TV Review: Parks and Recreation, 4.02-- Ron and Tammys

I've discovered a new inability to write about this season's episodes after just one viewing, because there has been so much going on.  Therefore, I waited until I was able to re-watch "Ron and Tammys" to make sure I did my best to capture all of it.

This episode was absolutely hilarious, and such a nice reprieve from the angst and drama of last week's premiere.  Of course, it's usually a safe bet that any episode featuring Ron and the wacky women in his life is going to be pretty funny, but this one outdid even my high expectations.  Tammy 1 is truly a terrifying character, and I loved the way they wrote her as having just as much control over Ron as Tammy 2, but in a completely different way.  And I have to agree with Leslie that for as bizarre as Ron gets around his second ex-wife, the neutered version of him (the one who has to call Tammy 1 for permission to eat lunch with Leslie), is far more terrifying.

As if that weren't enough, this episode also introduces us to Ron's mother, who is predictably the source of most of our Ron's core values.  She is badass and hates the government and has a room in her house full of just guns (which Andy delightedly discovers), and she decides to help Leslie and her sidekicks bring Ron back from the edge.  How is she going to accomplish this?  An old-fashioned drinking contest of course.  I think I spent most of this scene alternately wondering what the heck that stuff would even taste like (all I could come up with was Leslie's take, "POISON"), and laughing hysterically at Leslie's intoxicated antics.  This show has shown us drunk Leslie on several occasions, but this one is absolutely my new favorite.

And because this show loves its viewers enough to top off a fantastic A plot with a wonderful B plot, we got to see Ben thrown into the crazy world of Entertainment 720.  First, it must have slipped my mind that Ben has never met Jean Ralphio before-- their interactions were priceless, not to mention they resulted in Ben being given the nickname "Jello Shot" (which should give you an indication of the integrity of this company).  Anyway, Tom asked Ben to take a look at 720's finances, which are pretty dismal ("they'll be bankrupt by the end of...this sentence").  Ben tried to talk sense into Tom, but I don't know how much our favorite would-be entrepreneur took the advice to heart.  It seems that Entertainment 720 may be doomed to failure, which is kind of a shame-- I would have liked to see them in an actual event-planning or promoting situation.  Maybe we'll get to see another adventure with this ridiculous duo before they lose whatever money they have left.  Oh, and also-- using Ben in the tag to give an incredulous tour of the office and staff of Entertainment 720?  Genius. 

There was also an annoying and far too long C plot involving Chris and Ann filming a PSA for diabetes.  Because the rest of the episode was so stellar this plot was made even more tedious by comparison, and left many viewers (myself included) wondering what purpose, exactly, Rob Lowe serves on this show anymore.  They could have easily left this out and incorporated Ann into a different story line somehow, because as it is now, she's stuck in the episode's only dull moments.

I hope next week sees a return to Leslie's campaign (because you know there are potential hijinks galore), and returns to the plot momentum that was so abundant in last week's premiere.

TV Review: Community 3.02-- Geography of Global Conflict

First, let's just all pause and appreciate the genius of inviting Martin Starr to make a guest appearance in this week's episode, and as Annie's political science professor nonetheless.  He is absolutely perfect in this role, and despite the relatively small part he played, managed to stand out as yet another oddball, half-inept teacher at Greendale.

I really liked that this episode took the time to focus a little on Annie as a character, and particularly that it took us back to her roots, rather than using her primarily as eye candy for the men involved.  However, the interactions between Jeff and Annie were a little weird, especially his insistence on fighting Annie's battle for her. And yeah, he explained it later, but it seemed to be in the name of another gratuitous Jeff/Annie fakeout more than anything else.  The "Model UN-Off" was pretty fantastic, though, especially Annie's meltdown.  This was one of the first times we really got a glimpse of what she must have been like during her adderall phase, and it was pretty darn compelling.

The B plot had Britta struggling (and I do mean struggling) to return to her would-be anarchist roots, protesting just about anything she could think up.  Add in Chang as the newly minted security guard she's chosen to target, and an oddly fantastic (though random) Lionel Richie track, and you've got a pretty hilarious subplot.  I have to admit that Britta got a little tedious during the show's second season, so I was glad to see her going back to being her somewhat strange self, the version we saw back in the beginning of season one.

So even in the aftermath of last week's shaky premiere, we got a fresh-feeling episode, jam-packed with laughs and even surprisingly astute political commentary.  And that's what this show specializes in:  surprising you with just how well it can deliver the things you didn't even know you wanted from it.  Now let's hope the ratings match the effort just a little bit better this week.

TV Review: Up All Night, 1.03-- "Working Late and Working It"

Another successful installment of this show, which is really starting to find its groove.  The writers are figuring out the balance between the three main actors, and let's be honest, a guest appearance by Will Forte is almost never a bad thing.  This episode had Chris struggling to maintain the romance in his and Reagan's marriage, assisted by a neighborhood friend who provides sage advice about just about everything (including an underwear analysis) in order to help him seduce his wife.

To be honest, I would have been willing to watch this entire episode if Will Arnett's had been the only plot line, but we also saw Reagan trying to coach Ava through dealing with the news of her ex-fiance's engagement.  Who is this fiance, you may ask?  Why, none other than a once-popular boy-band member played to hilarious perfection by Jorma Taccone, who you might recognize from The Lonely Island.  Ava naturally has a meltdown, leaving Reagan to pick up the pieces.  Also, there's a terrible, 90's inspired music video involved.

And how did Reagan react to Chris' over the top attempts to spice up their evenings?  She tried to beat him at his own game, escalating his need for them to be "dressed up" at home to a full-on Victorian bit, complete with a cringe-worthy English accent.  Fortunately, Ava was able to take her experience with her ex and use it to help Reagan, convincing her that Chris is "one of the good ones", which certainly seems to be true (he reads an adorable and hilarious poem about what his life would be like without her, complete with photo slideshow!). 

This episode didn't feature baby Amy at all, but that more than worked out.  It was all about the relationship between Chris and Reagan, and it was truly well done.  I'm glad that the writers have taken what could easily have become a weekly dose of crazy antics and have carefully laid a groundwork for something much richer.  Up All Night is definitely becoming one of the better comedies on television.

TV Review: How I Met Your Mother, 7.03-- "Ducky Tie"

This was another fantastic old-school episode of this show.  We had the somewhat silly story of the gang going out to Marshall's favorite restaurant and his bet with Barney, the stakes of which included a glimpse of Lily's "pregnancy boobs" and wearing Marshall's duck tie for a whole year.  We also had Ted somewhat sentimentally narrating his run-in with Victoria, and yet another lesson on fate.  And as if that weren't enough, we finished the episode with a strange twist in Ted and Victoria's conversation, which led to a somewhat cryptic hint about his and Barney's friendship with Robin.

