Smash's Finale Bow

Well it finally happened, Smash's series finale was Monday (Sunday) and it was great, but I wish it was coming back.
It was a double, which softened the blow a little. We got the Tony Nominations in the first half, and then the awards in the 2nd.

I excited to see Brothers & Sisters' Luke MacFarlane (Scotty) in the ep, I've missed him since B & S ended.  -It was extra fun to have Ron Rifkin in there too, with his Sloane glasses. Also regular B & S director Michael Morris (husband of Mary McCormack) directed the first half. A Family affair.

It was also great to have more Bernadette Peters in the finale. I only wish we had got to play more with Ivy and her mother. Also wish we had been able to have more of her singing! But that's what the soundtrack is for.

I KNEW Ivy would win the Tony. I was wearing my 'Team Ivy' tshirt for good luck. Sorry Karen.
It was too funny when Julia and Tom talked right through being announced the winners. I'm glad Bombshell won for best musical...especially as it is what started the series in the beginning.

I'm glad they tied up a few loose ends. We had Derek's terrible treatment of Ana wrapped up...but unfortunately not until the other girl won a Tony for the role!
Tom and Julia were back together as a team.
Ivy's pregnancy storyline was never a good idea. But at least in a series finale it was usable.
Jimmy's storyline was wrapped up...sorta. The very quick backstory was a bit odd. But at least he showed up for Karen, and to accept Kyle's award. Poor Kyle.

The brought back Eileen's Nick. Which was kinda nice, but not entirely necessary. I was glad that Julia wrapped up things with Frank, and went to Michael Swift's door in the end though. I loved them together.

There was also plenty of good Jessica and Bobby stuff in these eps. I wish they had a spin off...Chorus Kids...or something.

There weren't many music numbers in the finale. But I did love the big group number with the whole cast including Jack Davenport..(which was odd). It was a nice goodbye to our cast. But it made me teary.
I loved the Hit List group number though. That was pretty.
The finale number with Karen and Ivy was good, but very bittersweet with all the references to another season. It just made me sad.

I guess overall Smash was complete. We started out with the idea of show, saw it grow through workshopping, casting issues, and then finally onto Broadway, and ending with Awards season...
It would have been nice to see what else could happen to our characters, but it doesn't feel like we were deprived on any important story-points. Just the promise of tomorrow.

Thanks, Megan, Katharine, Debra, Christian, Jeremy, Jack and Anjelica...and everyone else. Smash was something special and like all good things, will be greatly missed.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to see Megan Hilty on Broadway sometime soon!!!

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 Carlie

TV Returning and Those Bidding Adeiu

So its that time of year again....the tv networks have made their decisions on which shows they are bringing back next year and which are cancelled.

The worst news was that SMASH has not been picked up for a 3rd season. I'm crushed...but not at all surpised, seeing as it didn't rate well this year and was moved to Saturday nights in the US.
I love Megan Hilty, Debra Messing, and the whole cast...but this year was missing something that it had in the first season. I would have loved to have 1 more season for them to find that again.
RIP SMASH. - Looking forward to Megan working more though, will have to make an effort to get to NYC to see her on Broadway sometime if thats where she goes.

Go On was also cancelled, but I never really loved it. It was getting good though by the end of the season. Oh Matthew Perry...so many 1 season series...and I will watch whatever you do next.

I was really surprised that Community got another season, but I'm glad they have!
All my other important shows have been picked up so yay!!! Revolution has a 2nd season, I'm really excited about that. Its been really good lately, but I hope they continue with the flashbacks. I'm intrigued by how Miles became this General, and then how he changed and left Monroe in charge.

Parenthood is coming back for a full 22 episode season, which is fantastic! After all those short seasons it will be great to have a longer one. It might be the last one we get potentially, so at least there will be plenty of time to wrap it up.

Nashville is also coming back. But I don't have a lot of luck with shows going longer than 2 seasons, so I won't get my hopes up. But its been getting really good lately. But I still don't care about the politics part, so less of that would be good.

There are also lots of new shows that have been announced. I've been watching the trailers for them, some look good, but not tons. I'll write about them later.

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Carlie

LOST Finale Relived & Other TV

So Ness and I finished rewatching LOST on Saturday night. The ending was bad...probably worse than I remembered. But for me it was still worth all of it for the scene with Sawyer and Juliet! They got points for bringing back Boon and Shannon and Charlie. But the whole ending was crazy. They should have just left it on the island and let them go home. Oh well...it was still a great show on a whole.

In other more recent tv news...

