Episode Review: GLEE: "Goodbye"

As much enjoyment as I get out of watching Glee, part of me wanted "Goodbye" to be it for the show and that it would gracefully bow out at the end of its third season. The episode was in some ways an appropriate send-off as high school came to a close for some and chapters were completed. That's not to say that it was a perfect episode or even a flawless finale because it wasn't, but I would've been happy if this was the last time we visited Lima.

"Goodbye" really didn't complicate itself with too much plot, or any for that matter, but it served as a way for the seniors to prepare for whatever's coming their way while tying up some loose ends. For example, Quick fans got some closure as Quinn expressed what Puck meant to her and urged him to return to his bad ass ways, and she even got some respect and praise from her former cheerleading coach. Will came clean and admitted to Finn that he blackmailed him in order to get him join glee club (and Finn's reaction was priceless). Both the seniors and the underclassmen got to serenade each other one last time. We found out where Mercedes and Santana are going now that school's over, but more importantly we found out what's in store for Rachel, Kurt and Finn.

The entire season's been leading up to the moment when the three opened up their respective letters, and it was the closest thing to a story this episode had. They all made a pact that they'd find out their fates at the same time in the choir room. Finn went first, and even though he felt confident about his audition for James Lipton, he found out that he was not accepted. Kurt was up next, and he too was given bad news, which left Rachel.

Since it's Glee, she of course got into NYADA (in spite of bombing her audition), but she decided to defer enrollment so she could help the latter with their re-admission processes. Her distraction was to focus on her wedding, but Finn threw her a curve ball. Instead of going to the chapel of love, he drove her to the train station. He told her that he was not going to let her give up her dream for him, and suggested that they submit to the reality that they're on different paths, and that they needed to go their separate ways. After a tearful goodbye, she boarded the train and headed to New York to start her new life.

Let me just get my major complaint out of the way first. I actually loved the fact that Finn and Kurt didn't get into their dream schools because it's a slice of real life. You can dream big and plan everything out, but sometimes things just don't go your way. Dealing with this kind of pain is a part of growing up. The part I did have a problem with was Rachel getting into NYADA over Kurt. Now, we all knew that she was going to end up in NYC no matter what, but objectively speaking she shouldn't have been accepted. Not only did she choke during her audition, but she pestered Whoopi Goldberg into letting her in. So, the message to the impressionable viewers is, "if you don't get your way, just keep annoying people until they give in." Sure, that's a slightly exaggerated read, but not necessarily wrong. I would've rather her not get in, move to NYC anyway, become a waitress and have to fight Megan Hilty for the lead role of one of the worst musicals of all time, but I digress.

Everything else was pretty solid. Like I mentioned, I was relived when I learned that Kurt and Finn would not magically get into their first choice schools because watching them have to deal with figuring out what's next will be far more interesting then watching them stumble into their dreams. Finn joining the Army was a welcomed callback to what was brought up episodes ago, but I do wish we had gotten more time with him coming to that decision. Now, the biggest mystery is where Kurt goes from here, and I'm sure that'll be a major plot next season.

I do have to admit that some of the send-offs were a tad bit lackluster. When Finn was given a nice tribute from the underclassmen, we got a shot of an upset Puck, and I was sure that we were going to get an outburst from him questioning why Finn's always getting the accolades, which would've made that scene with Quinn more impactful, but I suppose we don't want to remember him as a brat. Mercedes was once again pushed aside even though her dreams also came true, but we shouldn't be shocked at this point in the game. The one I had more of an issue with was Santana's because I don't know why she can't both go to New York and college. Rachel's obviously doing it, so why can't she?

Other Odds and Ends:

• This felt like a surreal clip show with all of the callbacks and inside jokes. It wasn't Community surreal, but it wasn't the norm either.
• I loved how they brought back "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."
• But it wasn't as good as the "Single Ladies" callback. Genius!
• I wonder how many people were confused when Burt mentioned their old house, even though he said they'd be moving right after Carol and Finn moved in? Just because we didn't see it, doesn't mean it didn't happen.
• Do we really need another year of Brittany?
• The sequence where the seniors sang to the underclassmen and seamlessly had them take their places was one of the better moments this show's put together
• I was also relieved when we got confirmation that Sam's not a senior. Now, Glee can make Chord Overstreet a regular already!
• Say what you will, but I'm really going to miss the Will and Finn relationship.
• Other than his solo and confession, Will wasn't featured all that much which was good since it was supposed to be about the kids.
• At least they addressed the fact that glee club's kind of cool now. Suck on that naysayers!
• I get that Sue's scene with Roz was supposed to signify her growth, but boy did it stick out.
• I loved it that all of the seniors were with Puck while he waited for his test grade.
• That had to be the most fun commencement ceremony ever.
• How many people wondered why we didn't see Mercedes' parents at graduation? Or Rachel's for that matter? I swear some people are way to nit-picky with this show.
• Finn running beside the train was so cliched, but also incredibly cute.
• For a split second there, I thought Rachel was going to toss her hat in the air.