It seems no matter how many ties they do it, the whole Marshall and Lily trying to outmaneuver Barney shtick never fails to amuse me.  Because of course Barney went all the way to New Jersey to learn Hibachi cooking, just so he could trick Marshall into a Pavlovian suggestion of that particular restaurant.  I'm not always an advocate of making light of sociopath behavior, but with Barney it just adds to his ridiculous character (and it usually manages to blow up in his face any time it nears the danger zone).  Plus, this plot was a nice balance to the more serious things happening with Ted and Victoria.

Speaking of, I really did like what they did with this development.  I was worried they would send Ted back down this path only for it to go nowhere (since we already had confirmation Victoria wasn't the mother), but I really liked the idea of Ted trying to do penance for cheating, and that Victoria has found someone she's really happy with.  I think it was important for Ted to have this interaction with her at this point in his story, because I think it will both alleviate the guilt he carried for his betrayal as well as give him an extra nudge in the search for the mother. 

Now let's talk about the Robin weirdness we saw at the episode's end.  First, Victoria's assessment of Robin and Ted's relationship might have made sense a few seasons ago, but I was feeling really secure that they're finally in a completely platonic place.  I don't know what to make of it, or of the fact that Ted didn't mention it.  And as for his comment at the end about how his and Barney and Robin's friendship "didn't work, but they didn't realize that until later"?  What in the world does that mean?  Now I'm going to be speculating about that for the rest of the season.  Great.

Overall though, a great third episode.  Season seven is looking very strong so far.

TV Review: Parks and Recreation, 4.01-- "I'm Leslie Knope"

I would normally be extremely ashamed of how late this review is, especially since I had a boatload of thoughts (some coherent, others not so much) the minute "I'm Leslie Knope" concluded on Thursday.  However, a bout of illness and a weird kind of writer's block prevented me from writing up my thoughts until now.

This episode was just about everything I could've hoped for in a premiere, and a premiere for this show nonetheless.  It was funny but genuinely heartfelt, and it accomplished everything it needed to in order for the season to really get rolling in episode two. 

We saw a lot of the fallout from last season's finale-- Tom plugging his new company at the Parks Department (although as April pointed out, they don't seem to be doing much in the way of actual work), Ron hiding in his cabin from Tammy 1 (and growing a truly fabulous beard in just a couple of weeks), and April serving as Andy's would-be mentor as he navigates the uphill climb from his career as a "shoe-shinist."  We got a fantastic humorous story line for Ann (finally!), but the most important part of this episode was Leslie, and the decisions she faced.

It would be dishonest to say that I didn't devote a large amount of time this summer to wondering how Leslie would negotiate a breakup with Ben (which I considered inevitable), and whether I would be okay with it.  After watching the premiere, the answers are (respectively):  flawlessly, and yes, I am beyond okay with it.  Despite the fact that the writers have further established Ben Wyatt as one of the most impossibly perfect men in the universe, the breakup was absolutely true to both characters and simultaneously heartbreaking and satisfying for the viewers.  They set up the actual breakup scene so well (and with so many fake-outs) that by the time Ben actually gave his little (adorable) speech, I was breathing a sigh of relief for both of them.  I know that there is a bigger plan in place for this couple (who are undeniably perfect for each other), and so for now I am perfectly content with watching Leslie pursue her dream and watching both of them figure themselves out.  When (not if) they do get back together, the relationship will be a hundred times stronger for having overcome this rough patch.

Also, the tiny teaser preview we got of Patricia Clarkson's performance?  Amazing.  Rumor has it next week's episode will feature Ron and all the Tammys in his life, and I am definitely looking forward to it.

TV Review: Community 3.01-- "Biology 101"

I have to confess myself just a little disappointed in this season's premiere, "Biology 101."  Then again, last season's premiere was kind of a similar letdown.  I understand that it probably comes from the writers not wanting to show all their cards this early on, but this episode felt too heavily reliant on some recycled group dynamics issues for its plot.  With a group of seven individual characters, it seems there should be almost infinite combinations for different scenarios, and yet Community seems to recycle the same ones over and over.  I guess I was too excited about some of the rumored upcoming developments, and to see an episode dealing (again) with Jeff and Pierce's respective relationships with the group felt tired.  And while normally I am willing to give this show a break, because one off week usually leads into several good installments in a row, I'm concerned that this kind of lazy writing will lose this show the negligible viewership it is just barely hanging onto.  NBC isn't going to lead off its Thursday lineup with a show that falls this flat this quickly.

I was also kind of annoyed by the opening musical number, to be perfectly honest.  Yes, I get that it was probably intended as a parody, but as a viewer who enjoys this show breaking with the format of typical shows like Glee, it felt a little cheap to see them using this as a device to add flair to the show.  Similarly, the Dean vs. Vice-Dean sounded great on paper, especially with guest star John Goodman, but in practice it was not nearly what I expected.  It was a subplot that was flat initially and then overused for the remainder of the episode, which suffered for it. 

Again, I have high hopes for the next couple of episodes, because this show has been proven to need a little time to regain its momentum after a flop.  I am still excited about the many different journeys we'll see these characters take this season (and I'm hoping they're a little bit fresher than the premiere would indicate), and hope that there will come a day, some time around midseason and after perhaps a really great film-parody episode, when "Biology 101" will be little more than a lackluster memory.

**I will say that despite this being a largely negative review, I did really enjoy the scene with Jeff depicted in the photo above.

Fall TV 2011: Parks and Recreation, Season 4

Of all the shows I'm really invested in, I think it's fitting that this will be the last one to premiere, because it is the closest to my heart and the one that never fails to make me smile.  Parks may have just been snubbed out of a much-deserved Emmy award (but we don't need to get into that here...), but I have full faith that Season 4 is going make this show's status as one of TV's best something that simply cannot be denied.

Where We Left Off:  As we overcame our collective grief at Lil' Sebastian's funeral service, loose ends cropped up in virtually every corner.  Tom has resigned from his position with the Parks Department in order to go into business with the irrepressible Jean Ralphio, establishing Entertainment 720, a high-end conglomerate of...something (Tom explains it better).  Andy and April are taking a big step in their relationship-- she's going to be the new manager of Mouse Rat, his band!  Ron is currently somewhere cowering in fear because the implicitly terrifying Tammy 1 has rolled back into town.  But the biggest cliffhanger at all is what we saw happen for Leslie in the finale's last few minutes:  she's being vetted to run for political office in Pawnee, a lifelong dream of hers, but there can't be any scandals to dig up.  And unfortunately, her secret relationship with Ben is a scandal as big as they come.