Revolution has not been as good the last two weeks on a whole. They have split up the group into Aaron and Rachel, and Miles, Charlie and Nora...and occasionally we see the Nevilles and Monroe.
Last week Rachel went to find yet another old friend that is involved in this power outage mess. -Wish they'd stop doing the...oh Rachel happens to know another random person that knows how to turn the lights back on...thing. Its getting old.
I agree with people complaining about these 2 bit characters they keep bringing in...we don't care. If its not about the main group/s, or involving them a lot it doesn't matter to me.
I don't care about Aaron's wife....sorry, but I don't. But maybe now that Aaron has run into her again, he can get over it and stop being such a whinger.
Speaking of Aaron...Elizabeth Mitchell was pretty much a glorified extra this week. Seriously...more flashbacks please...explaining what the heck was going on with Rachel back in the day, and Ben and Miles...Its a mess! Plus I want to know more about why Bass kept her hostage.
Didn't care about the Miles/Bass/Emma storyline much....maybe the fact that Monroe has a son will have some impact on the rest of the season...but the rest was kinda boring. Miles went alone as ordered...the others turned up of course and saved his hide...
Notes for this week - where did Rachel and Charlie find the hairbrushes and shampoo...and hairdryers?! -why the heck do the people in Georgia dress like they are going to the office/church after all this time with no power and how do they keep them clean and pressed?! - Hurry up with the backstories!

The Good Wife wrapped up for the season this week. In a great twist Alicia made out with Will then agreed to team up with Cary to open a new firm. Its gonna be sooooo good next season! I was also cool that they brought back Martha Plimpton. Her character is great fun. It was also great to have Mamie Gummer in the show the other week. The Good Wife has THE BEST and the most guest stars!

Smash has been really good lately too. Which sucks cause it is probably not getting another season...but I would be sooooo happy if it did!
I love Jeremy Jordan, but Jimmy is really annoying. He doesn't really seem to have any good qualities..and I find myself not caring about him at all.

 The Big C is back. Its good that they are doing double length episodes. But there are only going to be 4 eps to wrap it all up. The first one was sad, but great. Can't wait to see how it all fits together in the last 3.

I finished off Parenthood season 3 this week too. I love the show, but on a whole its not the kind that I watch episodes over and over. However it was fun to rewatch it all, and will fill the void till its back later in the year. - thank goodness its been picked up for another season!

I also borrowed Significant Others from Vanessa and watched all 6 episodes this week....just for a little more Elizabeth Mitchell overdose. Jennifer Garner was sooo little...I forgot that it was that old, 1998 is a million years ago! I thought it was around 2000. Anyways...good cast, and had good moments, but overall was slow and the stories didn't connect that well. I had a few notes that I thought of while I was watching: 1) With Jennifer, Elizabeth, Michael Whetherly, and Eion Bailey - I thought give them all guns, it would be interesting - based other shows they have all been in. 2) Between LOST and Revolution I wish Elizabeth's character wasn't married to another BEN! Sorry Tim Guinee...but Michael Whetherly is way prettier than you! lol. 3) Even though I watched it years ago back in the mid 2000's I remembered a fair bit of it.

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Carlie

Revolution/ER/Brothers & Sisters Connections

Pretty much watching nothing but ER these days...but I have slowed down a little bit. I've just finished season 7. Which has some great Abby stuff with Sally Field guest starring as her crazy mother. 
It also means I've finished with Elizabeth Mitchell's eps, so that will make it easier watching Revolution. Not that she was in ER that much anyways for being in 17 eps....but it was still good. But not her best character, and all the making out with Laura Innes was weird.
Now I'll have to drag out season 8, cause I don't want Mark Green to die!

Speaking of Revolution. It is still awesome after the 1st ep back. Plenty of good Rachel stuff, but also good Miles, Charlie and Aaron stuff. I don't care so much about the Neville family stuff. But the line from this week's ep by Jason was my fave line of the year. "What's a boy band?"
It was good to get an explanation of what made the power go out, but it still didn't exactly say why...and I'm more interested in the why...and the flashbacks that should tell me. I want to know what went on with Miles and Bass, and why Rachel went willingly as a prisoner?!

Raising Hope has wrapped for the season. The finale was okay, but it was the 2nd last ep that I loved. The not really a musical musical ep. "I'm gonna rock the Torah" is still stuck in my head.

Smash finally got better...meaning Ivy is back as Marilyn, but it looks like season 3 is a pipe dream. But this season has not been great. I blame Hit List...2 musicals is fun in theory, but Smash was at its best when it was about building Bombshell, and Ivy vs. Karen.

