February 12, 2010
SURVIVOR, one of the two* so-called "reality shows" that I enjoy, has returned with another all-star edition, and last night's premiere of HEROES VS. VILLAINS was the best season opener in years.

It may seem strange that the series could be revitalized by looking backward, but the-powers-that-be appear to have captured lightning in a bottle with this cast by gathering well-known characters from previous seasons and grouping them (sometimes mysteriously) into "Heroes" and "Villains." The "good guys" were identified by TPTB as having played the game with sportsmanship and integrity, while the baddies were defined as playing selfishly or particularly deviously. While some Villains' credentials are obvious (Jerri, Coach), some are less-apparent (Courtney?). Even a few Heroes are judgment calls (I don't even remember Candice).

But whichever sides the contestants were placed on, they were playing for keeps! The opening reward challenge, a battle for fire that involved wrestling with opponents — was a brutal physical confrontation that left Stephenie with a dislocated shoulder, Rupert nursing a busted toe, and Sugar topless!

Both sides played their roles to the hilt: the Heroes ran an orderly, friendly camp with a solid shelter, water and even domesticated chickens, while the Villains lazed around their camp, boasting, preening and chortling over the Heroes' injuries. One very unexpected development: The possibility of a camp romance between Black Widow Jerri and Dragon Slayer Coach — complete with giggling tribemates egging them on.

SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS is set up to be a fantastic season. Now I just have to decide who will be my favorite...

*Oh, that other "good" unscripted series? THE AMAZING RACE, which debuts this Sunday at 8 o'clock.

February 8, 2010
The latest CAPRICA saw some characters undergo big changes: Amanda (Paula Malcomson) was compelled to resign her position at the hospital, and husband Daniel's (Eric Stoltz) company took a financial pounding even as he endured a physical beating from Sam Adama (Sasha Roiz). The Graystones had been on top of the 12 worlds, but now they are pariahs.

But perhaps no one has changed as radically — and certainly as willfully — as Joseph Adama (Esai Morales). As the bloody pulp that was Daniel gasped "Adams" at his tormentor, Joseph sneered, "It's ‘Adama' now," signaling his transformation from genteel gangster who engaged in polite bribery, into a guy who ordered his brother to pound Daniel; a thug who literally gets blood on his hands. But Joseph is still completely devoted to his daughter, just like any other doting father. Heck, he sounds eerily similar to a certain gangster who claims to import coffee in upstate New York, on a little show you might have heard of called GENERAL HOSPITAL. One could argue that Tamara (Genevieve Buechner) and her mother Shannon (Anna Galvin) — or, more precisely, their loss — are fueling Joseph's descent into the criminal underworld of the Ha'la'tha. And it is a descent that is rapidly spiralling out of control. Witness Joseph casually suggesting to Sam that he should take out Amanda Graystone to "even out" the two families' losses. That shocking order constituted the second jaw-dropping CAPRICA ending in two weeks.

Family trauma is really taking its toll on this show, which is proving to be much more soap opera than space opera — just as the-powers-that-be promised.

February 5, 2010
Out of the mouths of babes: GENERAL HOSPITAL's Kristina and Molly this week gave voice to many of the criticisms about Sonny that viewers have been screaming at their own TVs. (Or...uh, so I understand *coughcough*) The basic truth is that Sonny is a bad person, and he harms everyone around him. Even a child can see that. Among the obvious facts that these kids saw: Kristina pointed out that her father had no justification whatsoever for shooting Dante. And Molly pointed out that killing a police officer is "murder with special circumstances," which would mean life in prison without possibility of parole. Only Michael defended Sonny (and did it by impugning Dominic — how like his father!). Poor Morgan began to doubt his friendship with Dominic because of Michael's insistence that Dominic was an untrustworthy lying rat. (There is an untrustworthy person in your family, Michael — but you already want to be in his footsteps.) Luckily, Morgan was grown-up enough to realize Dante is sincere. Kristina had her own moment of doubt when she backpedaled and defended her father to Kiefer — and that wishywashiness reflected GH's ambivalence toward the mob kingpin. Is he a creep or not? Molly put it all in perspective by asking, "Does anyone doubt that Uncle Sonny is guilty?" Nobody did. And that's the problem with Sonny: Everybody knows he's a bad guy, yet they continue to hang around him at great personal cost to themselves. So why is he the hero of the show? There's a saying: "And a child shall lead them." GH would do well to follow the lead of Morgan, Molly and Kristina, who all see Sonny for what he is.

