Review of ‘Defying Gravity’ – Love, Honor, Obey

Solar flare trumps a standoff every single time

Eve (Karen LeBlanc) gets all the credit in this episode. She of all the characters has had to walk the finest line between truth and lies and trust and betrayal. As she figured out in last week’s episode “Fear,” Beta is no longer content to be hidden away. Eve nailed it on the head with her assessment, “We have been hiding [Beta] from the world. Maybe [Beta] wants to be revealed.” With this belief firmly pressing against her, Eve had to simultaneously push Goss (Andrew Airlie) into revealing Beta to the crew and yet still do her best to be the loyal employee and follow his orders.

With Goss reluctant to speed up the timeline to reveal to the Antares crew the true reason for their mission, Beta was trying to find more creative and persistent ways to communicate with the crew as clearly, visions, hallucinations, dreams, and crying babies were not doing the trick. So with Goss staging his little mock-solar flare exercise to help Ted (Malik Yoba) regain control over the crew, Beta decided to make its presence more clearly known — and the visual image of all those ruby-red tomatoes dangling from vines growing throughout the entire science lab and extending down the corridor was wondrous to behold. If there was not a clearer message that says, “I’m here!” – it is doubtful.

After the full-blown hallucination attack on Halloween, the crew had already begun to doubt what they were being told — especially since Jen (Christina Cox) and Wass (Dylan Taylor) did not have any hallucinations and they had been wearing the same allegedly contaminated halos as everyone else. Additionally, Nadia (Florentine Lahme) figured out it had nothing to do with the halos because she had never worn a halo since they left Earth.

In getting to the crux of the matter, each of them had to decide if they were a follower: were they the kind of person who can obey a command unquestioningly? Thus, the entire episode was about following orders as the strict obedience to authority is how they will survive. For “space is an unforgiving mistress — one mistake at the wrong time and you die.” This meant even following orders that may cause pain or discomfort — and regardless of the outcome.

While Zoe (Laura Harris) may have told Donner (Ron Livingston) 5 years earlier that she’s a rule-follower and he’s a rule-breaker, Zoe sure has shown a lot of initiative in breaking rules on this trip: first, in helping Jen conceal Rufus (the rabbit fetus), and then by working with Donner to ascertain what was being hidden in Pod 4.

So despite the fact that their training had taught them to obey orders unquestioningly, Donner said it best when he said: “I suppose there’s a kind of comfort in following orders. All you have to do is what you’re told to do. It’s effortless. It’s mindless. It completely absolves you of any responsibility — unless you get a conscious.” The crew had begun to realize that it was foolish to obey orders unquestioningly – particularly when some of those questions could aid in their survival.

What Worked

It was fascinating watching the crew rapidly respond and prepare for a sudden solar flare and to see how they reacted to one another in the face of such a dire situation. It was a time for self-preservation or perish. Yet, mirroring 5 years before when Jen turned back during the fire drill to find Zoe, Zoe reacted similarly 5 years later in turning back to assist Jen knowing full well there was not sufficient time to save them. The strength of their friendship is revealing. It showed their strength of will to protect each other above all commands or orders. When Wass said, “Space is the trade-off for freewill,” he may have been wrong. That may have been the perception that was given, but ultimately this particular set of people value their friendships above everything else. They will quickly refuse to obey an order or direct command, if it means preserving the life of a friend, even to their own peril.

Donner explained this overriding bond of friendship as, “It’s been said that the capacity to blindly follow orders is what turns people into monsters — or ordinary people into heroes. All depends on what exactly the order is. And that’s the catch — because we’re all responsible for who we pick to lead and who we choose to follow. We all contribute to the outcome. The responsibility falls on all of our shoulders. No matter who’s giving the orders and who’s taking them, sooner or later, we all have to answer to a higher power.” In this case that higher power is love. The power of love trumps the instinct to obey.

It was also nice to let Wass have the spotlight for a moment when he exclaimed upon seeing the tomato vines, “Dude, they’ve gone fractal!” Thankfully, he then explained what “fractal” meant, which is, it’s a “geometric shape that can be split into parts, each one a reduced copy of the whole. It’s infinitely complex and all around us — everywhere in the universe. The galaxy is a fractal shape — a hurricane — a wave — a shell — ice . . .” While still not exactly clear, his visual imagery helped us see what he was talking about and it sounded beautiful.

What Didn’t Work

It may make sense in theory to subject astronaut trainees to strict “obedience to authority” tests. But it did seem a bit extreme to make them torture one another to prove their willingness to follow orders. All it proved was their tenacity to go into space, not their willingness to follow orders. For the minute they got what they wanted, their strict obedience was clearly a thing of the past.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

‘Love, Honor, Obey’ was written by Susan Nirah Jaffe and directed by Fred Gerber. ‘Defying Gravity’ stars Ron Livingston, Laura Harris, Christina Cox, Ty Olsson, Malik Yoba, Karen LeBlanc, Andrew Airlie, Maxim Roy, Paula Garces, Florentine Lahme, Zahf Paroo, Eyal Podell, Dylan Taylor, and Peter Howitt. “Defying Gravity” airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on ABC.

Review of ‘Eureka’ – Have an Ice Day

Another zombie episode due to brain-freezing black crystals

In a cozy welcome home episode, Taggart (Matt Frewer) was back escorting a never-ending gigantic icicle to Global Dynamics for testing. Along with him returned Zane (Niall Matter) who had been gone for a month helping Taggart secure the ice core. Fargo’s (Neil Grayston) greeting of “The Ice Man Cometh” was never more apt and there were bear-hugs for everyone.

Alas, Zane came back a bit more cool in attitude than Jo (Erica Cerra) was expecting. Even Fargo noticed the difference labeling Zane “The King of Cold.” Also picking up on Zane’s indifference towards Jo, Taggart was quick to step in, circle his quarry and tried to ascertain if Jo still had feelings for him. Unfortunately, his chivalry was a bit too delicate and he lost his prey again. Better luck next time in the hunt!