Even though I would've liked "Goodbye" to be the series finale, it obviously brought up more questions than answers, which is fine since we're definitely going to be getting another season, but I also don't want to tempt fate. Glee's fumbled the ball way too many times over the last three seasons, and I'd rather have it go out on a string of good episodes instead of mess up again during Season 4. Or maybe I should just have more faith in the show. Regardless, I found myself really enjoying this season ender, and it proved that Glee still has a little bit of magic left in it.

Last Episode: "Nationals" >>

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"The Small Screen Podcast," Episode 29: Let's Be Upfront

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 29. This time around, Kristal and I talked about the new fall schedules, which pilots were excited for, which night of the week will be our busiest, and of course what we've been watching and looking forward to. Check out the breakdown if you want to avoid any spoilers.

Episode Breakdown

Intros: Start - 1:02

TV News: 1:03 - 4:45

• Dan Harmon out as Community showrunner

2012-2013 Fall Schedules: 4:46 - 39:09

• ABC: 5:25 - 15:00
• CBS: 15:01 - 18:06
• The CW: 18:07 - 23:45
• FOX: 23:46 - 32:26
• NBC: 32:27 - 38:35
• Wrap-Up: 38:36 - 39:09

Most Anticipated Pilots: 39:10 - 49:01

• Go On, The New Normal, Nashville and Vegas: 39:10 - 42:30
• 666 Park Avenue, The Mindy Project and Elementary: 42:31 - 49:01

Busiest Night of the Week: 49:02 - 51:33

What We're Watching (SPOILER ALERT): 51:34 - 1:04:55

• How I Met Your Mother

What We're Looking Forward To: 1:04:56 - 1:12:52

• Glee: 1:04:56 - 1:05:32
• So You Think You Can Dance: 1:05:33 - 1:12:52

Closing: 1:12:53 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents
Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion
Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

TV Report Card: Week of May 13, 2012

Sorry for the delay, but upfronts took up most of my time over the last couple of days. Again, apologies. Without any further ado, here's the TV Report Card for the week of May 13, 2012:

Sunday
Sherlock: "The Hounds of Baskerville"

What Worked: Watching the back and forth between Sherlock and Watson will always be a major draw for me, which is good since the rest of the episode wasn't up to the show's higher levels. I'll say that the story could have been more interesting had the run time been shorter, but that's not going to change anytime soon.

What Didn't Work: See above. "Bakersville" was an example of why the runt time's problematic because the story had to stall a few times in order for it to fit the entire hour and a half. Had it been trimmed down to a more manageable hour, it would have been more effective. Sometimes less really is more.

GRADE: C+

Monday
How I Met Your Mother: "The Magician's Code, Part 1"

What Worked: Not a damn thing. I didn't laugh once during the entire episode. Well, I take that back because I thought that Barney's words to the bus driver about Marshal that convinced all of the old people to fake heart attacks was a nice touch.

What Didn't Work: Everything, but what really irked me the most: Robin treating Lily like she was a horse, Lily, Marshal's drunk routine, the contrieved nature of Marshal not being there for the birth of his child just to show up in the nick of time, Barney's stupid nickname for the baby, Robin bringing up Victoria.

GRADE: D-

How I Met Your Mother: "The Magician's Code, Part 2"

What Worked: Barney's elaborate scheme at the airport which turned into a way for him to propose to Quinn was wacky and sweet...

What Didn't Work: It's just too bad he ended up getting married to Robin which was by far the worst kept secret in the history of television, not to mention one of the most annoying. While I knew that Robin was going to be the bride, it didn't make it less aggravating due to the sheer sloppiness and laziness involved. Don't even get me started on the contempt that Bays and Thomas have for the viewers.

GRADE: F

Smash: "Bombshell"

What Worked: Once again, I found myself actually liking the parts of the episode that dealt with putting on the show, and I didn't end up hating this one as much as I expected to. Another shocker: I'm still liking the idea of Derek and Karen since he's the only one who's able to make her interesting at all.

