Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Look! It's a Desperate Housewife

No, it's not Susan, Bree, Lynette, Gabrielle or Edie. It's just one housewife who's realized all my favorite shows are having their season finales this week or have already ended. All the dangling plot threads have been tied up in neat bows, mysteries have been solved, new suspense elements have been introduced, contests have been won and there’s been a cliffhanger or two.

I make it sound like I’m a couch potato but I’m really not. I only watch about 5 shows with regularity. Then there's the odd documentary on PBS or something on Discovery that catches my eye. And I'm a sucker for reruns of the Andy Griffith Show. "Nip it! Nip it in the bud!"

So what’s happening in my TV world?




1. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES had its two-hour season finale last Sunday night. There was a murder. We have a new creepy character (Orson the dentist), the Applewhites have left town, Lynette is dealing with the repercussions of Tom’s premarital fling, Gabrielle is finding that what’s good for the goose isn’t necessarily what she wants the gander to be doing and Mike Delefino is lying in the street after being hit by a car.

Ah... hello, Mr. Cherry. You simply cannot kill off Mike. He and Susan are just way too cute a couple, despite their ups and downs. And besides, what’s not to love about a guy who reads romance?



I'd like to send a big shout-out to Dianne Castell. She had this photo as a huge poster at RWA in Reno last year and probably could have auctioned it off for enough money to pay off her mortgage and mine.



2. AMERICAN IDOL is rolling to the end of its fifth season. The final songs have been sung, the votes are in and later tonight the winner will be announced amidst fanfare and confetti. Will our fellow Alabamian Taylor Hicks be the next American Idol? Stay tuned.



3. SURVIVOR: Exile Island ended about two week ago. I’ve been hooked since Survivor: Africa. I watched because it was set in Kenya and the DH had spent six weeks in Nairobi on business. I love the drama, the competition, the conniving and alliances. I enjoy watching them outwit, outplay and outlast. And I was totally bummed that Terry didn’t win. He played a hard, clean game and in my opinion was most deserving. But we all know that the most deserving doesn’t necessarily get the prize.



4. CSI ended last week too and Captain Brass lives! Nick Stokes also found his comb and after a short but terrible hairstyling detour, his hair looks good again. I’m talking about the original show set in Las Vegas. I’ve never been able to get into the Miami version and I didn’t even bother to start watching the New York show. It’s odd that I don’t like them all since they’re all about crime investigation. But the difference is the characters, which is also true about good writing. You can have a great premise and plot, but unless the characters work with each other and work for the reader, the whole story will fall apart.



Was anyone else shocked at the final scene of CSI? Grissom and Sara? Ewwwww. I could imagine him with former stripper turned crime investigator Catherine Willows. Or better yet I have had this weird desire to see him hook up with Lady Heather the dominatrix. Now that would make for some unusual television. Grissom is one of my favorite TV characters. He’s a brainiac and makes being a geek look chic. His humor is dry and he's a big "buggy" sometimes. But when and where it counts, he cares.

Of course we all know that CSI is really just an educational tool for criminals and that DA’s hate potential jurors who say “Oh, I watch CSI all the time.” But how else would we know what luminol was for or about the pheno-blood test or that there really are chimeras?

However, the title of absolute favorite TV character goes to…



5. MONK. Adrian Monk, the quirky detective with OCD has to be one of the most unique and endearing characters on television today. His vulnerability should make him weak. But despite it, he’s a brilliant detective. And just when you think he’s going to surrender to his obsessions and compulsions, he digs down deep inside and comes to the rescue.

I just hate that the USA network can’t see fit to give us more than six new episodes at a time. Clearly it’s one of the best shows on television, so why do we only get twelve episodes a year – six in the summer and six in winter? Maybe to keep us wanting more?

So much of what I love about these shows is true of writing: great characters with good motivation and conflict, catchy premises, hooks and plots, action, suspense and intrigue, a good love interest and quality writing that keeps me coming back for more.

So what will I do now that my favorite shows are done with their first-run episodes? Maybe I can begin to tackle that mountain range of books in my office. Perhaps I’ll be able to devote a little more time to writing. Keep my flower beds weeded? Dust more often? Keep up with the ironing? That TBR pile sounds the most appealing.

So what’s your favorite show?

And what makes it your favorite? Is it the story? The setting? The characters? All or a combination of the above?

And what are you going to do now that it’s ended for the season?

6 comments:

Angel said...

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who noticed the thing with Nick Stokes hair!!!! Every episode I'm sitting over there saying, "What the heck is he thinking?" while my husband laughs.

I missed the last 30 minutes of the Desperate Housewives finally. I actually recorded it and haven't been able to motivate myself to watch the first hour and a half because the power went out for the last half hour. Great!

And I love Monk too! I think he needs a love interest.

I don't watch much tv myself. Usually you can find me reading/writing/working after the kids go to bed while my husband watches tv. But on certain nights we'll set the DVR and meet on the couch after the kids go to bed.

Angel

By the way, I've completely given up on CSI: Miami. They got on my nerves with this Marisol deal. She was irritating and needy!

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

Whereas I am not much of a reality show fan, I must agree on the CSI and Monk. Great shows. And yes, I refuse to watch CSI: Miami or NY. I love my neurotic Grissom who, yes, should most definitely be with Lady Heather. Unfortunately, since he accused her of murder in one episode, then she kidnapped and beat the guy who killed her daughter...probably not the best match in reality.

I would have to add House to the list. He's so darn grumpy I have to love him. Plus it has the CSI-like aspect of anatomy graphics and mystery.

USA and FX have great off season shows that I'm waiting for...Monk, the 4400, Nip/Tuck...

Thank heavens for Tivo or I'd never get anything done.

SP

Katherine Bone said...

I'm on cloud nine! Taylor Hicks, my pick from the very start, may indeed win American Idol tonight. (If one believes what Simon finally admitted out loud!) Soul Patrol. Soul Patrol. Go Taylor, go Taylor!

Hmmm. The 4400, good TV. I also like Invasion, talk about fun! If you've never watched this show, you should. Medium fits for Mondays but Supernatural is the best show on TV. If you haven't watched the Winchester brothers fight demons on a daily basis as they chase the powerful demon who killed their mother long ago, you missed out on great entertainment. But there's still time. Catch it in reruns coming soon.

Yes, I know. Besides American Idol these are all paranormal shows. Well...all I can say for myself is, I think that's cool. Otherwise, I watch the history channel and old movies.

Believe in the impossible. Go where you've never gone before and all that. LOL.

KB

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

Grey's Anatomy is my favorite. I love those messed up characters. And the ending. Yikes! I can't wait to see who Meredith picks - the yummy and available vet she doesn't love or McDreamy the unavailable doctor who she just screwed in the closet and happens to love. Talk about sexual tension and conflict. These writers know what they're doing.

Instigator

Problem Child said...

I'm a big Lost fan. So many puzzles. I love SVU and CSI, but it doesn't kill me to miss one. (I missed the finale of CSI becuase I was taping something else for my mom. Becuase Tivo ususally records it for me, I didn't even know it was on that night!)

I'm looking forward to The Closer coming back (aside from Kyra Sedgwick's bad Southern accent).

But reality TV just isn't for me much. I've never watched an episode of American Idol, but I was totally addicted to "So You Think You Can Dance?"

KK

Jennifer Y. said...

I didn't like the Grissom/Sara hookup either.

I LOVE House...it is definitely the character on that one for me...and the plots are interesting. He just makes me laugh though.