Additionally, along with the return of Taggart and Zane and the creepy ice core came a fungus hitch-hiker which first flash-froze Taggart in a block of ice, then it attacked Zane, and finally it went on a rampage that nearly froze over the entire town.

Perhaps due to the prodding of the insistent Commissar Yuri that Jack needed to be prepared for every contingency, Jack was finally able to identify that the fungus was reacting to the Petro-tek compound found in both Zane’s cold weather clothing, the walls of G.D. and throughout Eureka, which kept them all from freezing during the harsh winter months. So, quick as a flash, Jack and Taggart tag-teamed to combat the nasty icy-anaconda and the black crystal ice was abated.

With Allison (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) out on maternity leave and Henry (Joe Morton) away at NASA, Tess (Jamie Rae Newman) was left in charge. However, things do not go well on anyone’s first day in Eureka. As Tess ranted in frustration, “One day — one day and I’ve started an ice age and an international incident”! To which Jack sarcastically added, “Yeah, it’s like the Cold War all over again.”

What Worked

There were some lovely moments between the core couples right now. First, Jo wondered why Zane had returned all “frosty” towards her and speculated that it might having something to do with the return of her ex-flame, Taggart. Thus, it was fun to watch Jo and Taggart dance around each other and try to come to terms with their past relationship and future friendship.

Jo had one of the best lines when she told Zane, “you go away for a month and come back acting like The Thing. What’s going on with you?!”  (Quite a delightful reference to a classic sci-fi/horror film.)

Then it was nice to see the growth that Zoe (Jordan Hinson) and her boyfriend Lucas (Vanya Asher) have made as he encouraged her to pursue both her aptitude in robotics engineering and her love of medicine. After giving the robotics stuff a zesty try, Zoe slowly realized, “I guess the test isn’t so accurate.” But Lucas quickly reassured her, “Sure it is. But I’ve always known you were different than 99.8% of other people anyway.” It was his way of telling her that no matter what she is good at or chooses to do, he knows she’s special and he supports her no matter what. It was also cool to see that Zoe did actually have an aptitude for robotics and that she now realizes that she has many options should she decide to pursue either a career in medicine or robotics.

While not related to any of the couples, the visiting Russian security officer, Commissar Yuri, also got a good laugh by asking Jack, “Do you know what it is like to be security officer in a town full of crazy scientists?!” and Jack ruefully admitting, “Actually, I do.” If there is anyone who does actually get what that poor tired Russian guy is going through, it’s Jack.

What Didn’t Work

As much as I try, I am still not buying the relationship between Tess and Jack. It still feels to rushed and contrived. The ending scene where Tess is having dinner with Jack at the house and she mock-protests that she should go because she has a lot of work to do (which she does) and then she ends up staying to sit in front of the fire with Jack did not feel as romantic as perhaps the writers intended and it felt like Tess was seriously slacking off on her job as the person left in charge of Global Dynamics needs to take their job more seriously. After all, Allison would have never been persuaded to stay like that as she knows the responsibility of running such a company does not allow one to slack off — especially when you are in charge.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

“Have an Ice Day” teleplay by Charlie Craig and Bruce Miller and story by Joan B. Weiss and Constance M. Burge, and directed by Joe Morton. “Eureka” stars Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Joe Morton, Jordan Hinson, Erica Cerra, Neil Grayston, Chris Gauthier and Niall Matter. “Eureka” airs Fridays on Syfy.

Review of ‘Warehouse 1′ – Breakdown

It takes three to win a race between the tortoise and the hare

This week’s escapade involved Claudia (Allison Scagliotti) inadvertently bringing the roof down on the Warehouse (literally) and it was a rush against the clock to keep the Warehouse from exploding.

The fable story of the race between the tortoise and the hare was the perfect allegory for what Pete (Eddie McClintock), Myka (Joanne Kelly) and Claudia had to accomplish. While Pete may be the jack-rabbit, always in a hurry to rush to the end and Myka is like the slow-and-steady tortoise, plodding slowly and surely along, this fable story does not quite fit our tripod-team, for Claudia was the 3rd wheel – the necessary and unexpected element needed for them to win the race against the clock.

Frequently, the weekly adventures are easily balanced between Pete and Myka. But this time, it took quite a bit of Claudia’s ingenuity to keep them from succumbing to a brutal and nasty fate.  Her inspired use of the self-cooler snow-globe shaker was brilliant — to cool the sticky-string to the point of breaking and thereby saving them all. Just goes to show that even the simplest of inventions can be a life-saver!

While Pete, Myka and Claudia were tied-up with Warehouse catastrophes, Artie (Saul Rubinek) was bravely facing an inquisition by the Regents at a seemingly innocuous cafe. Artie initially participated in the mock-trial, tripping over himself to explain his actions which had jeopardized not only a number of artifacts but also the agents under his command.  But Artie finally figured out that it was not he who needed to be worried. It was the Regents who were afraid and they were not sure if Artie was the man who could keep them all safe. Once Artie realized he had the upper-hand and he had nothing to fear, Artie threw the gauntlet down to his straw-man jury, “Either fire me, kill me or let me do my job — and do it fast before [MacPherson] does it for you!”

It is not certain why the Regents are so petrified of MacPherson, but they clearly are.  They were merely seeking to test Artie’s tenacity in pursuing MacPherson, even if it imperils his team.  It was an interesting and perhaps foreshadowing of the difficult choices that Artie will have to make to save the world from whatever evil plot MacPherson has hatched.