What Didn't Work: Anything and everything that had nothing to do with the musical and/or Derek and Karen was a chore to sit through, and I'm really hoping that Season 2 is radically different because I don't think I'll even be able to hate-watch it if it's not.

GRADE: D

Tuesday
Glee: "Props"

What Worked: After a string of sub-par episodes, "Props" felt like the beginning of a resurgence for Glee. I really enjoyed getting some closure on Beiste's troubled home life and how it was used to help underline some of the character development that we've seen from Puck over the last couple of weeks. I even liked the whole body-swap gimmick because it wasn't over used and a lot of fun.

What Didn't Work: For a Tina-centric episode, this one did her no favors because she really wasn't allowed to grow and ended up being a supporting character in her own story thanks to Rachel once again overtaking the story. While I was glad that Tina got some screen time, it was a wasted opportunity since nothing really changed when it was all said and done.

GRADE: B-

Glee: "Nationals"

What Worked: There was not a lot of story to get away of the performances, which was fine since it was a competition episode, and for the first time in a long time I actually liked every performance. I thought New Directions had a fun set list, as did Vocal Adrenaline. I also thought this episode did a good job at starting the redemption process for Will and Sue.

What Didn't Work: I hated the fact that Emma decided that her first time should be Will's reward for winning a singing competition. To be clear, I have no problem with her sleeping with Will prior to their nuptials, but if she was going to hold on for so long, why not wait just a little bit longer? Sure, that may sound like I'm making sex out to be more than it is, but it should be somewhat important and not a misguided prop. Other than that, "Nationals" was a very strong episode.

GRADE: A-

Wednesday
Modern Family: "Tableau Vivant"

What Worked: Not much. Usually, I like it when the cast gets mixed up for a bit, so I should've enjoyed watching Phil and Mitch interact or even Cam and Claire, but most of those scenes fell flat. Even the dependable combo of Luke and Manny didn't work.

What Didn't Work: By far the worst part of this episode was Gloria getting jealous over Jay's bond with the random waitress. I understood why she reacted the way she did, but it all felt extremely fake and something we should have learned about her character a few seasons ago. For some reason, now pointing out that she has insecurities felt hollow. Oh, and I don't want to forget to share my extremely dislike for Lily. Now that Happy Endings and Apt. 23 will no longer be aired on Wednesdays, I might be saying goodbye to Modern Family once and for all.

GRADE: C-

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "It's Just Sex"

What Worked: Watching James Van Der Beek navigate his way back to fame will always be funny, so I got a big kick out of his Dancing with the Stars shtick and the fact that he and Chloe have a sex tape which could be the key to his resurgence. What was even better was the fact that we learned how they've grown to care about one another and have become real friends. I even liked how Chloe and June are rubbing off on one another.

What Didn't Work: Nothing comes to mind, but I'm sure the creepy neighbor said or did something that was extremely off-putting which led to me blocking out his scenes altogether.

GRADE: B-

Thursday
Community: "Digital Estate Planning"

What Worked: Only Community could pull off an episode that mostly took place inside of an old-school, 8-bit video game. "Digital Estate Planning" was the perfect example of the kind of high concept episodes that have become Community's calling card, and it was a whole lot of fun to watch.

What Didn't Work: The story itself was pretty weak. It had nothing to do with the larger arc about Chang taking over the school, and it introduced us to a brand new character who ended up being Pierce's illegitimate half-brother, yet no one questioned him about it. While "Estate Planning" was fun, it didn't add much to the bigger picture.

GRADE: B-

Community: "The First Chang Dynasty"

What Worked: I'll say it again; I'm a sucker for heists, so I was immediately won over by the fact that the Greendale 7 planned an elaborate one in order to save Dean Pelton from Chang. It was just a perfect spoof on movies like Ocean's Eleven. Oh, and let's not forget Britta dressed up like a goth babydoll.

What Didn't Work: Any episode that features too much Chang automatically gets docked a few points, which really isn't fair since this one wouldn't have worked without him, but he's such an annoying character that I would've preferred a mediocre episode without him than a good one with him.

GRADE: B+

Community: "Introduction to Finality"

What Worked: "Finality" would have been a decent series finale, and I would've been glad that Community got picked up for another season, but Sony not renewing Dan Harmon's contract thus removing him as showrunner changed things up a bit. While I'm glad to be getting new episodes, part of me wonders why NBC and Sony didn't just cancel Community instead of bringing it back just to rip out its heart and soul.