If I didn't know better, I'd almost think Jax and Ronnie were taking their cues from the kids. They actually had to argue to convince people (Carly and Olivia, respectively) that Sonny should be arrested. Olivia's recalcitrance was somewhat understandable (but only somewhat), while Carly was just in denial and repressing her memories, as usual. Liv may think guilt will chew Sonny up inside, but she hasn't seen him for 20 years. Sonny only has a passing acquaintance with guilt; he discards it like a bad one-night stand. Bottom line, ladies: Sonny hurts your children. Give him the boot. The End.

February 4, 2010
The truth about GENERAL HOSPITAL's Dante is finally out after months of secrets and lies, so I asked Lisa LoCicero (Olivia) if she thought the climax of the story fulfills expectations. "I don't think we could have made it any bigger or truer, so yeah, I really hope so," she declared. "I think people are really going to like what we did."

One aspect of the story I really liked was LoCicero's performance as the grieving mother. She told me why she made the acting choices she did. "You can't always think; sometimes you fall apart," she explained. "Initially, of course, it's just shock. As an actor who never experienced something that enormous it's impossible to know what that would really do to you in the moment. As it played out I tried to stay true to what that would be."

LoCicero pointed out that Olivia feels even worse because she had an indirect hand in her son's shooting by deciding not to tell Dante or Sonny about their connection. "She said all along, there's no way to know how Sonny would have reacted if she said he's your son and he's an undercover cop," LoCicero noted. "He might have shot her in the head right where she stood. I mean, there's really no way to tell with Sonny how that kind of information — and betrayal — was going to affect him."

Clearly, he did not take it well...

February 1, 2010
Watching GENERAL HOSPITAL's Sonny try to kill an unarmed cop in cold blood, I realized that the character has finally passed the point of no return. GH has been dancing along a precipice with Sonny for so many years (never identifying the contents of those mysterious "shipments" that are worth killing over, for example) but now the-powers-that-be have finally pushed him over the edge. And he's gone.

Sonny shot an officer of the law after he had clearly displayed his badge and identified himself. There was no wiggle room in this scene; it was no "bang-bang" situation (pardon the pun) where there was no time to react. Sonny had a long, long time to think about what he was doing, to discuss what he was doing — to think twice about what he was doing. And then he did it. Sonny's crime was made even more heinous by the scene's editing. While going to commercial after Dante identified himself was meant to be dramatic, the practical effect make it feel like Sonny had the entire commercial break to think about what to do next, in addition to all the time he spent talking to Dante. Thus, GH made shooting the unarmed police officer a conscious decision. It might (and I stress the might part) have felt different if Sonny's shot was depicted as a sudden, gut reaction; on instinct he whipped out his gun and fired without thinking. It could have been made to look like a crime of passion (or at least negligence). But instead, Sonny calmly drew his weapon, pointed it at the policeman, talked to him about the situation, and then said, "Goodbye, detective," before coldly shooting him in the chest. A killshot, by the way — not an attempt to slow down the cop so Sonny could flee. The gangster meant to put him down.

And why Sonny shoot Dante? Pride. Sonny is actually innocent of Claudia's murder. He didn't do it. So he did not have to kill to protect himself; self-defense was not an issue. Sonny was ashamed that he had been fooled for these many months — fooled by an undercover cop so completely that he was ready to turn over the keys to the kingdom. So he lashed out. Okay, he may have feared that clearing himself of the crime would point to Michael, but using deadly force to protect someone else who is not even present does not wash Wounding Sonny's pride does not count as a deadly threat — even if he is a megalomaniac.

The big question is, where does GH go from here? How can Sonny come back from the premeditated attempted murder of a police officer? The argument will no doubt be made that shooting his own son is "punishment enough." Don't you believe it. Because it's not.

January 29, 2010
Don't forget to watch the new episode of CAPRICA tonight at 9 o'clock on SyFy!

In a sense, this prequel to BATTLESTAR GALACTICA picks up where the parent series left off — in terms of quality, at least. The premiere of CAPRICA plunged viewers into a fully realized world — both visually and emotionally. The series pivots on viewer familiarity with the general universe, and thus doesn't bother detailing things like the organization of the 12 Colonies; it hits the ground running, plunging viewers into a society afflicted with religious strife. Religion is not a common subject in dramas — especially not faith-based violence. A terror bombing by a religious fanatic sets the main plot in motion by killing one of the central characters in the opening 15 minutes. (That's right, Zoe Graystone is dead.) Her father, the brilliant inventor Daniel Graystone, teams ups with lawyer Joseph Adama (who lost his wife and daughter in the blast) to "bring back" their slain family members using an experimental blend of virtual reality and robotics. Zoe's consciousness is downloaded into a mechanical body, and the first cylon is born.