What Worked

This week’s episode was all about the cool and creepy artifacts. First, gotta love Claudia as the girl who created a self-propelling, self-cleaning vacuum cleaner. Then to have The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” playing in the background was like a small slice of heaven. Quite a nice nod to those of us sick of the house-cleaning chores and who would wish to have such a cool device created for our everyday use.

Just as inventive and useful was the snow-globe shaker, which Claudia demonstrated was a great way of keeping beverages cool.

Then there was the Baylor Dodgeball which was cutesy though a bit scary.  But watching Pete and Myka figure out a way to subdue the lethal self-replicating dodgeballs was funny and added a nice bit of levity during this week’s doomsday theme.

Additionally, the sinister sticky-string was a stroke of genius as it quickly gummed up the works of the Neutralizing Processing Center and started the countdown clock.  It also brought the funny in a bad situation where we nearly witnessed Claudia and Myka become human gear oil because they failed to use the purple protective gloves when handling an artifact – even one as silly as the sticky-string.

Also pretty cool was Sylvia Platt’s typewriter (carefully sealed in the mysterious Dark Vault) which both enthralled and captivated Pete to the point it nearly sucked the life out of him. As Pete stood entranced, it was particularly nice comedic touch for Myka to grab the only nearly non-artifact — a broom — to briskly push Pete out of the typewriter’s deadly sphere of influence.

And last, but not least, there was the booby-trapped replica of Leena’s bed and breakfast with its Portrait of Dorian Gray painting — meaning whatever you did to the house was reflected in the picture and whatever you did to the picture happened to the house.  Watching our trio (ala The Three Stooges-style) try to escape was delightful physical-comedy fun.

Thus, it is no wonder that with artifacts like those lurking in the Warehouse shadows that it is necessary to have a steady stream of the purple goo to neutralize their influence. And, after this week’s adventure, the team may be inspired to up the level of the stability-shield to have a greater neutralizing effect in case of future accidents which could trigger the artifacts and their dangerous abilities.

After such a close-call and such a wide-array of near catastrophes, it was with some hesitation that Claudia asked Artie, “Are we not in trouble?”  But after the day he had gone through and the worries about MacPherson hanging over him, Artie merely absent-mindedly replied, “You had it under control, didn’t you?”  The look on Pete, Myka and Claudia’s faces to such a nonchalant response was priceless.

What Didn’t Work

As delightful as it is to see Mark Sheppard, it seemed like a waste to merely have him appear as a spineless-Regent grilling Artie without conviction. Sheppard always works best when given a darker and more ambiguous role. It would be cool to see him unleashed or perhaps aiding Macpherson in his nefarious plans.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

‘Breakdown’ was written by Michael P. Fox and Ian Stokes and directed by Eric Laneauville. ‘Warehouse 13’ stars Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek, Genelle Williams and Allison Scagliotti. ‘Warehouse 13’ airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Syfy.

Review of ‘Defying Gravity’ – Fear

There is nothing to fear, but fear itself

It was All Hallow’s Eve aboard the Antares. Having a $10 million carrot hanging over them if the crew put on their space suits and held up a large banner advertising a candy-bar, there was major incentive to make the Comet Candy Company’s dreams of being the first in-space advertiser come true.

Alas, Beta had other plans. Apparently to Beta, this is its mission and no one else’s. It does not want to share the limelight and Beta had a field day wreaking havoc by preying on the crew’s worst fears. For Donner (Ron Livingston), that meant sprinkling some more red dust on his space suit, some rust-colored footprints and yet another vision of Sharon. For Ted (Malik Yoba), it was a vision of the red whirling sandstorm on Mars. That was enough to paralyze him in place unable to move or function. For Zoe (Laura Harris), it was that haunting sound of a baby crying as a continuing reminder that she will never be a mother. For Paula (Paula Garces), it was a hallucination of her dog lying bleeding on the floor. Then for Evram (Eyal Podell), it was yet again a vision of the young girl lying crushed in the bombed-out school.

It was interesting that Wass (Dylan Taylor) and Jen (Christina Cox) were the only crew members not to experience any hallucinations. Is that because they do not have any fears? That cannot be true for we have seen how being alone utterly terrifies Jen. All Beta had to do was isolate her in a way that she felt abandoned and alone and she too would have been a sobbing mess. As for Wass, he looked pretty upset at the thought of losing Paula last week. I would hazard to say that no one is utterly without fear. Beta is perhaps just waiting to spring their fears upon them at another point in time.

One could also say that Beta is either manipulating them by using their fears against them, or that Beta is making them face their fears to teach them something. Donner’s voiceover provided some insight on why it may be necessary to teach them a thing or two. At the beginning of the episode, Donner shared, “One of the first things you learn in training does not come from a manual. It’s instinctual Darwin-type stuff. Never show weakness. . . doesn’t matter that you’re frightened or hurt or having a bad day, no one cares what you’re going through — only if you can get the job done.” It was practically instilled from day one that to show weakness or fear was not acceptable, as “every astronaut knows the rules: limping antelopes don’t go into space, they stay on earth where they are killed and eaten.” It is truly survival of the fittest and, as they were all desperate to be selected as the ones to go into space, they buried their fears and denied any
weaknesses.

Yet the lesson to be learned from Beta is a bit more enlightening. At the end of the episode, Donner further refined the Rule of Darwinism as it applied to them, “There’s a reason no one likes to show fear, it’s taken as a sign of weakness, a festering wound. Being vulnerable leads to being dinner in a Darwinian world. But there is also a risk of hubris — of not knowing your own limits and that may be the biggest danger of all.” Perhaps that is what Beta needs to teach them: that they are not impervious to pain, fear or weakness and that in order for them to be the best team possible, they have to know their limits. Donner again said it best with, “There’s a fine line between bravery and stupidity. If you want the bag of candy, sometimes it makes sense to show a little weakness and ask for help.”