What Didn't Work: It was a pretty solid episode all around, and I can't think of anything that I disliked about it. I guess I was a little irked by how clingy Britta was with Troy, but that's really only a minor quibble because she was somehow able to remain cute.

GRADE: A

Friday
Nikita: "Homecoming"

What Worked: This was a pretty good episode from Nikita with the right amount of twists, turns and action. It was also a bold move to essentially reboot the entire story since Percy was taken out of the picture, especially since there was no guarantee that it would be coming back for a third season. Had this been the final episode of Nikita ever, I don't know if it would've been satisfying, but it was effective as a season ender.

What Didn't Work: I was seriously pissed off when Percy was killed off because he was by far the best villain the show had. What annoyed me even more was that brief glimpse of Amanda because it was a pretty clear indicator that she'll be next season's big bad despite the fact that she was one of the weakest links this year. The other weak links: Sean and Alex, and unfortunately it doesn't look like we're done with their stupid relationship anytime soon.

GRADE: B-

Grimm: "Woman in Black"

What Worked: I'm always a fan of when Grimm goes deeper into its mythology, and we got a lot of those elements during "Woman in Black." It also didn't hurt that we got a decent amount of Monroe as Nick tried to explain his double life to Juliette. And then there was the ending...

What Didn't Work: While we got a lot of mythology, we didn't get a lot of answers which I suppose is OK since we're getting a second season, but it didn't feel like anything was wrapped up. Instead we got more questions and misdirections. Also, I was a little bummed that Juliette wasn't killed off because she's been more of a liability this season, but oh well.

GRADE: B-

Since most shows have already had their season/series finales, this very well might be the last TV Report Card of the season. I might try to put together a Summer School version, but that'll depend on how many shows I watch over the next couple of months. Either way, I hope everyone enjoyed this silly little write-ups, and thanks for reading.

Episode Review: SHERLOCK: "The Reichenbach Fall"

After a small bump in the road, Sherlock made a huge comeback with "The Reichenbach Fall," which was not just the best episode to date, but probably one of the better installments of television over the last couple of seasons. Yes, it was that good.

As Sherlock's fame started to rise, James Moriarty revealed a plot to discredit his rival. Step one of this plan involved breaking into the Tower of London to take the Crown Jewels while also bypassing the security systems of both the Bank of England and Pentonville Prison. Before smashing the case that held the jewels, Moriarty scribbled, "Get Sherlock," and instead of snatching the goods, he put them on and waited for the police to arrive. Moriarty's court date was the trial of the century, and Sherlock was the star witness, but he fell into a trap because he allowed his ego to take over, and his misstep did not make him look favorable. In another odd move, Moriarty did not present a defense, which added to the fact that it was all for show. What should have been an open and shut case was further complicated when the jury came back with a verdict of not guilty.

Now that Moriarty was free, he paid a visit to Baker Street. During their sit-down, the criminal mastermind explained to Sherlock that he was able to scare the jury into letting him go by hacking into their televisions and threatening their families. He even went a step further and revealed how he broke into three different facilities at the same time. As it turned out, all he needed was some computer code to hack the systems, and he underlined his point by telling Sherlock that having the key to everything makes him powerful and every bad guy in the world's after his services. The meeting ended with Moriarty admitting that he's not in it for the money or the power but to solve the final problem between him and Sherlock, and he left it with the ominous message of, "I owe you."

Part 2 of Moriarty's revolved around the kidnapping of an ambassador's children. The two kids were taken from a high class boarding school, and the ambassador personally asked that Sherlock be brought in on the case due to his new found fame. Once there, he came across an envelope with a red seal that contained a copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales, which was a clue to where the children were taken because Watson also came across a similar package filled with breadcrumbs. Obviously, the everything pointed to Hansel and Gretel, which led to an abandoned sweets factory. The authorities were able to save the children, but when Sherlock was asked to question the girl, she freaked out because the Moriarty implanted the thought that he was involved in her abduction. Not only did the girl think that Sherlock was involved, but some on the police force also started to wonder whether or not he's the real villain.