The show's tone may sound a bit cold and clinical, but I assure you that CAPRICA is all about character; the scientific aspects (and the subdued special effects) are subservient to stories about dysfunctional families and men driven by a variety of inner demons. The science-fiction elements are very well-done, and the series' technology is not too far ahead of ours; it fact, it is just beyond the bleeding-edge of our own. It is easy to relate to devices like paper-thin, touch-sensitive computer consoles. Hell, the iPad was just launched here on Earth this week! Yet the good citizens of Caprica City travel via cars and trains viewers have no trouble recognizing.

The cast is, of course, terrific, led by Eric Stoltz (Daniel), Esai Morales (Joseph), Paula Malcomson (Amanda) and Alessandra Torresani as the late, lamented Zoe. Executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick have promised that CAPRICA will be an unabashed soap opera, and so far it is full of potential. Get in on the ground floor!

CAPRICA arrives just in time to replace Fox's DOLLHOUSE in the TV landscape. Joss Whedon's DOLLHOUSE comes to a close tonight with nothing less than the fate of the entire world on line. DOLLHOUSE had a little trouble finding its tone early, and by the time it found its stride, it was too late. But any Whedon series is worth a look. Goodbye, DOLLHOUSE.

January 21, 2010
I really have to hand it to Maxie, pulling off that redecoration of Jason's penthouse virtually overnight. And in the midst of the Franco brouhaha, no less!

Fashionista Diane was suitably impressed, so that's good enough for me. I'm just wondering where Maxie found the time to concentrate on fabrics and colors, considering that she was wracked with guilt over sleeping with the psycho artist and blaming herself for Lulu's kidnapping. I mean, I can envision her purchasing the materials online, but getting the actual work done was a feat. Jason was understandably distracted, but he didn't notice the small army that had to be tramping in and out of there to accomplish the changeover so quickly? Sonny may be right: Jason is slipping.

And, while we're thinking about it, where did Maxie get the cash to finance the operation? I seem to recall that the reason she ended up rooming with Lulu was because that apartment was the only one in Port Charles in her meager price range. Clearly being a "junior editor" at Crimson pays very well. And maybe Spinelli kicked in — surely Jason or Sonny gives him some kind of stipend for his hacking work. However, the big question remains: Is Spinelli's room still pink?

January 19, 2010
I don't know what I enjoyed more about the two-night, four-hour return of 24... It could have been the way Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) started his eighth very bad day snoozing on the couch with his granddaughter, enjoying an afternoon nap just like any other grandfather.

It could have been the guest appearance by Benito Martinez (ex-Acevedo, THE SHIELD) as Jack's old stoolie. Or the addition of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA's erstwhile Starbuck, Katee Sackhoff, as CTU operative Dana, a vulnerable woman with a past...

Was it the familiar New York City environs? Creepy Doug Hutchison (Horace, LOST; ex-Sebastian, GUIDING LIGHT) as a Russian assassin called Davros (just like the DOCTOR WHO villain?)

Or maybe it was the fact that Anil Kapoor's President Omar Hassan is the good guy. And the first words we heard him say were, "Let me be clear" — as if he were a certain U.S. president.

Then it must have been the return of Annie Wersching (ex-Amelia, GENERAL HOSPITAL) as Renee, who has been scarred in more ways than one, and now resembles Jack more than either cares to admit, right?

But no, it was the way that — against all odds — 24 was able to redeem Kim (Elisha Cuthbert). Yes, Jack's daughter, the plot device to end all plot devices, the butt of myriad jokes and the very symbol of plot inanity — was made palatable once again, when she sent her father to do what he does best, save the world. In seasons past she would have whined about him going to Los Angeles with her, and then probably run over Davros in a crosswalk and get taken hostage. But, no. She did the right thing, and let her old man do what he was clearly born to do, and what the country needs him to do.

January 15, 2010
Be sure to tune in to Fox Sunday for a double dose of adrenaline: an hour of the new series HUMAN TARGET followed by two hours of 24. (Maybe that's a triple-shot).