A team is only as strong as its weakest link. Thus, the crew needs to know their limits and share their fears so that they can help each other. This is perhaps what Beta needed to teach them.

What Worked

It is again good to see the crew growing closer and more supportive of one another. It is also good to see them finally opening up and talking about the hallucinations and dreams they have been having. Such as when Zoe finally decided to talk to Donner about her recurring nightmare and found out he had been having the same one. It was eerie to hear her ask, “What happened today, it has nothing to do with the halos, does it?” and Donner’s quiet reply, “no.”

In a classic understatement, Wass said it best when he voiced what everyone had been thinking, “This is one screwed up Halloween.”

What Didn’t Work

Coming off last week’s traumatic dual events of Paula losing a thumb and Zoe’s complications from taking the abortion pill, this week’s Halloween episode felt a little tame in comparison. While there were plenty of ghosts and supposed psychotropic hallucinations, the fear-factor was seriously lacking.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

‘Fear’ was written by Chris Provenzano and directed by Jeff Woolnough. ‘Defying Gravity’ stars Ron Livingston, Laura Harris, Christina Cox, Ty Olsson, Malik Yoba, Karen LeBlanc, Andrew Airlie, Maxim Roy, Paula Garces, Florentine Lahme, Zahf Paroo, Eyal Podell, Dylan Taylor, and Peter Howitt. “Defying Gravity” airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on ABC.

Review of ‘Defying Gravity’ – Bacon

Hiding behind fear is no place to hide

This episode is perhaps my favorite to date simply because it truly allowed us to see behind the masks that each of the crew wears. There had to be a reason that these 8 people were chosen for this particular mission and this episode clearly showed what it was. At the end of the day, these people are friends and that is the glue that binds them together and will help them through just about any adversity they will face.

Ambiguously titled ‘Bacon,’ it was hard to figure out why this episode was about bacon. But when it was ultimately revealed to be a story about Donner’s (Ron Livingston) pet pig, Thomas, who he had to kill as a child, we finally understood. It was all fun and games to poke fun of Donner’s blood fear, but when you heard why, our hearts broke for a boy so traumatized.

As humans, blood is our life force. We cannot live without it and once it is gone, there is no way to survive. Thus, the importance placed on teaching each of the astronauts the necessity of being medically trained so that they can take care of themselves and help each other in medical emergencies while in space was critical. For without each other to rely on, they will die.

After Paula (Paula Garces) was pinned by the storage container and her thumb severed, all the blood she lost was irreplaceable and also a threat to all of them. As Nadia (Florentine Lahme) explained, “The blood can clog our air filters. It’s critical that we clean it up.”

It also explained Zoe’s (Laura Harris) strong adverse reaction upon learning that Jen (Christina Cox) was raising a rabbit fetus, as a rabbit’s hair could also clog a filter, cause an allergic reaction or even send an infection airborne. Though it was just as illuminating to hear Jen’s explanation on why she was doing it when she said, “[I've] got 6 years to keep my mind on Rollie and off Ted.” To which Zoe responded, “[We have] halos for that.” Jen further clarified, “Halos kill libido. They don’t do a damn thing if you’re lonely.” This is a 6 year mission and human beings do not do well without companionship — especially when they expected to spend that time with their spouse.

But Ted (Malik Yoba) was firm when he issued the edict, “Our lives depend on each other. you are to tell me everything — everything that could possibly affect this mission or the other astronauts. No exceptions.”

What Worked

Just when you thought Donner and Zoe would be drifting further and further apart because of her decision to take the abortion pill, their fates seem more firmly intertwined than ever. Zoe made every effort to stay away from Donner — especially on the day she is having a miscarriage, but everywhere she turned he ended up being there anyway. Donner was there at the bus stop because of his blood-phobia and thus he was there to catch her when she collapsed and he was there while she was recuperating from her emergency hysterectomy. It was also telling that the only time Donner finally hurled at the sight of blood was when he saw Zoe’s blood on his hands. As hard as Zoe tries to push Donner away, they are clearly destined to be a close part of each other’s lives.

Another nicely developing relationship is Wass (Dylan Taylor) and Paula. It is not known whether they are to be a romantic pairing or simply good friends, but their trials and tribulations are also bringing them closer together. Watching Wass comfort Paula after the junkie OD’d was uncharacteristically supportive and Wass’ refusal to give up on looking for Paula’s severed thumb was unexpectedly endearing as well. For as Nadia noted to Wass, “You don’t even like Paula.” Wass then thoughtfully responded, “That doesn’t matter. If I was on that table, she wouldn’t give up on me.”

In an astute observation, Nadia told Wass, “Over and over I ask myself why they chose you for this crew — you’re clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy — but you know what? Every once in awhile you find the thumb.”

We also finally learned the root of Evram’s (Eyal Podell) terrifying hallucinations. As he told Claire (Maxim Roy) when she asked him if he ever remembered any of his patients, “I remember a school girl in a bombed-out building during the war . . . I was the one who called in the strike.” It is Evram’s guilt that eats away at him and haunts him, so much so that it paralyzed him when he was working to save Paula’s life. But it was again teamenship that ultimately saved the day as Donner overcame his blood fear to reach into Paula’s chest to locate the area that was bleeding because Evram could not see beyond his horrifying vision.

Donner’s explained it as, “We never remember the ones we save, but we never forget the ones we fail. It’s about taking responsibility for our choices — about learning from sacrifice. It’s those hard lessons that shape us and how we respond — where we go in our lives. I don’t think there has ever been a man or a woman without some kind of regret and that’s probably a good thing. Because it’s our failures, more than our successes, that make us who we are.” It is perhaps because these 8 people are flawed and yet are willing to lay down their lives for each other that they make the perfect team.

