Pilot (2004, w: Greg Daniels [Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant] d: Gus Van Sant?) ?????
[Mindbendingly surreal -- this is essentially a shot-for-shot remake of the original.]
321. (27 October) Lost, 1.6: House of the Rising Sun (2004, w: Javier Grillo-Marxuach d: Michael Zinberg) ***
321. (27 October) The West Wing, 6.1: NSF Thurmont (2004, w: John Wells d: Alex Graves) **
[The J. Wells era continues to struggle (it's hard not be skeptical re pre-season buzz of rejuvenation with its vague promise of stir-em-ups. The cast adds -- Alda and Smits -- seem unlikely to excite. Maybe some wild boars will invade the SCOTUS? Lauren Graham guesting for an extended arc? Veronica Mars stopping by to investigate some malfeasance?) with increasingly dull, overtly torn-from-the-headlines political procedurals. There's nothing wrong with some nitty and some gritty (e.g., last season's "The Supremes" was fantastic -- more Debora Cahn scripts, please), but sans Sorkin dialogue, it's rarely much fun. The Wells era lacks the nuance of Sorkin's fantasies: Sports Night imagined what it would be like if you had a job that you loved and you worked with other people who loved their job and every night you created this thing that you loved -- CSC's joyous mayhem was the opposite of the nightmare grind of Wernham Hogg. Sorkin's The West Wing imagined what it would be like if the elected officials that held the highest political office were intelligent, witty, thoughtful people who tried to do The Right Thing within the frequently loony political process. These shows were about the characters; Wells's show is about politics and politics are boring.]
322. (28 October) The West Wing, 6.2: The Birnam Wood (2004, w: John Wells d: Alex Graves) **
323. (28 October) Veronica Mars, 1.5: You Think You Know Somebody (2004, w: Dayna North d: Nick Gomez) **1/2
323. (29 October) life as we know it, 1.4: Partly Cloudly, Chance of Sex (2004, w: Donald Todd d: Michael Spiller) *1/2
[Samm Levine did indeed show up, but only very briefly with a few lines of throwaway dialogue. We also finally met Ben's parents and they're Dylan and Becky Ann Baker! Awesome stuff there, obviously, but this show is dreadful and seemingly beyond any hope.]
324. (29 October) Huff, 1.1: Pilot (2004, w: Bob Lowry d: Scott Winant) **
[Showtime's attempt for a Six Feet Under thing (their third after Dead Like Me and the decent Out of Order, which had an amazing cast -- Stoltz! Huffman! Macy! Bogdanovich! Justine Bateman!), but it's not very promising. This kid Anton Yelchin is intriguing -- he's sort of like Stanley from Magnolia if he was played by a 14-year-old Crispin Glover. You'll also recall him as Stuart in Curb Your Enthusiasm 4.3. He refused to tell Larry how he did his magic tricks.]
325. (29 October) /Gilmore girls, 1.19: Emily in Wonderland/ (2001, w: John Stephens & Linda Loiselle Guzik d: Perry Lang) ****
326. (30 Oct) /Arrested Development, 1.9: Storming the Castle/ (2004, w: Brad Copeland d: Greg Mottola) ***1/2
327. (30 Oct) /Arrested Development, 1.10: Pier Pressure/ (2004, w: Jim Vallely & Mitchell Hurwitz d: Joe Russo) **** [first viewing: ***1/2]
328. (30 Oct) /Arrested Development, 1.11: Public Relations/ (2004, w: Courtney Lilly d: Lee Shallat Chamel) ****
329. (31 Oct) Saturday Night Live, 30.4 (2004, Kate Winslet/Eminem) **1/2
[Two standouts: Smigel's Fun With Real Audio is his best work of the season, imagining J. McCain's torment over appearing at campaign rallies supporting GWB as a Captain Willardesque descent into madness; Poehler's Kaetlin returns! AP is one of SNL's all-time best performers, creating strong characters, transcending and remaining unscathed from the frequent atrocities of the writing staff, and consistently displaying Radnerian aplomb.]