Kiefer Sutherland is back for his eighth very bad day, but this time in a new town: New York. Jack is sucked into a plot to assassinate a Middle Eastern leader played by Anil Kapoor (Slumdog Millionaire). I have seen the first four hours, and I can tell you Jack is back in fine form, and lots of stuff explodes and bullets fly while bodies (and body parts) drop left and right. Focusing on protecting one man again (like the halcyon days of Season 1) actually freshens the show. We feel more connected with Kapoor's Hassan, and let's face it, Jack saving the entire globe for the umpteenth time can get a bit repetitive. Or... does it? (And who says the threat won't...evolve?) Of course, this wouldn't be 24 without a shocking twist or three. Speaking of threes, Monday's third hour is when the action really cuts loose, building tension relentlessly into an explosive cliff-hanger. 24 premieres Sunday at a special time: 9 p.m., and then Monday's two-fer begins at 8 o'clock.

At 8 on Sunday, leading into 24, however, is a “preview” of HUMAN TARGET, which moves to its regular time slot, Wednesdays at 8, on Jan. 20. TARGET stars Mark Valley (ex-Jack, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-John, FRINGE) as a daredevil bodyguard. Look for BATTLESTAR GALACTICA's Tricia Helfer (ex-Six) as Stephanie, his client.

January 11, 2010
I really enjoyed seeing GENERAL HOSPITAL's Lucky and Dominic work together as they rooted through Francod's workshop, trying to figure out his twisted plan. "We're gonna have to go through this like cops," Lucky declared. And that's just what they did. They shared knowledge and brainstormed ideas like a couple of intelligent guys — a couple of smart police officers.

It's rare to see GH make the good guys look good, so Dom and Lucky made the most of it. If this were a nighttime procedural, the boys would have cracked the whole case right there, but at least they were able to make some positive inroads. Going to the station, Dominic was even willing to put his secret identity on the line to save Lulu. Now that's a hero! They talked through the problem of figuring out where he might be hiding hostages, and put it together logically and believably. Kudos to the guys for recognizing that Franco might not limit his re-creations to just the corpses.

It's too bad the PCPD CSU neglected to pull any prints off Joey Limbo's body. Franco was not wearing gloves and would be in the system as a result of his 2003 arrest — so a lot of strife could have been avoided. But hey, we can't have everything.

January 5, 2010
MAKE IT OR BREAK IT, one of the most entertaining (and unexpected) nighttime soaps, returned to ABC Family last night, and befitting where the series left off at hiatus, the series was in championship form.

Following the triumph and tragedy of the national team finals, Kaylie (Josie Loren) learned that it is very crowded but oh, so lonely at the top, while Payson (Ayla Kell) struggled to control her emotions after learning that her back injury will prevent her from ever competing again. Haunted by the fear that she wouldn't have won if Payson hadn't been injured, Kaylie found a target painted on her back — both from the media who want to interview the reigning national champion as well as her local rival Lauren (Cassie Scerbo), who took their competition over Carter (Zachary Burr Abel) to extremes both on and off the mats. Their rivalry illustrates what makes MAKE IT OR BREAK IT more soap than sports show. The girls are just as focused on affairs of the heart as they are on honing their gymnastic skills, but the emotional turmoil has to be kept simmering beneath the surface because they are forbidden from having romantic relationships while training. Lauren delighted in twisting the knife in Kaylie's back by getting her cheating boyfriend Carter reinstated from suspension — and right back in Kaylie's face.

Lauren also stuck her nose into Payson's newly-shattered life by uncovering the secret that Nicky illegally supplied Payson with cortisone for nationals — which could land Nicky in jail. Payson was trying to deal with her injury by avoiding the gym and shutting down emotionally. Her father praised her ability to compartmentalize her emotions during competition, but pointed out that in real life she should express her feelings. Which she finally uncorked with a cathartic wrecking of her trophy case. You don't see releases like that on ESPN. Payson also confronted her anger at Kaylie, admitting, "I am filled with rage and bitterness and jealousy," because her friend took the crown. But Payson also encouraged Kaylie never to be ashamed of winning — hinting that perhaps Payson has a future as a coach.

Meanwhile, Emily (Chelsea Hobbs) could use a romantic coach. No sooner had Damon set up "the world's most romantic date" than her old flame, Razor, strolled through the door. How (in)convenient that Damon is leaving for Los Angeles now, with Razor back in town. Will Emily be able to resist temptation? Tune in next week...