What Didn’t Work

Jen’s stubborn insistence in raising a bunny rabbit on a space ship when she perfectly well knows that it could throw off the balance of the entire fragile eco-system they have created on the Antares seems irrational and like she is selfishly willing to sacrifice them all just because she is lonely. Given what we have seen of her dedication to science and helping others, this does not make much sense. But perhaps in future episodes we will learn where this deep-seated fear of loneliness stems from.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

‘Bacon’ was written by Dave Erickson and directed by Sturla Gunnarsson. ‘Defying Gravity’ stars Ron Livingston, Laura Harris, Christina Cox, Ty Olsson, Malik Yoba, Karen LeBlanc, Andrew Airlie, Maxim Roy, Paula Garces, Florentine Lahme, Zahf Paroo, Eyal Podell, Dylan Taylor, and Peter Howitt. “Defying Gravity” airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on ABC.

Reflections on the 2009 Emmy Nominations (part 1)

Celebrating the 2009 Emmy Nominations for TV Shows that Deserve a Chance to Shine in the Spotlight -

 Normally I am not a big fan of the Emmys. For one, many of the shows I like do not get nominated; and for two, if they do miraculously score a nomination, they usually do not win. Thus, it makes for an all-round disappointing, if not heart-breaking, experience.  But this year, I thought I would take the time to celebrate the nominations for the shows I do love. After all, “Pushing Daisies” scored 12 Emmy nominations last year and I should have taken the time to really celebrate that. So for 2009, it is all about celebrating the recognition and sharing in the joy of these amazing shows and their extraordinary achievements.

 Starting at the top (in alphabetical order):

 “Battlestar Galactica” -

 For a little known sci-fi show that just ended after four magnificent seasons, “Battlestar Galactica” has been awarded the prestigious Peabody Award and garnered more accolades than just about any other show on television. For this years Emmy’s it has scored no less than 6 nominations, five for the series finale “Daybreak – part 2″:

(1) Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

(2) Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series

(3) Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series

(4) Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama

(5) Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series

Then in a special category, it also received a 6th nomination for the category of Outstanding Special Class – Short Format Live Action Entertainment Programs for its 10-part webisodes entitled “The Face of the Enemy.” (Alas, to every fan geek’s dismay, it is competing in this category against the internet phenomenon “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.”)

“Bones” -

Receiving its first Emmy nomination, “Bones” scored a nomination for Outstanding Art Direction for a Single Camera Series for the episode “The Hero in the Hold.” For a show that tends to flying under the radar, but which is popular with the viewers, this is a wonderful way of recognizing its effort to be the best that it can be.

“Boston Legal” -

In a nice swan song after a successful five year run, “Boston Legal” goes out with no less than 4 Emmy nominations, two for the episode “Made in China/Last Call” for:

(1) Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

(2) Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama

It also scored nominations for William Shatner, playing the outrageous Denny Crane, and Christian Clemenson, playing the Asperger-challenged Jerry Espensen, both in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category. May the best actor win!

“Brothers & Sisters” -

Having won once before, Sally Field is up again for her 3rd consecutive nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. But she faces stiff competition as she is up against last year’s winner, Glenn Close, and Kyra Sedgwick and Holly Hunter.

“Burn Notice” -

After a nomination for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series last year, this year “Burn Notice” is nominated for Outstanding Stunt Coordination in the episode “Lesser Evil.” If you have been watching the show, you know exactly what kind of stunts they are talking about. This is one show that believes in keeping it real, no matter how dangerous.

“Castle” -

Also in its debut year, “Castle” scored a nomination for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series. This is another TV show that may have eluded your TV-radar, but trust me when I say: you’re missing out! Like “Bones,” it is “CSI”-light, but with so much charm and classic Bogart & Bacall bantering that it deserves a higher profile.

“Chuck” -

Flying high after its second season, “Chuck” is again nominated for Outstanding Stunt Coordination for the episode “Chuck Versus the First Date.” Like “Burn Notice,” “Chuck” believes in realism and the stunt work on this spectacular show is eye-popping unbelievable.

“The Closer” -

In one of the toughest categories of competition, Kyra Sedgwick is up for her 4th consecutive nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. While her work is certainly worthy, the other nominees’ performances are as equally stellar.

“CSI” -

Easily ranked one of the most popular scripted dramas on television, “CSI” received three Emmy nominations for:

(1) Outstanding Cinematography for a One Hour Series (for the episode “For Warick”)

(2) Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series (for the episode “A Space Oddity”)

(3) Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series (for the episode “Mascara”)

Despite the recent loss of three of its lead actors who moved on in their careers, this show has continued to produce a top-notch television show that continues to deliver thrills every week.

“Damages” -

With no less than 7 Emmy nominations, “Damages” is back with a vengeance this year. It is up against stiff competition with the emergence of the indie favorite “Mad Men,” but “Damages” is no shrinking violent with nominations for:

(1) Outstanding Drama Series

(2) Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

(3) Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (for the episode “Trust Me”)

(4) Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Glenn Close)

(5) Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Rose Byrne)

(6) Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (William Hurt)

(7) Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Ted Danson)

It will be hard to say in the battle of indie-favorites who will come out the victor, but in this fan’s heart, it’s “Damages” hands-down.

“Desperate Housewives” -

Another highly-popular show, but one that seems to have lost the Emmy voter’s enthusiasm is “Desperate Housewives.” However, in a rare nod to recognize at least the sterling performance of a guest actor, it scored a nomination for Beau Bridges who played the world-weary but wise handyman, Eli Scruggs, in the category for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. It is also nominated for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series for the episode “What Ever Could Have Happened” (the same one that Beau Bridges guest-starred in).

Reflections on the 2009 Emmy Nominations (part 2)

“Dexter” -

 For the 2nd year in a row, “Dexter” snagged nominations for both Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Michael C. Hall. This year it also scored a 3rd nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Jimmy Smits’ fine performance as Miguel Prado.