In spite of Lestrade's loyalties, the police chief insisted that Sherlock be brought in, but he was able to get away during his arrest and he took Watson as his "hostage." While on the run, they visited a reporter who tried to get an exclusive scoop from Sherlock at Moriarty's trial. Instead of helping Sherlock, she was working on an expose to out him once and for all, and her source was Moriarty posing as an actor by the name of Richard Brook. He claimed that Sherlock paid him to play the part as a way to dupe everyone into thinking that he's a genius detective. Before Sherlock and Watson could get to Moriarty, he got away but Sherlock was able to figure out the final move of the game, and he needed Molly's help. While Sherlock went out on his own, Watson spoke with Mycroft and learned that he had given up details of his brother's life to Moriarty in exchange for information on the his key code.

Sherlock texted Moriarty to meet him on the roof of the hospital so they could resolve their issues once and for all. On the rooftop, Moriarty rambled about how their final problem was staying alive and how he chose Sherlock as his adversary because he was tired of distracting himself with ordinary people, but even he ended up being mundane. He even showed his hand by admitting to Sherlock that the code didn't exist, and he just paid people to help him break in to the tower, the bank and the prison, and he knew that he'd fall for it because everything has to be clever. The final step of Moriarty's game was for the disgraced detective to take his own life, and to make sure he did just that, he planned on killing Watson, Mrs. Hudson and Lestrade if Sherlock didn't do just that. Before jumping off the building, Sherlock realized that he could get Moriarty to call of his assassins and still live because he'd be willing to do anything to make his rival talk. Moriarty acknowledged that he and Sherlock were alike and that he and his friends could live if he stayed alive, so he decided to kill himself to force Sherlock's hand. With Moriarty dead, Sherlock accepted the fact that he would have to commit suicide to save his friends, and he had one final conversation with Watson where he confessed to being a fraud. After uttering his final words that would act as his "note," Sherlock threw himself off the hospital to the pavement below.

The episode ended where it started, with Watson recalling the events during a therapy session, but it's hard for him to accept what had occurred. He then visited Sherlock's grave with Mrs. Hudson where he begs for his friend to not be dead, and then there's a glimpse of Sherlock watching him from a distance.

Wow, now that's a finale even though I have no idea how Moffat's going to explain how Sherlock faked his own death. Over the course of this series, I've complained about how the run time's been the biggest hurdle, but that wasn't the case with "Reichenbach" because of all of the but twists, turns, tension and fake-outs. Plus, it had tons of emotion which made it ten times better because the audience was allowed to see how much Sherlock's grown. It's doubtful that the man we met in "A Study in Pink" would entertain the needs of others much less sacrifice himself for someone else, but that's something this Sherlock was willing to do. It also didn't hurt that he still got one over on Moriarty when it was all said and done.

Speaking of Moriarty, he was another element that was somewhat problematic at the start of the series. His brief cameo during the end of "The Great Game" was entertaining enough, but his shtick quickly grew tiresome during "A Scandal in Belgravia," so I was glad that we got so little of him during the middle installment. When I realized that he was going to be prominently featured in this episode, I had some reservations, but Andrew Scott quickly quelled my fears with his insane but brilliant performance. Sure, Moriarty was still a little too over the top, but his scenes with Sherlock crackled and popped so much that I was willing to give in to the lunacy of it all. The next big question after how Sherlock faked his death should be if Moriarty somehow did the same. What if Richard Brook was real and an actor but was working for Moriarty the entire time?

Other Odds and Ends:

• Moriarty's story of Sir Boast-a-Lot was a bit on the nose, but still wildly entertaining.
• How many shippers squealed when Watson punched Lestrade's boss? Or how about when Sherlock told Watson to take his hand?
• Who has their nemesis' number on hand so they can text them?
• I cannot figure out how Sherlock faked his own death. At least we're getting a third series to answer that one.
• "Every fairy tale needs a good, old-fashioned villain."
• "In a world of locked rooms, the man with the key is king. And honey, you should see me in a crown."
• "Suddenly I'm Mr. Sex."
• "Aren't ordinary people adorable?"
• "Yeah, well you know what he's like; CSI: Baker Street."
• "No one can fake being an annoying dick all the time."
• "Take my hand."
• "No, friends protect people."
• Sherlock: "You're insane."
  Moriarty: "You're just getting that now?"
• "You want me to shake hands with you in hell? I shall not disappoint you."
• Moriarty: "You're on the side of the angels."
  Sherlock: "Oh, I may be on the side of the angels, but don't think for one second that I am one of them."

Another series of Sherlock, and another masterful piece of television (yes, even if you include "Bakersville). It's just a shame that we're going to have to wait another year before we get another episode, but if the new ones are a fraction of good as these, then it will be well worth the wait.