What's Ahead:  The showrunner's have intimated that the season premiere will have Leslie making her decisions on both professional and personal fronts (though in typical Leslie fashion, she will likely try to avoid a confrontation with Ben for as long as possible), and it will not be an easy choice.  We're going to get a glimpse of the "rise and fall" of Entertainment 720, and we'll be seeing not only Tammy 1 but also Tammy 0 (Ron's mother) as early as the season's second episode.  Considering the fact that this is already quite a bit of chaos and there are still a handful of characters to be accounted for, it is shaping up to be a pretty busy season for everyone in Pawnee.

What I'd Like to See:  Much as it breaks my heart to admit it, I just can't foresee a scenario in which Leslie gets to both run for office and keep Ben, so I'm predicting we're going to see a breakup by the end of the season opener.  It'll likely be a reluctant breakup, but a breakup nonetheless.  What gives me hope in the face of this is two things:  one, we will (hopefully) get to see Ben with a story line of his own, unattached to his relationship with Leslie; and two, Mike Schur has spoken on numerous occasions of Leslie experiencing "buyer's remorse" with regard to her decision, and he has suggested that whichever choice she makes will likely be reversed or altered by the second half of Season 4.  So I think we'll see a breakup in the name of Leslie's political aspirations, but I think she will be very disillusioned by the world of politics and will either drop out of or lose her race by the midpoint of the season, leaving the door open for a reconciliation with Ben.  This would give both characters time to experience valuable growth as individuals and to realize how much they mean to each other, and I think their relationship will only be stronger for it in the long run.

As for the rest of the gang, I'm really excited to see some great stories for the unsung supporting players on this show.  I can't wait to see Tom's hijinks over at Entertainment 720, and how he deals with watching his dream essentially go up in flames.  Ron and anything to do with anyone named Tammy is bound to be hilarious, and Andy and April are sure to continue stumbling toward adulthood together.  What I'm really pulling for this season, though, is a better arc for Ann, Leslie's BFF.  Last season we saw her descend into a kind of pathetic trend of serial dating, and not a whole lot else.  She works at City Hall now, so there are a lot more options for her as a character, and I'd love to see her collaborate with the Parks department on something awesome.  I'm not sure what will happen with her and Chris; for my part I hope they remain just friends, but we'll have to see what the writers have in mind for that.

Overall, it will be very difficult for this show to destroy the unshakable foundation it has spent three seasons building, and no matter what happens (even if, sigh, all my predictions are proven wrong), I'm sure it will be the same hilarious and heartfelt show we've all come to know and love.

Premiere Date:  Thursday, September 22nd.

TV Review: Up All Night, 1.2: "Cool Neighbors"

This show is definitely showing potential to only get better, and I'm so glad, because I love seeing this cast on my television every week.  In this week's installment, we see Chris and Reagan doing their darndest to impress their new young, hip neighbors, and as you might expect, hilarity absolutely ensues.  As if that weren't enough, there's also a generous side serving of Maya Rudolph's character Ava being absurdly inept at relating to her friends' new baby.

I could not stop laughing at Chris and Reagan's almost instantaneous assessment of their neighbors as hipsters, nor at how they sought to connect with them, from updating their Facebook pages (Chris occupied himself "liking" numerous pages such as "soup" and "the news", but don't worry, it was only ironically), to trying to conceal their role in trying to shut down their new neighbors' housewarming party.  Also, it led to one of the episode's best moments, with Chris standing in the middle of the crowded, silent party with "Hey Soul Sister" blaring from his pocket (revealing that he'd been the one to phone the police), which he again insisted was an attempt at irony. 

When the two protagonists weren't busy obsessing over their neighbors, we saw them visit with Ava, to whom baby Amy did not immediately take.  Ava was affronted by this, first accusing the baby of being uncomfortable around people of color (debunked when another staffer at her show, a young African American man, hit it off with Amy instantaneously), and later attempting to win the baby's affections by bearing gifts, such as a "baby wallet."  By the episode's end, however, Reagan orchestrated some one on one time between her friend and her daughter, and they finally managed to connect.

What I loved most about this episode was the insight it gave us into the different relationships between the adults on this show.  As ridiculous as their schemes and actions were, Chris and Reagan play off each other really well under almost any circumstances, and manage to balance each other's personalities almost effortlessly.  The Ava storyline also impressed upon us how strong her friendship with the couple and particularly with Reagan really is:  despite being very full of herself and adored by her fans, Ava really does want baby Amy to like her, and she wants her friends to think she is capable of bonding with their child. 

Another witty installment, and one which gave us a much better idea of the tone and shape this show is going to take as the season continues.  I'll be watching next week, and barring any disasters, will probably be incorporating this show into my regular reviews.

Fall TV 2011: Community, Season 3

It's hard to believe that Thursday night TV is so close to being back.  This year NBC's lineup is looking pretty spectacular (with the possible exception of "Whitney"), and I am excited to see three of TV's best comedies make their respective returns.  Community will once again be kicking off the evening, and season three sounds like it might be the show's best yet.

Where We Left Off:  Paintball, naturally.  A Western showdown gave way to a Star Wars-esque battle, which Pierce came from the shadows to help our favorite community college win against its crosstown foe.  We saw a surprise hookup between Annie and Abed, and were left wondering whether Pierce was really serious about leaving the group.

What's Ahead:  Rumors have been flying all summer about what season 3 might bring us.  As always, this show is notoriously hard to predict, but there do seem to be at least a few things confirmed.  There will be some new teachers, which have always been hit or miss on this show; John Goodman is making a much-hyped guest appearance as the Vice Dean (who knew such a small and dysfunctional school had multiple people in administration?); and we're going to see Troy, Abed, and Annie as roommates!  I think that last one is what I'm most excited about, to be honest; I'm hoping the showrunners will continue to use these three as a trio, as the results are usually pretty hilarious.

What I'd Like to See:  Among the unconfirmed rumors and speculation there is a lot being said about the various romances on the show.  Season 3 may feature some Jeff and Annie, some Annie and Abed, some Britta and Troy, or maybe all of the above.  As the show has made a point of its ability to pair anyone with anyone, I don't think we'll see any of these couples on a typical (or indeed, logical) relationship track, though I think it might be interesting to see a pair other than Jeff and Britta engage in something longer than an episode's duration. 

Dan Harmon also recently talked about his plans for Abed, and his hope to further develop his character this season.  He spoke about how Abed has been largely appealing for the first two season, and now we are going to see a bit more of why it's difficult for Abed to interact with others, as well as why they might struggle with engaging with him.  This was touched on a bit in "Critical Film Studies," but it looks like it'll be an ongoing thing in season 3, particularly with Abed rooming with two of his study group pals. 