 “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” -

 In one of the funest nominations in television history, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” scored a nomination for its work as an internet original creation in the category of Outstanding Special Class – Short Format Live Action Entertainment Programs. It is a remarkable achievement for what is essentially a film that was created for internet distribution to have garnered a television award nomination. And if this internet phenomenon has eluded your finely tuned TV/entertainment radar, then by all means, get the DVD and check it out. It will be worth every penny. (All puns intended.)

 “Friday Night Lights” –

 For the 3rd consecutive year, “Friday Night Lights” scored yet another nomination for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series. Having won this Emmy in 2007, it is still a remarkable achievement for it to get the same award nomination year after year. Kudos to the show’s casting directors who are obviously doing a hell of a job!

 “Fringe” -

Also coming off a successful freshman year, “Fringe” has scored a nomination for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series for its pilot episode. “Fringe” is an off-beat sci-fi show with quirky humor and some truly stunning visual effects.

“Grey’s Anatomy” -

Another highly successful TV show that remains popular viewers, but which seems to have fallen from favor from the Emmy voters. “Grey’s Anatomy” still managed to eek out 6 Emmy nominations for:

(1) Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Sandra Oh)

(2) Outstanding Support Actress in a Drama Series (Chandra Wilson)

(3) Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Sharon Lawrence)

(4) Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (for the episode “Dream a Little Dream of Me”)

(5) Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series (for the episode “Stand By Me”)

Sandra Oh has been nominated 5 times for her brilliant performance as Cristina Yang on “Grey’s Anatomy” and Chandra Wilson has received her 4th consecutive nomination for her equally astounding performance as Miranda Bailey.

“Heroes” -

Despite receiving 8 Emmy nominations in 2007 after its debut year, “Heroes” has struggled to find its creative edge in subsequent years, with only 3 nominations last year and 2 this year for:

(1) Outstanding Art Direction for a Single Camera Series (for the episode “Cold Snap”)

(2) Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series (for the episode “The Butterfly Effect”)

While its storyline may meander quite a bit over the course of a season, the show’s creative vision and dedication to superior craftsmanship does not. Each episode feels lovingly sculpted.

“House” -

Receiving its 4th consecutive nomination for Outstanding Drama Series and 4th nomination for Hugh Laurie in the a category Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, “House” remains a critical darling and immensely popular TV show around the globe. Typically, it also received nominations for its remarkable direction and storytelling, but this year, it was instead recognized and nominated for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama for the episode “House Divided.” While the nominations are cool for Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Drama Series, these categories are the most competitive and scoring a win has so far eluded the show. But with rumors of both “Lost” and “24″ ending this next season, “House” stands a chance of stepping outside of their long shadows.

“Legend of the Seeker” -

Also fresh off its debut season, “Legend of the Seeker” managed to startle everyone and nabbed an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for the episode “Prophecy.” It is truly a wondrous achievement for a show that is not well known to beat out the competition for this nomination.

“Lie to Me” -

Another smash hit right out of the gate, “Lie to Me” has raised eyebrows and attention with its nomination for an Emmy in the category Outstanding Main Title Design. This will be a show to watch this next season as it stretches its creative legs.

“Life on Mars” -

Hardly seen as it was abruptly canceled during its freshman run, “Life on Mars” still snagged a nomination for Outstanding Cinematography for a One Hour Series for the episode “Out Here in the Fields.” For those of you who blinked and missed it, be sure to check out the DVD box set which will be released on October 5th. It definitely is worth your time.

“Lost” -

In 2005, “Lost” received 12 Emmy nominations and took home 6 of them, including Outstanding Drama Series. Ever since, it has remained an Emmy darling receiving 9 Emmy nominations in 2006, 6 Emmy nominations in 2007, and 8 Emmy nominations in 2008 — and 2009 is no different as it scored 5 nominations, 3 for its jaw-dropping season finale “The Incident”. This year’s nominations include:

(1) Outstanding Drama Series

(2) Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

(3) Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Michael Emerson)

(4) Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series

(5) Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama

Raising the stakes as it races towards its series finale next year, “Lost” continues to surprise, dazzle and confound us all. It is a gift to the television audience that I am not sure it fully appreciates.

Reflections on the 2009 Emmy Nominations (part 3)

“Maneater” -

 Despite sounding like it is a story about a serial killer, this little gem of a mini-series focused on the beautiful and terrifically comedic talents of Sarah Chalke in the role of Clarrisa Alpert, an aging socialite determined to marry the man of her dreams. After setting summertime rating records for Lifetime, it was a wonderful surprise to find it on the Emmy nomination list for Outstanding Makeup for a Mini-Series.

 “The Mentalist” -

 Taking the TV landscape by storm, the show to catch this last season was CBS’ bonefide hit “The Mentalist.” As richly deserved and earned, Simon Baker scored a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Patrick Jane, the reformed psychic aiding the government in tracking down nefarious criminals.

 “Nip/Tuck” -

Another show gracefully bowing out, “Nip/Tuck” still manages to capture our attention with its realistic horrors of plastic surgery. It is thus no surprise that it received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series. It is hard to imagine if any other show will truly capture the simultaneous beauty and horror of the lengths people will go to stay young forever.

 “Pushing Daisies” -  

In a heart-breaking cancellation, one could have thought this show was long gone, dead and buried. But life springs eternal for shows of such beauty, grace and sheer magnificent genius. So “Pushing Daisies” may be gone, but it is not forgotten. It also celebrates its swan song with 5 Emmy nominations for:

(1) Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Kristin Chenoweth)

(2) Outstanding Costumes for a Series (for the episode “Bzzzzzzzz!”)

(3) Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series (for the episode “Dim Sum, Lose Sum”)

(4) Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series (for the episode “Dim Sum, Lose Sum”)

(5) Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (for the episode “Dim Sum, Lose Sum”)

There will perhaps never be another show which embodied such pure poignancy and romanticism.