Here's hoping Nashville gets a 2nd season. The last few eps have been great. If only they could get rid of Avery...he's annoying and there are way too many characters with non-connecting storylines.
Yay for more Lennon and Maisy Stella singing. Those little girls kick ass!

The Good Wife and Once Upon a Time are off for a few more weeks. But my comedies are starting to wrap up too.

Mad Men is back, the first ep was kinda boring. I don't like Megan. Betty bores me.
I liked having Kerris Lilla Dorsey in an ep. Thought it was cool having her and Max Cotton's little brother in a scene together...almost a Brothers and Sisters reunion. 
I also didn't recognize Linda Cardellini  at first, which seeing as I'm watching ER.....I felt bad about.

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-Carlie

March TV

A lot of shows have been on and off for the last few weeks. Nashville seems to be only on every 2-3 weeks. I've lost track of Modern Family and Suburgatory's schedules. Luckily there is still plenty to keep me entertained.

Smash is back. Its good, but I gotta admit I'm a little disappointed in this season.
It doesn't leave me thrilled at the end of each episode the way it did in season 1. There is not enough Bombshell, or Ivy, or singing.
I mean I love Jeremy Jordan and Krysta Rodriguez...but their characters are kinda annoying, and Krysta doesn't really get to sing.
I miss Jessica and Bobby and Marilyn. I miss Ivy's Marilyn. I know the ratings are not as good this season...and I think part of it is that they've lost too much of the original concept. These other musicals in progress are taking away from Bombshell, and from the main characters. There is less singing and dancing. I miss the dancing. And no matter how hard they try, I just never accepted Karen as Marilyn. Team Ivy all the way.
It looks very likely that Smash will not be coming back for a 3rd season...and I wonder if they has stuck with just Bombshell and that one musical process, they might be doing better.

I'm halfway through season 5 of ER...George Clooney's last ep made me cry...again. I like him in movies, but Doug Ross was a great character.

Revolution is finally coming back on the 25th, so I have watched the whole series so far this week. I still love it, and am totally stoked for it to come back. I've got a list going to questions I want answered, and also I heard someone is going to die in the first ep back...my theories are -Aaron, Danny, Rachel, Nora, or Neville's kid. I hope they don't kill Rachel - cause Elizabeth Mitchell is awesome and while I like flashbacks, its going to be fun to have the family back together.

Speaking of Elizabeth Mitchell...Ness and I finished season 5 of LOST the other week...and I cried. Those last few eps are so depressing. Although it was the 1st ep of season 6 that really made me cry. Poor Juliet and poor Sawyer. -So glad for their reunion in the series finale.
Sooo excited for the LOST tour when I go to Hawaii in June!!!

Nothing else has been noteworthy really...everything is just puttering along fine.

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Carlie

Back in Action

Okay so I've been MIA for a long time, haven't posted anything since the Emmys back in October...since then the new season has been in full swing and is now on winter break till the new year.

Revolution has become one of my new fave shows. I'm oddly hooked to it. Maybe its cause I've watching LOST again(which I will talk about later). Or maybe because I'm just glad Elizabeth Mitchell being back on tv (without aliens). Anyways...I love it. Its not the best show in the world, but its very intruging and I find myself always wanting to watch it before Bones...sorry Bones, but you're not one of my faves.

Private Practice has gotten AWESOME. So since I last posted, the triplets have been born...well the 2nd two were about to be born in the mid season finale...I can't believe there is only three episodes left. EVER!!!! Its going to be really sad when its gone, because this season has been awesome. Season 5 was really the only time it wasn't great. I'm gonna miss those crazy bunch of people....I wish we could have a Charlotte, Cooper and Amelia spin off...
Grey's is still going for now, I hope that wraps up soon, even though its good, its not great and needs to end soon. ESPECIALLY since PPP is ending. The Arizona stuff has been great this season, and the new interns are actually not annoying! They are okay I mean, lets not get carried away, they are kinda boring and take time away from the good characters.

1 big change so far this season, is that I gave up on The New Girl. I just found that when I was watching it, I wasn't paying attention, so I stopped once I got back from overseas.
I keep saying I'm going to stop watching Revenge, but I keep watching it, might give up if I don't love it when it comes back on.

Once Upon a Time has been really good this season, as has Parenthood (except for that whole Ray Romano thing). The last ep before Christmas killed me. I was bawling like a baby. Mostly cause I wasn't sure if Kristina was going to die or not, and also because it brought back some personal bad memories from my childhood. Her video to the kids was a tearjerker!

Parks and Rec is awesome as usual. Ben and Leslie are getting married, and Ron Swanson is dating Xena....

Can't wait for Smash and Bunheads to come back. As well as the next season of The Newsroom if that ever comes back!