Overall, I'm interested to see where this season's episodes go thematically, and what kind of new ideas the writers have up their sleeves.  I am intensely curious to see how in the world they'll top "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas" come holiday time, and whether there will be a third paintball extravaganza, or if they'll try to carve a new but equally hilarious path during sweeps.  In any case, season 2 went out on a high note with a lot of open doors, so there's no reason this week's premiere shouldn't deliver the goods, and then some.

Premiere Date:  (Tomorrow!) Thursday, September 22nd

TV Review: 2 Broke Girls, Pilot

I'm going to go ahead and say it:  this is my favorite of the three pilots I've watched for this season.  I was not expecting this to be the case, as it looked like the weakest contender based on the ads; then again, the other two shows (Up All Night and New Girl) basically put all the funny parts in their countless promos, thus dooming themselves to me being bored, because I watch promos for everything I'm interested in excessively.

But yes, 2 Broke Girls is pretty darn charming.  I think I like it because the pilot delivered pretty much exactly what I was promised:  a straightforward premise, two characters who are reasonably likeable and who both have room for further development and complications, and some sassy, real-life humor that was genuinely amusing and more raunchy than I'd expected for CBS.

Kat Dennings plays seasoned waitress Max, and is actually kind of perfect as the lead of this show, and I really liked the opening with her talking to the hipsters.  She definitely won't be able to get by on the street-wise schtick forever, but for an introduction to this character it really works.  Beth Behrs plays Caroline, the very recently impoverished daughter of a notorious Ponzi schemer.  I expected this character to be kind of whiny and annoying, but there is already something very genuine and endearing about Caroline, and the writers have clearly worked hard to make her a foil to Max without it being unreasonable that the two of them might become friends.

The plot is no roller coaster (the pilot did little more than establish that they will both be working and living together from now on), but it still moves with surprising speed and fluidity because of the back-and-forth between all the characters, primarily the two girls.  The only potential problem was Max's live-in boyfriend, who came off flat, but that issue was resolved by the episode's end, with her sending him packing.  And yes, having a laugh track when so many of the shows I watch now don't use one is a little jarring, but I think if the wit of this show is maintained I can even make peace with that. 

TV Review: How I Met Your Mother's Premiere Double Dose

"...We're nowhere near the end."
This is what Ted tells his children (who have got to be sick of sitting on that couch) near the conclusion of part one of Monday's two for one premiere, and it is a statement that for this viewer was simultaneously frustrating and satisfying; the former because I want to know already, gosh darnit, and the latter because if the mystery continues to unravel like this (and if we continue to see equally intriguing mysteries concerning the rest of the gang surface), I will be willing to watch this show for as long as it takes for Ted to tell this story.  (On that note, do you think his kids will ever agree to hearing a story from their dear old dad again?)

I'm going to go through the two episodes as chronologically as possible, even though (SPOILER) I am so excited that my Victoria prediction has already been proven correct.  So in the first episode we witnessed a split between future and present, with Ted and Barney reminiscing at Barney's wedding about Punchy's nuptials, which the gang attended here in 2011.  We didn't get very many clues about Barney's impending marriage, just that he's feeling a little jittery, but I would like to bring up the fact that in this flash-forward, we saw Lily tell Ted that "the bride wanted to talk to him."  I think there are three reasons this indicates the bride will in fact be Robin:  one, Ted isn't friends with Norah, so why would she want to talk to him?; two, Lily is presumably helping the bride prepare and was dispatched to deliver the message, and she's not friends with Norah either; three, this bit was almost immediately juxtaposed with the scene where Ted and Robin had something of a heart to heart about their respective love lives, and I think Ted would be just the person to talk a nervous Robin down on the day of her wedding.  Thank you for indulging me in that little sidebar of speculation; and if it's all a misdirect and we get an episode down the road where Norah or some yet unknown lady friend of Barney's becomes super tight with the gang, my apologies in advance.

Continuing on... We saw Marshall and Lily try (and fail) to keep their pregnancy secret from everyone.  It wasn't much for either of them to do, but it did supply us with ample amounts of Drunk Marshall, and the only person who loves Drunk Marshall more than Lily is me.  Watching him inadvertently send the reception into chaos was just icing on the cake.  And speaking of the reception, two things that I wondered:  first, why was everyone wearing purple and orange?  Is that an Ohio thing I've never heard of or did the couple really choose such an awful combination for the theme because they liked it?  And second, is the balcony where Ted and Robin have their cigars and soul-baring time the very same from Lily and Marshall's wedding?  It sure looked like it (but this is not remotely relevant to the plot).  Barney and Robin proved that they still have undeniable chemistry, which was unfortunately disrupted by Norah.  Watching Robin feed Barney her own confession of still-simmering feelings so that he could relay it as his own to his new crush was one of the episode's better moments, and absolutely heartbreaking to boot.

The second episode was a little more the focused and linear, and it had a favorite device of mine from the older seasons, where the B-plot turns out to be at least as important (if not more so) to the overall narrative than the A-plot.  You see, this episode was supposedly about Marshall trying to get a job working for Martin Short's environmental law firm, and his unfortunate run-in with employer cyber screening practices.  Additionally, we saw Barney continue to attempt to win Norah's affections by camping out in an all-night diner (which I guess would have actually been the B-plot, meaning Ted's was the C-plot, or maybe the B 2.0- plot).  I am not crazy about what they've done with Norah's character in this episode; she seems a little snobbish, I guess, and what I liked about her before was that she seemed so earnest.  However, this gives me further hope that she is not his endgame relationship, because this show has a historical tendency to spoil female characters once they've decided she is not "the one" for Ted (see Stella, Zoey, Victoria, and even Robin to an extent).  It is not a huge jump in logic to think they might be doing the same with Barney to outline Robin (or someone else, I grudgingly admit) as his true love.

But like I was saying about Ted's plot-- it felt throwaway, to him and to us, and so I wasn't super invested in him going to the Architect's Ball (though the bit with Robin angling for an invite was pretty great), and I didn't really think anything of consequence would happen there.  That in combination with the fact that I was sure Ted's running into an ex flame was something we wouldn't be seeing until at least November sweeps made Victoria's last-minute appearance genuinely and satisfyingly shocking.  I can't wait to see that interaction next week.

Do I think Ted will end up with Victoria?  No, probably not.  Six years is a long time, and though I think Ted will certainly try to pick up where they left off, it won't work out.  We've gotten too many clues about the mother for it to turn out to be Victoria, whom Ted knew and dated for a while (and therefore would have known well enough to be able to tell if she was Rachel Bilson's roommate, just to point out one example), and I'm pretty sure the showrunners still think they've got enough time to introduce the mother as a completely new character.  If the writing stays at this quality level, maybe they do.  In any case, season 7 is off to a hilarious and well-crafted start, and I am excited to stay tuned for more in the weeks to come.