“Saving Grace” -

Receiving her 3rd consecutive nomination for her extraordinary portrayal of Grace Hanadarko in the series “Saving Grace,” Holly Hunter is a force to be reckoned with. This may just be her year to bring home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

“Smallville” -

Receiving its 3rd nomination for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series for the episode “Bloodline,” this popular dramatization of the origins of Superman has proven that after 8 successful seasons, it is a show that not only has stamina, but it is also a show striving for the stars creatively.

“Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles” -

Another victim of a surprise cancellation last season, it was a wonderful surprise to find it nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series for the episode “Mr. Ferguson Is Ill Today.”

“24″ -

Coming off of its critically acclaimed 7th season and just about to start its 8th season, “24″ is a breathless ride of exhilaration. It is therefore no surprise that it received 6 Emmy nominations and 5 more for its stand-alone special, “24: Redemption.” The nominations for “24″ are as follows:

(1) Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Cherry Jones)

(2) Outstanding Stunt Coordination (for episode “5:00 – 6:00 p.m.”)

(3) Outstanding Sound Mixing (for episode “10:00 – 11:00 p.m.”)

(4) Outstanding Music Composition (for episode “7:00 – 8:00 a.m.”)

(5) Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series

(6) Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series (for episode “10:00 – 11:00 p.m.)

Then the nominations for “24: Redemption” are:

(1) Outstanding Lead Actor in a Mini-Series (Kiefer Sutherland)

(2) Outstanding Music Composition for a Mini-Series

(3) Outstanding Picture Editing for a Special

(4) Outstanding Sound Editing for a Mini-Series

(5) Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Mini-Series

From its first season, “24″ never shirked from portraying the harsh horrors of both international and domestic terrorism. But it also strove to deliver some kickass fine television entertainment.

“True Blood” -

In what should be just a campy, slightly trashy guilty-pleasure, “True Blood” has risen above its roots and become a sensational television show with a stellar cast and riveting storylines. It is the break-out hit of 2009 and each award nomination is richly deserved. It received 3 Emmy nominations for:

(1) Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

(2) Outstanding Main Title Design

(3) Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series (for the episode “Burning House of Love”)

While outrageous vampire stories may not be your thing, this decadent delicacy is worth checking out. Just make sure your blood pressure can take the risqué nudity beforehand.

“Ugly Betty” -

Receiving her 3rd nomination for her portrayal as the vacillating villain Wilhelmina Slater, Vanessa Williams scored a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Book-ending her nomination, the series also received a nomination for Outstanding Costumes for a Series — all of which were probably worn by Ms. Williams who always looked like the trend-setting fashion plate she gloriously portrayed.

 While there are surely other shows which deserve recognition for both their Emmy nominations, these are the shows that spoke to me and which I wish to honor here for their achievements. These are the shows with which I laughed and cried and shared this past year. It was an extraordinary year and I am grateful to have been allowed to share in it. May we be similarly blessed in this upcoming season!

Review of ‘Warehouse 1′ – Regrets

Living through the nightmares of our fears

 

Jumping right into the crazy, this week Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) were literally sent to prison to find out why so many inmates were committing suicide. In a nice twist, the mystery of the week actually did not involve an artifact per se, but rather ended up being the quartz from which the prison was built. Thus, a benign artifact was simply needed to neutralize the effect of quartz – which turned out to be a cross. It was a total switch from what we have been trained to watch for.

So it was not really a story focused on what was causing the problem, but rather in dealing with the hallucinations that the quartz invoked.   For when the quartz mingled with a storm it acted like a lightening rod and the electrical charge had an amped up effect that brought out hallucinations of people’s greatest fears.  As Pete nicely summed it up, “The entire building acts like one gigantic tuning fork and Mother Nature is just banging away.”

Unfortunately, for Pete and Myka, they were not exempt from the fear-induced hallucinations and Pete was confronted the ghost of his father and Myka had to deal with Sam, her ex-partner and lover.  Forced to relive the worst days of their lives, and subsequently their worst nightmares, it was a struggle to retain their sanity and to face their fears.  But Pete withstood the challenge understanding that his father’s death was not something he could have prevented.  Myka struggled harder against the insinuations and, after a guilt-ridden confrontation with the ghost of Sam, she too ultimately conquered her fear.  It is an astute observation that resonated throughout the episode, that “the cruelest prison is the one we build out of fear and regret.”

Shadowing their journey was the Reverend John Hill (Joe Morton of ‘Eureka’), the self-proclaimed messiah of Riverton Penitentiary.  His message was simple, “Some demand that we consume ourselves with remorse for our supposed sin.  Ouroboros reminds us to transcend the cycle and walk the path of enlightenment – no remorse.  To feel remorse is to shame God.”   But, while the Reverend was remorseless, he was also purposeless.  He had nothing left to learn or gain as he had abandoned his burden.  Thus, for him, there was but one thing left in his life: he wanted to have his sins washed away by sacrifice.  He felt that “man cannot be saved from sacrifice” and that it was finally his turn.  As he lay dying, he did not want his mortal body to be saved, for he felt that “he’s chosen me for sacrifice.”  This was the purpose he so desperately craved.  He wanted his life to have had meaning. 

What Worked

In a nice comedic counter-balance to Pete and Myka and all the heavy theoretical stuff, Claudia (Allison Scagliotti) and Artie (Saul Rubinek) were having adventures of another kind at the Warehouse.  In a seriously impaired brain-storm, Claudia took it upon herself to change a light bulb.  Addressing the age-old question of “how many geniuses does it take to change a light bulb?”  We watched two geniuses try to figure that out when Claudia  decided to try using Alessandro Volta’s magnetized lab coat, mittens and goggles to play Spiderman and climb up a steel beam.  Alas, her glee-filled foray into the super-power world was short-lived as she discovered the downside of such an ability.  For what one never sees in the “X-Men” films is that being Magneto has its drawbacks, such as everything metal may just come flying right at you if you send out too strong of a magnetic-signal and you could get stuck three stories above ground if your magnetized mittens do not un-stick.