330. (31 Oct) /Arrested Development, 1.12: Marta Complex/ (2004, w: John Levenstein & Jim Vallely d: Joe Russo) ***1/2
331. (31 Oct) The Wire, 3.6: Homecoming (2004, s: David Simon & Rafael Alvarez w: Rafael Alvarez d: Leslie Libman) ****
["He a man now." - Avon Barksdale]
332. (2 November) Gilmore girls, 5.7: You Jump, I Jump, Jack (2004, w: Daniel Palladino d: Kenny Ortega) ***1/2
[See my "Opposing Viewpoint" segment on the J. Sapolin site.]
333. (3 November) Lost, 1.7: The Moth (2004, w: Jennifer Johnson & Paul Dini d: Jack Bender) **1/2
334. (4 November) life as we know it, 1.5: Secrets and Lies (2004, w: Melissa Carter d: Michael Spiller) **
335. (5 November) The West Wing, 6.3: Third-Day Story (2004, w: Eli Attie d: Christopher Misiano) ***
336. (5 November) Veronica Mars, 1.6: The Return of the Kane (2004, w: Dayna North d: Nick Gomez) **
337. (6 November) House, 1.1: Pilot (2004, w: David Shore d: Bryan Singer) **1/2
338. (7 November) Arrested Development, 2.1: The One Where Michael Leaves (2004, w: Mitchell Hurwitz & Richard Rosenstock d: Lee Shallat-Chemel) *** (I guess)
[The "I guess" comes as a result of a Buster line (delivered with stunning comic precision by Tony Hale) very early in this episode that knocked me out and I never fully recovered. I won't repeat it because it's a comedic dish best served cold, but here's a tease: "r". ]
339. (7 November) The Wire, 3.7: Back Burners (2004, s: David Simon & Joy Lusco w: Joy Lusco d: Tim Van Patten) ***1/2
["But that fat man gave me an itch I can't scratch, Butchie." - Omar
"What are you, a fucking communist?" - Herc
"Dennis." - the former "Cutty"]
340. (9 November) Gilmore girls, 5.8: The Party's Over (2004, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Eric Laneuville) ***1/2
[Sadly there's just a bit too much grating T.J. content (Dear Luke, next time this dude says "esc-a-row" in your diner or interrupts an epic meal with Lorelai, punch the living shit out of him) to go ****. The Mrs. Kim streetside Zach tirade was also a bit much, but at least she used the word "innards" and was amusingly specific ("hellhounds", etc.). This is all quite a shame because the final shot is one of the series' most masterful: Lorelai peers out the window and sees a tipsy, tiara-wearing Rory (footloose and Dean-free!) stumble out of a limo full of Yale boys, an image that crystallizes the show's increasingly rich exploration of class (i.e., Lorelai vs. Richard/Emily; the latter continued their battles from 5.7 with Richard's apparent appetizer-based sabotage of Emily's dinner, but quickly found some well-tread common ground in their attempts to save Rory from Stars Hollow and keep her on the path to her proper, privileged life). The episode is also further proof that Lauren Graham is the best actress on the planet.]