My Two-Cents on the 2012-2013 Upfronts

Upfront Week's finally over, so I've decided to take a step back to reflect on what the major networks did this past two weeks.

Most Surprising Renewal: Nikita (The CW)

While I'm still a fan of Nikita, I was pretty sure that it was going to be canceled after another low-rated season, but its renewal could be a case of Fridays being both a blessing and a curse. Sure, its numbers were going to be horrible, but Friday shows tend to have lower expectations, which could have been how The CW justified bringing back our favorite assassin.

Most Disappointing Cancellation: The Finder (FOX)

I made my peace with The Finder's inevitable cancellation weeks ago, but knowing that Walter Sherman will not be back still stings. I've said it multiple times on "The Small Screen Podcast," but I'll say it again; I really want this character to live on, and if that means he's shoe-horned into Bones, then that's fine by me. That being said, the series finale was appropriate, and I'm sorta OK with that being it, but I need more Walter. I don't even need the rest. Just Walter.

Most Anticipated New Comedy: Go On (NBC)

I'm a Matthew Perry fan, so I want Go On to be successful for NBC because the world's a little bit better when he's on our screens. Now, I don't know if Go On will be the savior that the Peacock needs, but the premise sounds interesting enough, and it looks like a role tailor made for Perry. The thing is, the same could have been said about Mr. Sunshine, and the tone might be too dreary for those looking for light-hearted laughs. It also doesn't help that it's going to be on one of the most competitive nights for comedy, but more on that later.

Most Anticipated New Drama: Elementary (CBS)
OK, I'm going to be honest. The only reason I'm looking forward to Elementary is to mock it for ripping off Sherlock. Now, I'll admit that I could be surprised and the CBS version could be just as good as the BBC/PBS one, but it's highly unlikely. I'm also vaguely intrigued to see how this show justifies making Watson a female. We all know it's for unresolved sexual tension, but sometimes that's enough to keep things interesting (see Castle, Bones, Psych and on and on and on).

Least Anticipated New Comedy: The Neighbors (ABC)
ABC has the single-cam, family sit-com on lock down with its Laugh On Wednesday night block, but it's always been tricky to find the fourth piece to the puzzle. So what's the plan this year? How about giving us a show about a family moving into a suburb filled with aliens. Not other worldly humans like Suburgatory, but real extra-terrestrials. I can't believe ABC passed on Mandy Moore for this.

Least Anticipated New Drama: Mistresses (ABC)
I might be wrong, but I think I remember reading online that Mistresses will be held off until summer, so it technically should not be eligible for this post, but the trailer was truly horrendous and it made me feel dirty while watching it (there was a snippet where a woman's upset because the guy picked his wife). I seriously think it's about a club for women who sleep with other women's men. At least there's truth in advertising, but this show's obviously not meant for me.

Most Surprising New Comedy: Partners (CBS)
By "surprising," I mean a show that I had zero interest in before watching clips/trailers/previews, but was won over by something. I've soured on most of CBS' comedies (How I Met Your Mother and 2 Broke Girls), so I didn't expect much from its newest sit-com, but I found myself chuckling at the preview for Partners. Since I cannot quit HIMYM, I'm willing to give this show a few episodes to win me over.

Most Surprising New Drama: Vegas (CBS)
Another CBS show that I was mostly uninterested in until I watched the preview. I'm a sucker for westerns and gangster movies, so this should be right up my alley since it combines both, but I also find period dramas about the 60's to be mostly boring (yes, I'm including Mad Men). I'll probably check out a few episodes, which would be the first time I've made it a point to watch a CBS drama in ages, just to see what it has to offer.

Most Shocking Schedule Move: Two and a Half Men (CBS)
When you have two shows as successful as The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, logic dictates that you spread them around the schedule as a way to help prop up your line-up. Apparently, CBS felt that dominating Thursday nights is more important than spreading the wealth, so they doubled up on Chuck Lorre shows. I kind of understand the move, but I don't think 2 Broke Girls is strong enough to anchor Mondays, but we'll have to see if this ends up being a calculated risk or a huge gamble on CBS' part.

Biggest No-Brain Schedule Move: Glee (FOX)
It's quite simple when you think about it: Glee needs help since its ratings have taken a hit, The X-Factor/American Idol really haven't helped launch any new shows, and Glee's best ratings came when it had Idol as a lead-in. Moving Glee to Thursday's is win-win for FOX.