Thus, it was priceless when Claudia said, “Just bottom line this for me,” and Artie responded, “Worst case scenario . . . the entire warehouse buckles in on us crushing us to death.” Claudia rapidly backpedaled by saying, “Okay, yeah, I’ve changed my mind, sugarcoat it.”

Another fun quotation of the night was Pete observing, “Maybe this is what Mrs. Frederic meant by endless freaking wonder.”  Surely, she did not mean all the freaky, horrible stuff that gets thrown at them each week — but perhaps in her mind, all of that stuff is freaking wonderful.

In a nice touch of sentimental support, it was nice to have Pete reach out to hug Myka after she managed to regain her control and banish the ghost of Sam.  It felt like a moment of genuine concern and warmth which added to the realism of her difficult ordeal.  There was nothing comedic or awkward about it.   It also felt good to see Myka finally toss that blasted investigative report into the fire at the end.  Let the past remain in the past, dead and buried.

What Didn’t Work

It would have been nice to further explore the meaning behind the Ouroboros philosophy that Reverend Hill espoused.  With the foreshadowing of “The Path” manuscript, one would have thought there would have been more to explore with that part of the storyline.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

‘Regrets’ was written by Tamara Becher and directed by Michael Watkins. ‘Warehouse 13’ stars Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek, Genelle Williams and Allison Scagliotti. ‘Warehouse 13’ airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Syfy.

Review of ‘Eureka’ – You Don’t Know Jack

But a kiss will bring it all back

Stepping away from some of the nice character building episodes of late, this week offered us more standard “Eureka” fare with the collision of two scientific procedures: Tess’ Time Capsule Project versus the annual Global Dynamic sonic-cleaning.

Tess (Jamie Rae Newman) had been entrusted with gathering the significant memories of all the residents of Eureka in order to preserve them for posterity. (Though I personally believe it was her way of checking out what had happened in Eureka before she got there.) So small hand-held glowing globe devices (aka: story-catchers or more aptly named “snow globes” by Zoe) were given out to everyone to recount the most significant memories of their experiences in Eureka. But, after Carter (Colin Ferguson) teased him about what people would remember about him, Fargo (Neil Grayston) snuck into Tess’ lab to be a bit of a “peeping Tom” and see what everyone thought about him. Unhappy with the captured memories, Fargo deletes the memories and inputs his own choice memories. This proved to be disastrous as the delete-option actually deleted the memories from each person as they were still neuro-connected to the mainframe.

Simultaneously, Global Dynamic had been evacuated for the sonic-cleaning which was a sonic sterilization process that liquidated anything biological — including humans. After Carter and Allison (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) became trapped in Tess’ lab, while the initiation sequence for the sonic sterilization had began, it became a race against the clock to save them.

What Worked

Jack and Allison were again the adorable couple of the week as they were also on countdown to the arrival of baby Jenna.  Allison’s quiet statement of “I’m really happy you’re here” followed by Jack telling her, “I will always be here for you — no matter what” was just heart-melting. It was no less touching when Allison finally realized that Jack will do literally anything for her and said, “Now this isn’t how I pictured it going for us.” Yet Jack just capped it all off with, “yeah – bad timing.” Through it all Jack showed loving concern and steadfastness for Allison and Jenna. Whether they all want to admit it yet or not, Jack has stepped into the role of father/caretaker.  It was even more beautiful and touching that Zoe was there to be a part of it all, thus making it picture-perfect with Jack, Allison, Zoe and Jenna being there to completely the circle of love. And it was telling that Fargo and Tess were present but somehow still excluded from that familial moment. They were but mere observers.

Nicely interwoven into the episode was quite a bit of humor accentuating the comedy in losing one’s memories. For example, Tess forgot about Jack and introduced herself to him with, “hi, I’m Tess and you are?”  Jack’s look of horror was priceless as he realized that their last chance at stopping the sonic-sterilization process was gone, and simply responded, “totally screwed.” It was a perfectly set up punch-line that led to the powerful kiss Jack gave Tess in a desperate attempt to jump-start her memories. Lucky for all of them, that worked.

Another fun comedic moment was when Allison was astounded at Jack’s knowledge of a scientific process, and exasperatedly asked, “who told you that?” To which Jack said, “you — before you started losing your memory.” She then capped it all off with the startled exclamation, “oh my god! When did that happen?!” when she saw her pregnant stomach.

It was also a nice walk down memory-lane to watch Fargo and Allison put on the halo device and see what key memories were stored in the time capsule database. It reminded us of Fargo’s well-meaning but clumsy mistakes and his dreams of sweeping Jo (Erica Cerra) off her feet; and it reminded us how Jack and Allison met and became closer through each fun-filled adventure.  It was also a touching tribute to Nathan Stark (Ed Quinn) whose absence has been keenly felt this season. Finally, for the viewers, it was a nice recap of how we got to where we are now as Eureka revs up towards its 3rd season finale.

What Didn’t Work

After such a recent loss by Henry (Joe Morton), it would have been appropriate to use this episode to show how relieving it was for him to forget about Kim 2.0′s death and sacrifice. It would have been a nice contrast to emphasize that there can be a plus-side to selective memory loss, and not just Fargo wanting to forget having been present for the birthing process.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

“You Don’t Know Jack” was written by Eric Wallace and directed by James head. “Eureka” stars Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Joe Morton, Jordan Hinson, Erica Cerra, Neil Grayston, Chris Gauthier and Niall Matter. “Eureka” airs Fridays on Syfy.