TV Review: It's Always Sunny 7.1: "Frank's Pretty Woman"

The gang is back and while they're maybe not better than ever, they are definitely better than this time last year, which opens the door for all manner of hilarity.  For last night's premiere the writers went with a few of the things they know already work so well for this show and used those to reach new heights of ridiculous antics.  We saw Frank achieving maximum grossness in his relationship with Roxy, a crack-smoking hooker (literally though), and his plan to propose to her so that she would only sleep with him (don't worry, he assured her that she would continue to be paid).  We also saw Dennis try to save the gang from becoming the "gross crew" (you're about two years too late on that one, amigo), and staging an intervention for Mac, who has put on an astonishing 50 pounds that he fervently insists is muscle mass.  Dee and Charlie were up to their own various escapades, with Dee first pitching the idea of getting a pit bull for Paddy's pub and then attempting to give Roxy a makeover; and Charlie scheming (for reasons I can't quite remember) with Frank to convince a woman that he is a millionaire.

How did it all shake out?  Well, Dennis and Mac made a trip to the doctor and found out that not only has Mac developed Type-2 diabetes, but Dennis is not nearly as healthy as he thought.  The two bond over chimichangas, which Mac now apparently carries around in a trash bag at all times, and Dennis tries to cut back on his self-deprivation.  I really liked Mac offering up his insulin like a party drug when Dennis seemed down, and Dennis' subsequent realization that what he really wanted was some crack, which as we know he and Dee had a previous addiction.  Dee did not manage to successfully make-over Roxy, but she did learn that she may have a potential career in dealing with foot fetishists, and she delivered Roxy just in time for Frank's proposal.  Charlie's millionaire gambit was by far the funniest, though-- so many factors that weren't funny independently came together to make this a true achievement in absurdity.  First, his ridiculous "Texan" accent, and him wearing the denim he had found in a box under a bridge (don't worry, he boiled it first!).  Second, the blood incident.  I can't even really describe how disgusting this was, but Charlie's explanation should give you some idea:  he wanted to fake coughing up a little blood to make his fake illness realistic, and so swallowed "a bunch" of blood capsules, resulting in a projectile regurgitation of both blood and vomit and one of my favorite lines of the night ("I have a touch of consumption"). 

By the time all the dust has settled from these various goings-on, it's time for Frank's proposal, set at his and Charlie's apartment.  Dennis and Mac dress for the occasion in comfy shirts designed to "hide their fatness", and Charlie is covered in blood.  Just when you think it can't get any more romantic, Frank praises Roxy's abilities as a whore and asks her to be his wife, at which point she keels over and dies (not. joking.).  Now, because it would obviously bad for the authorities to discover a dead hooker in Charlie's apartment, the gang decides to dispose of her body in the hallway and then phone in an anonymous tip, from a pay phone.  "Pretty Woman" then closes out the episode as the gang ditches the corpse of Frank's would-be fiancee.

Overall, this premiere has about as much crassness as we've all come to expect from this show, and then some.  I look forward to the gang's continued adventures which, as Dennis divined, are likely to get increasingly extreme (and gross).  Welcome back, guys.

TV Review: Up All Night

In Up All Night we've got another show with a premise that has definite potential but which makes its debut with an underwhelming pilot.  Will Arnett and Christina Applegate are Chris and Reagan, new parents to baby Amy, who has some kind of weird thing going on with her hair (or does all baby hair look like that?).  Whatever the case, the hair was distracting.

I really enjoyed the cold open with Chris and Reagan waiting for the pregnancy test results (and especially Reagan's monologue about her bleak future in a nursing home), and the reversal of the stereotypical roles (Chris stays home with the baby while Reagan goes back to work).  Maya Rudolph's character freshens things up a bit with her trademark over-the-top humor.  She plays an Oprah-like talk show host, complete with inflated self-importance, who is heavily dependent on Reagan to do basically all her work (example:  "we're going to put our heads together and Reagan's going to come up with something"). 

We see some of Chris' adventures in childcare, which are amusing but which don't dominate the episode, which I think really does it a favor.  He also busies himself coming up with an elaborate plan (and a fantastic invitation/itinerary) for his and Reagan's 7th anniversary celebration, which of course never come to fruition.  Reagan gets caught up at work and Chris stays home and apparently eats an entire pizza by himself (I really liked the shame he played this scene with).  They eventually decide to go out later in the evening to reclaim their lost "idiot" years, bar-hopping and singing karaoke which, despite being an obvious play for laughs, works because who wouldn't enjoy Arnett, Applegate, and Rudolph performing a drunken rendition of "It's Raining Men"?  That's right, no one.


While this show has to prove itself by showing a little more range in its subsequent episodes, there is a definite motif here begging to be explored.  What all three of the main characters have in common is a kind of perpetual adolescence, a desire to remain their young, hip selves even whilst they navigate the waters of adulthood and the responsibilities therein.  This obviously isn't going to work, at least for the new parents (as they learn when they wake up to vicious hangovers and a screaming baby), and I am interested to see how this development continues as the show wears on.  It's not a lesson any of them will learn overnight, and it will be fun to watch these hilarious actors try to find their way toward maturity. 

(Advance) TV Review: New Girl

So the folks over at FOX decided to go for a more aggressive approach marketing this show by putting the full pilot up on iTunes for free downloading (at last check it was still available, so if you don't feel like waiting till next Tuesday, I recommend it).  I watched it on Saturday but wasn't quite ready to form an opinion of it, and so watched it again last night to see if I could glean anything new.  I think I'm one of the few people I know not blinded by the Zooey Deschanel adorable factor, and so that has allowed me to be more objective than the army of her fans who will undoubtedly supply this show with the bulk of its ratings.

The premise is pretty simple:  Deschanel's character Jess is smarting from a bad breakup and wants somewhere new to live.  Cue interview session with the three amigos in their almost too-good-to-be-true apartment.  We meet her three soon-to-be roommates, only one of whom (Nick) seems to have a first name.  The other two are called Coach (yep, you read that right), and Schmidt (which I'm assuming is his surname).  And yes, on the whole they are as flat and douche-y as they sound.  The only redeeming quality these three have in the pilot is that they form a quick, platonic attachment to Jess and by episode's end really have her back, which is nice because she needs all the help she can get. 