Most Logical Schedule: The CW
Say what you will about The CW, but its 2012-2013 makes the most sense from a thematic standpoint. You have your spoiled rich kids on Mondays (90210 and Gossip Girl), your cute female doctors on Tuesdays (Hart of Dixie and Emily Owens, M.D.), your old-school WB block on Wednesdays (Arrow and Supernatural), your supernatural soaps featuring brunettes on Thursdays (The Vampire Diaries and Beauty and the Beast) and everything else on Fridays (America's Next Top Model and Nikita). You have to admit, every night have a clear direction and the show's do complement one another.

Least Logical Schedule: NBC
I guess we're supposed to think that scheduling five hours on comedy on four nights was a bold move, but it's hard to wrap my head around some of the moves. The pairing of Animal Practice and Guys With Kids makes zero sense, as does the combo of Whitney and Community. If anything, they should swap partners, but I doubt NBC would want to banish a new comedy to Fridays just so it could be a better match with Whitney. NBC conceding Thursday nights also felt a bit odd since it should be the time for them to rebuild the brand, but it hasn't worked yet so I guess they're throwing in the towel.

Busiest Night of the Week: Tuesdays
For me, Tuesday nights are going to be the busiest when it comes to TV watching because NBC, FOX and ABC all decided to schedule comedy blocks containing show's I'm interested in against one another. We have Go On/The New Normal going up against New Girl/The Mindy Project and Happy Endings/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. While I like New Girl well enough, and I want Matthew Perry to be a hit, my heart belongs to Happy Endings, so I'll be watching ABC live and catching up on everything else later.

So there you have it; my random thoughts about what happened during this year's Upfront Week. On a whole, I have to admit that nothing really wowed me, and next season's shaping up to be somewhat of a bore, but I'll definitely be tuning in regardless.

TV Upfronts: ABC's New Shows for 2012-2013

When Scrubs moved from NBC, and I got hooked on Castle, I started watching ABC more than any other network, and the trend's continued mostly due to Happy Endings and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (which are coming back!) I bring this up because for the first time in while, I don't care for any of ABC's new offerings, so the time I spend watching the Alphabet may be drastically reduced, but we'll just have to wait and see.

666 Park Avenue

So, it's a supernatural soap opera in a haunted apartment building? No thanks.

The Family Tools

I did find myself laughing a few times during the trailer, but this show's destined for a short lifespan since Kyle Bornheimer's involved. Poor guy can't catch a break.

How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)

I'm a big Sarah Chalke fan (except for when she's dating Ted or Bobby or the guy who bangs pies), so I'll probably check out a few episodes of How to Live With Your Parents. It feels very on-brand for ABC, but I'm curious about why it's going to be on Tuesdays instead of Wednesdays.

Last Resort

You'd think I'd be all about a show about nuclear submarines starting its own nation, but I'm really not. I just have to come to terms with the fact that Shawn Ryan doesn't make shows that are targeted at me as a viewer.

Malibu Country

I'm glad that ABC's bringing back a lighter version of TGIF since traditional, multi-cam, family sit-coms are rare, but that doesn't mean I'm going to watch it. It's safe to say that I'll probably be skipping Malibu Country (even though I might still watch Last Man Standing.)

Nashville

This is probably the only new ABC show that interests me, mostly because Nashville looks like what Smash should have3 been. If I can give the latter an entire 15 episodes, then I'm sure I can give Nashville a few shots.

The Neighbors

This is the show that's getting the plumb post-Modern Family spot? Seriously? Now, I know that I should reserve judgment until I actually see an episode or two, but really?

Red Window

I still have no idea what this show's about. Skip.

There's also Zero Hour, but for some reason ABC's made the trailer private, so I couldn't post it here. I will if it becomes available.

Quick Thoughts on COMMUNITY: "Digital Estate Planning," "The First Chang Dynasty" and "Introduction to Finality"

NBC decided to air the final three episodes of Community's third season all in one night. Now, I'm not complaining because each one was a pretty decent installment, but even I have my limits when it comes to how much pop culture/meta/insane jokes I can take. Regardless, "Digital Estate Planning," "The First Chang Dynasty" and "Introduction to Finality" were solid and a nice way to wrap things up.

"Digital Estate Planning" didn't have anything to do with the larger story arcs of the season, but it was an example of Community doing what it does best since the bulk of the episode took place in an 80's style 8-bit video game (think The Legend of Zelda with really sarcastic avatars). The story about Pierce having to earn his father's inheritance from his illegitimate half-brother was out of nowhere, and it didn't really go anywhere, but it was fun watching the Study Group jump around the screen as video game characters.