341. (10 November) Lost, 1.8: Confidence Man (2004, w: Damon Lindelof d: Tucker Gates) **1/2
[If only the entirety of this episode was devoted to the quest for peanut butter:
]
342. (10 November) Veronica Mars, 1.7: The Girl Next Door (2004, w: Diane Ruggiero & Jed Seidel d: Jed Seidel) *1/2
343. (12 November) The West Wing, 6.4: Liftoff (2004, w: Debora Cahn d: Alex Graves) ***1/2
344. (13 November) /Arrested Development, 1.13: Beef Consomme/ (2004, w: Richard Rosenstock & Chuck Martin d: Jay Chandrasekhar) ***1/2
345. (13 November) /Arrested Development, 1.14: Shock and Aww/ (2004, w: Jim Vallely & Chuck Martin d: Joe Russo) ***1/2
346. (14 November) Saturday Night Live, 30.5 (2004, Liam Neeson/Modest Mouse) *1/2
347. (14 November) Arrested Development, 2.2: The One Where They Build a House (2004, w: Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely d: Patty Jenkins) ***1/2
348. (14 November) The Wire, 3.8: Moral Midgetry (2004, s: David Simon & Richard Price w: Richard Price d: Agnieszka Holland) ****1/2
349. (16 November) Gilmore girls, 5.9: Emily Says Hello (2004, w: Rebecca Rand Kirshner d: Kenny Ortega) ****
[Finally, finally, finally we get the first RRK Gg script and it's her best work since Freaks and Geeks 1.10. The first half of the episode is full of small delights -- e.g., Paris's hardcore dedication to the religion beat, Richard giddily announcing that his frozen pizza has a cheese-filled crust, the hilariously awkward Lorelai-Emily "dinner" (including an LG spit-take!) -- and the second half is highlighted by another K. Bishop tour-de-force (including another devastating final shot a la 5.8) and a fantastic Rory-Marty scene with Elvis Costello and Ignatius J. Reilly looking on. Good to see less T.J. (sadly, the Luke jealously exchange quickly devolved into the usual T.J. hijinks; this character is clearly from another show. It's like the guy is on the wrong lot or something.), but I'm still hoping for zero T.J. Also: Christopher is still really dull.]
350. (17 November) Two and a Half Men, 2.8: Frankenstein and the Horny Villagers (2004, s: Jeff Abugov & Don Foster w: Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn d: Pamela Fryman) *1/2
[Gave this one more try, hoping for a nice Hinkle fix. No such luck. Just a brief scene with a few lines once and again. I will begin writing a television pilot to star Marin Hinkle. Look for it on your television screen, Fall '06.]
351. (17 November) Lost, 1.9: Solitary (2004, w: David Fury d: Greg Yaitanes) ***
352. (18 November) The West Wing, 6.5: The Hubbert Peak (2004, w: Peter Noah d: Julie Hebert) ***1/2
353. (20 November) /Arrested Development, 1.15: Staff Infection/ (2004, w: Brad Copeland d: John Fortenberry) ***
354. (20 November) /Arrested Development, 1.16: Alter Egos/ (2004, w: Barbie Feldman Adler d: Jay Chandrasekhar) ***1/2 [first viewing: ***]
355. (20 November) /Arrested Development, 1.17: Blind Justice/ (2004, w: Abraham Higginbottam d: Jay Chandrasekhar) ***1/2 [first viewing: ***]
356. (20 November) /Arrested Development, 1.18: Missing Kitty/ (2004, w: John Levenstein & Mitchell Hurwitz d: Joe Russo) ***1/2
357. (20 November) /Arrested Development, 1.19: Best Man for the Gob/ (2004, w: Mitchell Hurwitz & Richard Rosenstock d: Lee Shallat-Chemel) ***
358. (20 November) /Arrested Development, 1.20: Whistler's Mother/ (2004, w: Jim Vallely & John Levenstein d: Paul Feig!) ***1/2
359. (20 November) /Arrested Development, 1.21: Not Without My Daughter/ (2004, w: Mitchell Hurwitz & Richard Rosenstock d: Lee Challat-Chemel) ****
360. (20 November) /Arrested Development, 1.22: Let 'Em Eat Cake/ (2004, w: Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely d: Paul Feig) ****
361. (21 November) Saturday Night Live, 30.6 (2004, Luke Wilson/U2) **
362. (22 November) The Wire, 3.9: Slapstick (2004, s: David Simon & George Pelecanos w: David Simon d: Alex Zakrzewski) ****
["Thrill of the chase, and all that." - McNulty]