Looking at this show's long-term potential, however, raises some flags.  The pilot had some laughs, certainly, and the writers should be able to coast on the whole "the gang gets into a mix-up" gimmick for a while, but if they don't do something about characterization this show is going to lose its charm fast.  Jess is very funny and has the potential to continue to get laughs, so long as she doesn't let the guys whitewash her.  Most of the things I thought were funny were her awkwardness and "nerdy" references, but you could already see hints of her trying to shed that skin because it wasn't "cool" enough.  I'd like to see Jess remain an unabashed nerd, something that can still work really well in comedy (there's a reason both male leads from The Big Bang Theory have Emmy nominations).  If she becomes just another pretty girl trying to fit in, this show will embark on a slippery downhill slope, fast. 

Of the three roommates, only Nick is tolerable right now, and even he's walking a tightrope there.  He is introduced with an easy role; he's the heartbroken, kind-of-a-bummer guy.  But that works for him, and of the three guys he seems to have the most genuine interest in being friends with Jess, proven when he ditches drinks with his ex to go and "save" Jess from being stood up.  His character runs the risk of becoming bland, though, if they don't come up with something other than the recently-dumped angle.  I noticed that he apparently works at the bar they go to on their first night out; I'm sure that could be incorporated in some way to add to his character or at least provide an activity for him that isn't moping over his ex (played, incidentally, by the fantastic Mary Elizabeth Ellis, aka "the waitress" from Always Sunny).  Coach, on the other hand, has hitherto exhibited almost no personality whatsoever.  By the end of the pilot we know two things about him:  he's a personal trainer and he is apparently a hardass/sucks at talking to women.  Let's peel the onion a little with this one, guys.  And Schmidt...well, let's just say that if this character keeps up his current antics, he will be the reason I (and likely many others) have to stop watching this show.  He is really, really douche-y, unapologetically so, even when he has to put money in the "douchebag jar" (I did like that).  I get that we need to have the one guy who is kind of full of himself and is (hopefully) being set up for eventual redemption, but if you ask me, his personality still needs to be toned down a little.  Not only is he kind of a jackass in a very stereotypical way (he decides Jess should move in because her friends are models, and he removes his shirt whenever he feels like there's a woman nearby who needs to be impressed), but he also comes off as extremely unintelligent.  If this is all for the sake of his later development/improvement, I hope that Jess intervenes sooner rather than later.  Also, on a somewhat unrelated note, what the heck is his job, where he apparently works exclusively with shrill women?

All of that said (and now looking back I'm realizing I had a lot more thoughts than I expected), there are still some moments where the show exhibits real potential.  Jess' quirks, as aforementioned, so long as they aren't overused or wiped away completely, make her character much more relatable, so that even though it is clear why the guy stands her up for their date, you still feel genuinely bad for her.  Additionally, the scene in the restaurant, as cheesy as it was, gives us the most fantastically garbled, off-key rendition of "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" that I've ever heard, although I spent most of the episode wondering why Dirty Dancing would be someone's go-to breakup movie. 

Overall, New Girl gives us a somewhat uneven pilot with glimmers of potential.  I think it will be clear within the next two or three episodes whether this is a show worth sticking with, because it will either get much better or much worse (there's not much room for a middle ground).  Check it out on iTunesTuesday, September 20th on FOX.

Fall TV 2011: How I Met Your Mother, Season 7

Where We Left Off:  Marshall and Lily found out that they are about to become parents, after months of ups and downs.  Ted broke up with Zoey, to the surprise of no one.  And Barney made life changes in two different time periods:  in the present we saw him earn a second chance with Norah, his months-long crush, much to the dismay of Robin; and in the future ("some time down the road," according to Ted's narration) Barney prepares to (gasp!) walk down the aisle...at his own wedding!

What's Ahead:  Season 6's finale set us up to solve some pretty big mysteries, the juiciest involving the recently evolved Barney.  We got a potential love-triangle setup, with the further complication of Robin and Norah being co-workers and good friends, and hints that they are the two primary contenders for the position of the mystery bride at Barney's eventual nuptials.  Carter and Bays, the shows producers, tease that this season will have even more twists and turns for both Barney and Robin, and that this love triangle has the potential to become a much more complicated shape.  We are also going to see Marshall and Lily's inevitable hijinks on the road to parenthood, struggling with what adding a baby to their quirky relationship will mean.  And Ted is supposed to get a visit from an old girlfriend, a visit which according to Josh Radnor will "reward long-time viewers of the show."  My money's on Victoria, but it's anyone's guess.

What I'd Like to See:  Carter and Bays have said in multiple interviews that this is going to be very much a "Robin season," something I will be interested to see given the fact that she seemed to get the short straw for most of season six.  I'd like to see her have an arc similar to one we saw Barney given last year, easing her into the character she's going to be in the show's endgame.  She's apparently getting Kal Penn as a psychologist and possibly as a competing love interest, which has definite potential, but I hope they do a bit more with her than exclusively romantic stories.  Also rumored to be getting better material this season is Ted, who in the wake of Marshall and Lily's news will renew the search for Ms. Right/the titular mother he's been yakking about for the past six years.  I'm getting a little tired of seeing Ted in long-term relationships with placeholder women, so I hope that Carter and Bays have something a bit more momentous up their sleeves.  We'll have to see, but if anything is guaranteed on this show, it's a steady supply of laughs, and I'm looking forward to every one.

Premiere Date:  Monday, September 19th on CBS

Emmys 2011: Predictions

The Primetime Emmy Awards are almost upon us, airing on Sunday, September 18th on FOX.  Jane Lynch will be hosting, and since she's usually pretty hilarious I think we can all expect a pretty good show.  And maybe, just maybe, that good show will compensate for some of the grievous snubs that have taken place this Emmy season (though I doubt it).  Here are my thoughts on who will win and who should win* in each of the big categories.

Supporting Actor, Comedy
Chris Colfer, Glee
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Ty Burrell, Modern Family*
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Ed O'Neill, Modern Family
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

I think a part of me is a little resentful still at the excess of Modern Family love in this category-- don't get me wrong, all the men involved are hilarious, but they didn't all give the best performances of the year.  However, I was rooting for Ty Burrell prior to the nominations, and I really do think he's the best of the bunch here.  That said, I think the vote is going to tip in Ed O'Neill's favor, as this is his first nomination.  Either that or all the Modern Family guys will split the vote and we'll see a Chris Colfer win, which would be kind of a bummer.

Supporting Actress, Comedy
Julie Bowen, Modern Family*
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Jane Lynch, Glee
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Kristen Wiig, SNL*
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock

I don't think the Betty White love-fest is quite over, so I'm pretty certain she'll get this one.  But I would love to see Julie Bowen get in there, or for Kristen Wiig, this category's wild card in every sense, to take home the prize.