In the meantime, I've rewatched the entire Studio 60 again...and Parks and Rec season 3. Now I'm wrapping up season 5 of 30 Rock - which will also bow out soon. Then I'm moving onto Smash!

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Carlie

Devastating Finales

Oh Shonda Rhimes what are you doing to me?! Poor Little Grey!

Grey's Anatomy's finale picked up where the last episode left off, with Meredith, Derek, Christina, Lexie, Mark and Arizona's plane crashing to the ground in the forest. Very LOST with the way Meredith woke up on the ground, but anyways...

I knew someone was going to die, and could rule out a few, but still I was not prepared! I mean excluding Alex and Callie the best people from Grey's were on the plane!!

So Arizona was screaming, Derek and Lexie were MIA, and the rest were ok, but injured. Christina and Meredith go off to find Derek and Lexie, only to find poor Lexie crushed by the tail of the plane, barely alive, but she lasts long enough for a tearful goodbye with Mark. -Seriously Shonda you're sooooo mean, but I guess we have to love you for it, cause its such good TV! Oh Meredith, your curse is starting to rival the Kennedy's! And so sad, she only had Lexie to get along with, she's not close with Thatcher, and they seem to have forgotten that other half sister!- maybe she'll turn up now! Who knows?
Then to make things worse, Mark almost dies, but luckily they are all resourceful doctors...and when he's close to giving up, Arizona is there to remind him that he has a daughter to live for...
Oh yeah, and back home in Seattle...the cases all parallel the injuries from the plane crash. And no one seems to notice they are MIA. Then Teddy gets fired so she can go do a new job.

Overall great finale. I was sad Teddy was leaving, but she's been a but boring this year. I'm crushed Lexie is gone, but it could have been worse as far as people I love!

I've got a few issues with Meredith and Christina leaving Arizona alone and pretty much ignoring her, but it wasn't like she was going far with that broken leg! Speaking of, wonder how she got into the plane by nightfall, maybe Meredith carried her.

Next season I'd like to see: If it is going to be the last season, I want them to wrap it up nicely...and give us closure.
I like to see April turn things around and become less annoying...assuming she's sticking around. And Jackson, I'd like him to be more interesting.
I'd like Meredith to be true to her career and talent and do great medical things...once she's out of the dark and twisty phase that Lexie's death might send her into.
I'd like Callie and Arizona to keep growing, maybe have another kid....
I'd like Alex to do something great, and become the good guy we know he is deep down inside.


Now Grey's may have been the saddest finale of the season, but Private Practice was also pretty sad. Poor Amelia and her baby with no brain. I liked the finale. In fact the last few eps of the season have been quite good, compared to the rest of the season, which has not been the greatest.
Charlotte and Coop are moving on and becoming comfortable in their new family dynamic. Though Mason calling Charlotte "momma", while sweet is kinda creepy. - though not as creepy as her watching him sleep.
Don't care about Addison, Sam and Jake. But I'd rather her with Jake, cause Sam needs to move on.
-I've also decided that Mason sleeps in the kitchen, as it's the only spare space in Coop's tiny apartment!!

Next season I'd love to see: Char and Coop get a proper house, and maybe think about having a baby.
- I'd love Violet and Pete to get over their crap and get back to being fun.
-I'd like a new young, single character, since Amelia and Charlotte got sober and boring....and they killed Dell!
-I'd love Naomi to come visit, who knew I'd end up missing her so much!!


Scandal also had a great finale, for a show with only 7 episodes. I loved it from the get go and was hooked. I know its perhaps not up to the standard of The West Wing, but its got enough for me to love it, and then there is plenty of Shonda stuff...so the best of both worlds. Plus I like that its very twisty, I never see things coming, maybe that's just cause I'm usually really tired when I watch it.
I'd love to see this season grow in its 2nd season. I really love Abby and Stephen's chemistry, and would be interested in seeing them as a couple...if this show does couples.  I really want them to make Joshua Malina's character a regular...he's in all the eps, and he's always good!
-I must note that I noted at least 2 uses of Private Practice sets in the finale, Char and Coop's apartment as that dead guys, and David's offices use some of PPP.


SNL's season finale made me cry, but see my post on that for more details.