363. (22 November) Arrested Development, 2.3: Amigos (2004, w: Brad Copeland d: Lee Shallat-Chemel) ***1/2
364. (24 November) House, 1.2: Paternity (2004, w: Lawrence Kaplow d: Peter O'Fallon) **
365. (25 November) The West Wing, 6.6: The Dover Test/ (2004, w: Carol Flint d: Laura Innes) **1/2
366. (27 November) /Gilmore girls, 1.7: Kiss and Tell/ (2000, w: Jenji Kohan d: Rodman Flender) ****
367. (27 November) /Gilmore girls, 1.8: Love and War and Snow/ (2000, w: Joan Binder Weiss d: Alan Myerson) ****
368. (27 November) /Gilmore girls, 1.9: Rory's Dance/ (2000, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Lesli Linka Glatter) ****1/2
369. (27 November) /Gilmore girls, 1.10: Forgiveness and Stuff/ (2000, w: John Stephens d: Bethany Rooney) ****1/2
370. (27 November) /Gilmore girls, 1.11: Paris is Burning/ (2001, w: Joan Binder Weiss d: David Petrarca) ***1/2
371. (27 November) /Gilmore girls, 1.12: Double Date/ (2001, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Lev L. Spiro) ***1/2
372. (28 November) The Wire, 3.10: Reformation (2004, s: David Simon & Edward Burns w: Edward Burns d: Christine Moore) ****1/2
373. (30 November) Gilmore girls, 5.10: But Not as Cute as Pushkin (2004, w: Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Michael Zinberg) ****
374. (1 December) Lost, 1.10: Raised By Another (2004, w: Lynne E. Litt d: Marita Grabiak) ***1/2
375. (2 December) House, 1.3: Occam's Razor (2004, w: David Shore d: Bryan Singer [per tvtome.com, but I think that is a mistake])**1/2
376. (3 December) life as we know it, 1.6: Natural Disasters (2004, w: Joel Madison d: Rachel Talalay) *
377. (4 December) The West Wing, 6.7: A Change is Gonna Come (2004, s: John Sacret Young w: J. Sacret Young & Josh Singer d: Vincent Misiano) ***
378. (5 December) Arrested Development, 2.4: Good Grief! (2004, w: John Levenstein d: Jeff Melman) ****
379. (8 December) House, 1.4: Maternity (2004, w: Peter Blake d: Newton Thomas Sigel) **1/2
380. (8 December) Lost, 1.11: All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues (2004, w: Javier Grillo-Marxuach d: Stephen Williams) ***
381. (9 December) The West Wing, 6.8: In the Room (2004, w: Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr. d: Alex Graves) ***
[Next week: The Return of Cahn!]
382. (9 December) /Gilmore girls, 1.13: Concert Interruptus/ (2001, w: Elaine Arata d: Bruce Seth Green) ***1/2
383. (10 December) life as we know it, 1.7: With a Kiss, I Die (2004, w: Allison Adler d: John Peters) *1/2
384. (11 December) /Gilmore girls, 1.14: That Damn Donna Reed/ (2001, w: Daniel Palladino & Amy Sherman-Palladino d: Michael Katleman) ***1/2
385. (11 December) /Gilmore girls, 1.15: Christopher Returns/ (2001, w: Daniel Palladino d: Michael Katleman) ***1/2
386. (12 December) Saturday Night Live, 30.7 (2004, Colin Farrell/Scissor Sister) **1/2
[Briefly flirted with a *** due to a very strong WU (Poehler = approx. 7.9 million x > Fallon), two Scissor Sisters (nicely delivering both flamboyant fun and fierce rocking -- just what the kids want these days!) songs, and the season's best sketch: a "key party" (kind of like a scene from The Ice Storm reworked by SCTV) in which the bulk of the cast gets to repeatedly revel in inspired dorkiness, including Parnell's continuing quest to unleash alt pronounciations as he managed three versions of "filibuster". It's the kind of sketch -- and writerly restraint -- that rarely appears on the show. Even an almost over-the-top Sanz (i.e., Sanz) couldn't derail this thing. Popcorn! But of course there were still a bunch of duds, despite mostly spirited turns by Farrell. Armisen's pestering parrot in the Liam Neeson episode and now Sanz's elusive cockroach in this episode suggest that a dreadful new sketch genre appears to be in favor: "A COUPLE RETURNS FROM SOME KIND OF OUTING AND ENTERS AN APARTMENT. THEY ARE GREETED BY A MAN IN AN ANIMAL COSTUME; HIJINKS ENSUE."]