Supporting Actor, Drama
*I really have no opinion on this one, as I haven't seen any of the performances nominated


Supporting Actress, Drama
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire*
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Michelle Forbes, The Killing
Margo Martindale, Justified

Lead Actor, Comedy
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Steve Carrell, The Office*
Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory
Louis C.K., Louie
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Johnny Galecki, Big Bang Theory

Steve Carrell is the sentimental choice, but this time around it's well-earned.  His performance as Michael Scott preparing to leave the Dunder Mifflin crew behind for good was genuinely heartfelt and hilarious, and one that, unlike the other nominees, won't have a chance at being replicated next year.

Lead Actress, Comedy
Laura Linney, The Big C
Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation*
Melissa McCarthy, Mike and Molly
Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Laura Linney is the favorite, and she is a fantastic actress, but I want Amy Poehler to win so badly that my heart hurts a little.  Leslie Knope is one of the best characters on television because of Poehler and the skill she brings, and I just want someone to recognize that, gosh darnit.

Lead Actor, Drama
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire*
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Timothy Olyphant, Justified

Lead Actress, Drama
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men*
Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order SVU
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Kathy Bates, Harry's Law

Outstanding Comedy
Glee
Modern Family
The Office
Parks and Recreation*
The Big Bang Theory
30 Rock

I need a Parks win here.  I need someone besides me and a bunch of other lowly bloggers to acknowledge that this is the best comedy currently on television, hands down.  Modern Family is great, and I watch it every week and laugh along, but the second season lacked the originality and spark of the first, and it just didn't top Parks in terms of comedy this year.

Outstanding Drama
Mad Men
Boardwalk Empire
The Good Wife
Friday Night Lights
Dexter
Game of Thrones*


Boardwalk Empire seems on track to sweep all the major awards, and that's fine.  However, there is nothing I love more than an upset, which is why I'd love to see Game of Thrones (which from what I've read has quite the nerd following) walk away with the prize instead.

Fall TV 2011: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Season 7

When it comes to making predictions about the gang and their inevitable hijinks, I can't always be sure what's to come.  For instance, I don't think I would have ever predicted this little-show-that-could reaching all the way to its seventh season, which is huge for any show but downright staggering for an original comedy on basic cable.  Yes, season six had its ups and downs (mostly downs, especially as the season drew to a close), but based on what I've read about the forthcoming season (and especially those fantastic over-the-top promos), I think Charlie, Mac and the gang are about to stage a comeback in the best way.

I've been skimming a lot of articles like this one during my Fall TV preparation period, and though there have only been little glimpses as to what we might see Paddy's crew doing this fall, many of those glimpses have definite promise, not to mention considerable potential for hilarity.  We've all probably heard or read some of the buzz about Rob McElhenney's absurd plan to pack on 50 pounds in an attempt to supply fresh material and more laughs for his character Mac, but here are some of the tidbits you may not have heard, and which I'm equally excited to see.

*  Frank will find himself in a re-creation of Pretty Woman.  Knowing how disgusting Frank is capable of being, it will be interesting (to say the least) to see the working girl with low enough standards to be charmed by him.

*  The gang will become involved with a children's beauty pageant.  I don't think I have to explain the possibilities here.

*  The gang will visit the Jersey Shore, but as Charlie Day intimated on Conan last week, it won't necessarily be to spoof the MTV show.  He claims they are instead on a mission to illustrate that there are "much better...and much much worse" people living on the Shore than the perpetually bronzed cast.

*  2012 and the impending apocalypse will be addressed.  Am I the only one who thinks/hopes Charlie already has some kind of plan in place for such a scenario, and that we'll get to see it?

*  More of The Waitress, not to mention Jason Sudeikis, who guest-starred in one of season 6's better installments.  I won't say no to either of these things.

For the full intel on what's to come, feel free to peruse the article, linked above.  I think it's safe to say that no matter what, the gang will have a triumphant return when the show comes back this Thursday, September 15th on FX.  I know I've been watching far too many relatively well-adjusted people on television, and I've missed Dee, Dennis, Charlie, Mac, and even Frank, more than I ever thought possible.

Movie Review: Contagion

This movie is both well paced and oddly timely in its release, and manages not to struggle too much beneath the weight of its all-star cast.  Contagion is genuinely intriguing and tragic, and touches on the important issues that emerge in the wake of any kind of disaster without being too preachy or heavy-handed.

The film follows the explosive progression of an unidentified disease in various clusters throughout the world.  Gwyneth Paltrow's character Beth's demise gets the ball rolling, and members of the CDC scramble to determine whether she is the all-important "index patient" responsible for the initial spread of the disease.  Matt Damon plays her grieving husband who is also mysteriously immune to the disease, a convenience which also affords him immunity to the predictable panic, looting, and rioting which ensue as the disease takes more and more lives. 

Director Steven Soderbergh tells the story with his usual talent for scope and depth, though there are a few loose ends not quite tied up by the film's end (though it's very possible that this is intentional).  The acting on the whole is pretty good, though there are definite standouts, including Kate Winslet, Jennifer Ehle, and Marion Cotillard, who all play strong female characters fighting to understand and contain the disease on different fronts.  I think I could have observed individual performances a bit better if I hadn't been so busy cataloging the famous people on the screen (there's an appearance by Demetri Martin, for goodness sake), so I suppose you could call it a bit distracting, though not necessarily detrimental to the film.

What is most affecting about this movie, though, is the moment at which it emerges.  The decision to release it two days prior to the 9/11 anniversary seems very deliberate given the tone and message of the film, which explores not only the possibilities of biological disaster, but the possibilities of our fear and how we might react in such circumstances.  I found it strange to hear some of my fellow audience members laughing at some of the behavior of the panicked citizens in the film, and in a way it was almost affronting.  Part of me wanted nothing more than to turn around and ask if they didn't think they or their loved ones would do the exact same things with their own lives on the line.  I guess this just serves to show that a film like this can either bounce right off the viewer or stick with them in a profound way, and maybe that depends more on the watcher than the material itself.

Fall TV 2011: The New Class

The new season of television is nearly upon us, and I for one am very excited (probably too much so, in fact).  I can't wait for my favorites to return, but more than usual I'm excited to see what new material the networks have up their proverbial sleeves.  Because I will no longer be watching or reviewing the weekly train wreck that is Glee, I have an open slot in my review-roster, and I think that I may just fill it with one of the somewhat promising new shows headed our way.  I've narrowed the field to three candidates I plan on watching, and in a few episodes' time I hope to decide which one, if any, will become a part of my weekly lineup.