"The First Chang Dynasty" brought the show back to the final arc about Chang taking over Greendale, and I figured that I was going to dislike it since it was obviously going to be a Chang-heavy episode, but it won me over because it was a spoof on elaborate heist films like Ocean's Eleven. Since I'm a sucker for those types of movies, I was immediately hooked and forgave it for forcing me to watch Chang be an idiot for twenty-plus minutes.

Lastly, "Introduction to Finality" felt like it was shot as a series finale just in case NBC canceled the show, and it would have worked well if it had been since it was able to tie up the emotional journeys of most of the main characters. We got to see them finally grow and become the family that they were destined to become, and it would've been a fitting end. Honestly, I'm going to be interested to see what's in store for Season 4 now that things feel settled.

The common thread between all three episodes was Troy's awesomeness, and he was by far the MVP of the season. We got to see him be wacky in "Estate Planning," self-less in "Chang Dynasty" and heroic in "Finality," and his growth as a character was by far the best thing Community's done over its short run. Once again, I'm interested to see where he goes in Season 4 since he was being groomed to become the leader of the group, and I don't think we're done seeing him butt heads with Jeff, which is fine by me.

So, that's another year of Community in the books, and I have to say that it was by far one of the strongest seasons to date. Sure, there were some definite misfires, but it was also able to refocus after its hiatus (and remove its head out of its own ass), and the final stretch of episodes were pretty great. While I would've been OK with "Finality" being the end, I'm glad that we're getting some more from the Study Group. Four Seasons and a Mini-Series.

TV Upfronts: The CW's 2012-2013 Fall Schedule

Upfront Week wrapped up with The CW announcing its 2012-2013 schedule, and from the looks of it Supernatural fans have a lot to thankful for as it gets shifted out of the Friday death slot (despite the fact that it did fairly well there). Also, The CW will be rolling out its new slate of shows in October instead of September which could work in its benefit ... in theory. Other than that, it's a pretty straight forward line-up from the networklet.

2012-2013 Fall Line-up (NOTE: New shows are in UPPER CASE and times are Eastern Standard)

Mondays
8-9p: 90210
9-10p: Gossip Girl

Initial Thoughts: OK, The CW made some other changes besides just moving Supernatural out of Fridays. Gossip Girl's been in the 8pm on Mondays spot since 2008, so the fact that it's being pushed back to 9pm for its final season feels like its more for The Carrie Diaries' benefit since it will take over at mid-season. 90210's also been a Tuesday night staple, so its move to Mondays seems like a tactical move to help launch the aforementioned Sex and the City prequel.

Tuesdays
8-9p: Hart of Dixie
9-10p: EMILY OWENS, M.D.

Initial Thoughts: Lady doctors are going to be taking over The CW's Tuesday nights as the new Emily Owens, M.D. (formally known as First Cut) teams up with Hart of Dixie, which makes a lot of sense, but you have to wonder if they are TOO similar. I'm all for tonal consistency, but pairing up shows that also have similar subject matters could be hit or miss.

Wednesdays
8-9p: ARROW
9-10p: Supernatural

Initial Thoughts: For years, the combination of Smallville and Supernatural was one of the most consistent for The WB/The CW, so it's not a shocker that Arrow will be joining SPN on Wednesday nights. Let's just hope the latter proves that it's worthy of its new home.

Thursdays
8-9p: The Vampire Diaries
9-10p: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Initial Thoughts: It's logical that The CW would use its flagship show to launch new ones, but it hasn't been able to find anything that could hold on to The Vampire Dairies' audience. Nikita and The Secret Circle weren't able to capitalize on their lead-in, but maybe Beauty and the Beast will be able to break the trend.

Fridays
8-9p: America's Next Top Model
9-10p: Nikita

Initial Thoughts: Maybe if I actually watched Top Model, I'd be more inclined to comment on its move to Fridays, but I don't so I'm not. It does make a bit of sense though since reality shows cost less than scripted, so a dip in ratings won't kill ANTM, but moving your signature reality program to the "death slot" is also a bit odd. Honestly, I'm just glad Nikita's back, but it's not moved into an even more competitive hour as it takes on Fringe and Grimm.

Mid-Season: The Carrie Diaries an Cult

For the most part, The CW's new schedule makes sense, but I'm not it's going to be enough to fix the network's ratings issues. Then again, I don't know what will help The CW at this point.