Once Upon a Time was really good, but I did love a lot of other shows more this season, but sadly they all got cancelled....I am most upset about Ringer, Unforgettable and Pan Am. Although Pan Am felt like a complete run, the others had so much more to give!
New Girl's finale was nice, but I only LIKE that show. Raising Hope's finale made me cry (pattern), and the rest either have not yet aired, or I can't think of them right now.....
oh yes, SMASH. The finale was actually quite predictable....I knew Karen would get it, because I wanted Ivy to. And she was good, but in my head Ivy is Marilyn. Yay for more Bernadette Peters, and more Will Chase! Poor silly Ivy, pills is not the answer...
Oh yeah and what are the odds Julia is pregnant with Michael's baby?!
As for next season, more singing from Christian Borle please! And more Bernadette Peters, always more Bernadette!

Will post more if I think of it, and hopefully not too soon after this week's finales of Glee and Revenge.


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Carlie

SMASH

Okay we are 6 eps in now and I love it or at least like it a lot. I'm not as excited as I was about glee back in the day, maybe it's that I'm just not getting my hopes up anymore. So anyways.....
Love Debra Messing in it. It's SOOOO great to have her back on tv. I love Megan Hilty in it, even if her character Ivy has her bitchy diva moments. I am learning to love Katherine McPhee's character Karen... But I have bias there. I also love Tom.
The songs are a bit hit and miss sometimes, but this weeks eps songs were fantastic!

The only song I have downloaded for now, is the one from the pilot Let Me Be Your Star. There is a soundtrack coming and I may get more once I find out the track listing.

Yesterday I also scored myself a smash team ivy T-shirt and pic - a prize from a wchannel competition.

The only thing that bothers me about Smash is the opening title thing...it just seams cheap and dull. Still don't love the name either!!

Can't wait for Bernadette Peters' eps!!!!

Hopefully there is plenty of good stuff to come!

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Carlie

Keeping Score

Last year I would have said my fave shows were Private Practice and Parenthood, closing followed by Grey's Anatomy.
This year, I still LOVE Parenthood, and Grey's, but Private Practice has dropped way down the quality scale, and become really boring. I am not excited for it like I used to be...because they made my fave characters - Charlotte, Amelia, Violet and Cooper boring. Addison is getting more interesting again, except for the fact that she keeps going back to Sam!

So obviously my expectations for the crossover with Grey's were pretty low. I really enjoyed the Grey's half. With the exception of all the Christina and Owen stuff. I love Derek and Amelia together. I also liked Lexie getting involved! The PPP half was ok. The Charlotte and Mason parts were interesting. I did like the bit at the end with char and coop, but I was sure she was going to say they should have a kid of their own! Also I felt bad that the whole time I could not decide whether I wanted Erica to live or not...if she lived we are stuck with her and if she died Char and Coop got stuck with. Mason all the time. But I guess it all worked out for the best.
I like that Sam has something else going on....but I was dying for him to speak to Naomi. I miss her!!!

In other TV news, I loved loved loved SNL this week! Maya hosted and it was hilarious! I loved that Amy Poehler came back to do Bronx beat and update. I loved the sketch with Kristen and Maya were they almost lost it, and poor Bill did. Points to Vanessa for keeping it together! Golden ep, which I will probably watch a few times over!


It's been a good tv week, but here's where I'm at with my shows.

Top Rated, Can't Live Without Them:
Parenthood - what is not to love?!
Grey's Anatomy - so glad this show bounced back. They found the funny again.
Parks and Recreation - I love this season. The stuff with Leslie and Ben is delightful!
Saturday Night Live - maybe it's not as good as previous seasons, but when it's good it's on fire!
Private Practice - close ti dropping out of thus category, sadly this show used to have me waiting to watch it, now I'm less excited for it.


Shows That I love, but could still live if they were cancelled:
Pan Am - it may not be the absolute greatest show in the world...but I love it!
The Good Wife - I love how relevant the topics are for the cases from this show. I also love the guest stars.
Cougar Town - Its back and it's awesome!
Unforgettable- never thought I'd care much about this show, but I must be in need of a crime show fix, cause I love it!
Modern Family - this show is still funny, been good lately, after a big of a slump last year.
Suburgatory - still loving this show. One of my faves of the new shows.

Shows That I just Like:
Once Upon a Time - love the fairy tales, but it if we're to go I'd be fine.
Ringer - its pretty darn good, but I don't LOVE it.
Glee - once upon a time it was so addictive and awesome, the songs were great, and so was the story. But now I'm caring less and less....until something small pulls me back in.
Ringer - really got into it at the beginning, but now I'm getting bored.
Revenge - even better than ringer to start with, and now less interesting.
30 Rock - every now and then I love an ep, but mostly I just love Liz.
Up All Night - its funny and cute and I like it, but dunno if it has lasting power.
The Finder - could really take it or leave it.

That's my TV...finales will be coming up soon, so things should get interesting.
Smash is not on the list, having just started, but it's looking great so far!


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Carlie