387. (12 December) The Wire, 3.11: Middle Ground (2004, s: David Simon & George Pelecano w: George Pelecanos d: Joe Chappelle) *******************1/2
[2004's finest work of art. Also: "I have no words. I've been laying on the floor for the past 20 minutes. I can barely type." - Beau Teague, after viewing the episode, 12/13/04.]
388. (13 December) Arrested Development, 2.5: Sad Sack (2004, w: Barbie Feldman Adler d: Peter Lauer) ***1/2
["It's more of a starter's pistol, really." - Oscar
"They found WMDs in Iraq, so we got a half day." - Maebe
"I'm on TV." - Tobias]
389. (15 December) House, 1.5: Damned If You Do (2004, w: Sara B. Cooper d: Greg Yaitanes) **
390. (16 December) The West Wing, 6.9: Impact Winter (2004, w: Debora Cahn d: Lesli Linka Glatter) ***
391. (17 December) life as we know it, 1.8: Family Hard-Ships (2004, w: Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz d: Rick Wallace) *1/2
392. (19 December) Arrested Development, 2.6: Afternoon Delight (2004, w: Abraham Higginbotham & Chuck Martin d: Jason Bateman) ***1/2
393. (19 December) The Wire, 3.12: Mission Accomplished (2004, s: David Simon & Ed Burns w: David Simon d: Ernest Dickerson) ****1/2
["I can't wait to go to jail." - Bernard
Go here to tell HBO to renew the best show on television. Thanks.]
394. (20 December) Saturday Night Live, 30.8 (2004, Robert Deniro/Destiny's Child) *
[Wretched stuff. Inexplicable hosting return for Deniro, who would obviously prefer to be alone in a dark room mumbling to himself instead of attempting to read poorly-written, unfunny make-em-ups from cue cards. The hideous Mafia/wiretap sketch that had Deniro reciting the "So you think I'm funny" Pesci lines from Goodfellas (they should have just dove all the way down the Trainspotting-worthy comedy toilet and had Jim Breuer make a special appearance) was depressing, but it got worse: "Christmas with the Cat Lady" is probably the worst sketch in the show's 30-year history. Too bad The Muppets didn't take over the entire thing -- their (Kermit, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Gonzo) closing holiday song with Sanz was, by far, the show's highlight. Great headbanging/twirling from Kermit and his Santa hat. It recalled prime Newsted.]
395. (22 December) House, 1.6: The Socratic Method (2004, w: John Mankiewicz d: Peter Medak) **
396. (27 December) /Gilmore girls, 1.16: Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers/ (2001, s: Joan Binder Weiss w: John Stephens & Linda Loiselle Guzik d: Lesli Linka Glatter) ****
397. (30 December) House, 1.7: Fidelity (2004, w: Thomas L. Moran d: Bryan Spicer) **
398. (30 December) The Corner, 1.1: Gary's Blues (2000, w: David Simon & David Mills d: Charles S. Dutton) ***1/2
399. (30 December) /(The) Seinfeld (Chronicles), 1.1: Pilot [Original Version]/ (1989, w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Art Wolff) **1/2
400. (31 December) /Seinfeld, 1.2: Male Unbonding/ (1990, w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones) **
401. (31 December) /Seinfeld, 1.3: The Stakeout/ (1990, w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones) **1/2
["This is like watching a school play." - Larry David, DVD commentary.
This episode is afflicted by s1's biggest flaws -- (mostly) very slow pacing and forcing the stand-up bits into the narrative -- but it does have the first substantial Elaine/Jerry content (absent from the pilot and in only one scene in 1.2, the fantastic JL-D finally becomes a full member of the quartet), including a great final scene: an awkward verbal dance (not to be confused with an awkward physical dance) filled with genuine affection, something Larry David continues to use to great effect in just about any Cheryl/Larry CYE scene.]
402. (31 December) /Seinfeld, 1.4: The Robbery/ (1990, w: Matt Goldman d: Tom Cherones) ***
403. (31 December) /Seinfeld, 1.5: The Stock Tip/ (1990, w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones) **