Up All Night  (NBC, Wednesday September 14th)
This show has so many ingredients that should make it a smash hit.  Genius producer who also produces a little show called Saturday Night Live?  Check.  All-star, proven hilarious cast?  Check.  Potentially amusing premise?  Check.  Of all the pilots I plan on watching, this is definitely the one that seems most like a sure thing, provided the writing isn't overshadowed/overcompensated for by all of the aforementioned factors, and provided that they haven't already shoved every funny moment into the onslaught of promos I've already seen.  There are few people I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to more than Will Arnett, though, so for now this remains my frontrunner.

New Girl (FOX, September 20th)
I am definitely intrigued by this one, even if I still don't know that I buy Zooey Deschanel as awkward in a non-hipster, non-ironic way.  I do think I might like her better on the small screen (and in smaller doses) than carrying an entire movie, and the premise definitely has potential.  I'll be interested to see what kind of role the supporting characters play, as right now it just seems like a vehicle for Deschanel's character.  I think I'll like it as long as her roommates stay platonic, because I really do think the idea of her becoming kind of their new bro would be much more fun than her developing a default romance with one of them.  Don't know that I'll be able to glean evidence of all of this from the pilot, so it may take a couple of weeks for me to make a judgment call on this one.

2 Broke Girls  (CBS, September 19th)
Two girls, different sides of the tracks, unlikely friendship... I'm a little bored already, I'll admit.  However, I will give this one a chance if only because I do enjoy Kat Dennings and if the Upfront for the pilot is any indication, the show will at least be full of her trademark sass until it either settles into a groove or gets canceled.  I honestly think this show could go either way, but I'll watch it primarily because I like the idea of having a pilot out there that seems very much a throwback to the classic sitcom and could be part of a revival I'd very much like to see.

*  Additionally, there are two other shows that will probably come across my radar and which I may or may not be inclined to comment upon here.  The first is the ABC series Once Upon a Time, which doesn't premiere until October and the premise of which I'm not entirely sold on, but turning down something from the writers of LOST is something I'm just not able to do.  The other is, unfortunately, NBC's new comedy Whitney, which I will inevitably wind up watching by accident when I don't change channels fast enough following The Office.  This show looks by far the worst of the over-hyped pilots, which is a shame because I actually do like most of Whitney Cummings' stand-up.  I'll probably see one of the few episodes before NBC comes to its senses and boots it, and I hope that it won't be the torture-fest promised by each and every ad I've encountered.

Book Review: Little Children by Tom Perrotta

There is a lot of suburban dysfunction literature floating out there right now (and I love so much of it), but few people do with quite the same snap as Tom Perrotta.  I've been meaning to read Little Children for a while now, and after reading his novel The Abstinence Teacher earlier this summer, I fast-tracked it to the top of my list.  I can say now that I do not regret this decision in the slightest.

Little Children is a strange book when one attempts to describe it in minimal terms.  It's about two parents who engage in an affair with one another in an attempt to revive their dismal, unhappy existences.  But it's also about a pedophile who moves into the very same neighborhood to live with his ailing mother, and the social ostracism which results.  Sounds like a strange pitch, but the two narratives meld together in such a way that by novel's end it seems impossible to have told the story in its fullness while neglecting one of them.

Sarah and Todd are the two adulterers, young parents who never thought they'd find themselves bogged down with a child and all those other pesky grownup responsibilities.  Their angst as individuals is typical, but their coming together is strange, emerging out of the blue and accelerating in a way that can only spell disaster in the end.  I appreciated Perrotta's depiction for its realism, however semi-tragic it may appear:  both Sarah and Todd believe that this affair is something they not only need but deserve, and both harbor resentment toward just about everyone in their lives outside the affair's bubble, including their children.  Sarah in particular is downright annoyed with her daughter for much of the time we see them together, and while some might read that as too harsh, it's an unfortunate truth:  some mothers just don't like their daughters, and sometimes it's for so small a crime as failing to fill a void for which they were never responsible.  What is a bit wearing about Sarah and Todd's affair, however, is the depiction of their respective spouses.  Sarah's husband Richard is a bit of a pervert but slowly evolves into a complete creep, almost forcing the reader to declare Sarah's adultery justifiable.  Similarly, Todd's wife Karen is the family breadwinner and thus is cast as the obligatory workaholic spouse, who upon learning of the affair promptly becomes even more unlikeable.  I for one didn't need all this extra convincing that Sarah and Todd had considerable motivation for their actions, but Perrotta seems to supply it more for the purpose of enriching the satire than anything else.

Ronnie McGorvey is the town's new pedophile-in-residence, and it's difficult to decide what is more disturbing:  how creepy his every action, word, and mannerism is, or the fact that despite all this the relationship he has with his elderly mother makes them both sympathetic in a strange way.  His mother is to be pitied, that much is clear, but what really enhances this part of the story is the way that, despite all of his horrible behavior, Ronnie does love her very much, and doesn't want to hurt her.  Unfortunately, even this doesn't quite make his alleged kidnapping and murder of a little girl reconcilable.

One of the best things this novel has to offer is its insight into the spectrum of perception and judgment.  Each of the characters plays his or her part in illustrating this, and showing that we misunderstand and misjudge others just about all the time.  Sometimes we think people are much better than they are, sometimes we feel sure we know them and find out we don't at all, and sometimes they're even worse than we could have ever imagined.  Little Children provides a sampling of each, and does it in a way that somehow still manages to leave the shadow of a smirk on your face.

Book Review: Plan B by Jonathan Tropper

Yes, more Tropper.  I can't help this obsession any more than anyone else can, and I'll be very sorry when I've finished the last of his already published works, most likely sometime next week or thereabouts.  Plan B is Tropper's debut novel, written more than a decade ago, and is pretty damn impressive for a rookie effort.  I always enjoy reading an author's older work, particularly if I've already seen some of the later stuff, because there are so many interesting little things to find in the text.  This book is no exception:  most of Tropper's trademark wit and sarcasm is already well-established in the characters of Plan B, though they are perhaps slightly less sharp and cynical than some of his later subjects.  It also shows us the first instance of what later becomes a trend and arguably the centerpiece of Tropper's works, the man on the verge of something, vaguely devastated by his life but not quite understanding why until a critical moment in the tale-- the progression is hammered home with a much heavier hand in this early story, and we even get the milestone of the protagonist's 30th birthday to help us along as we take his journey with him.  Overall, glimmers of what will become a much more refined talent shine through in spades throughout this book, but it's the genuinely heartfelt story that keeps the reader engaged and, I imagine, willing to read more from this writer.

Plan B is about a group of friends who have reached 30 more or less in one piece (some more and some less than others).  Ben is the protagonist, Tropper's vehicle for most of the book's introspection.  He comes off a bit whiny and self-pitying at times, but it is more forgivable as the scene of his life unfolds further, revealing a group of adults who despite the passage of time have somehow failed to grow up.  The group comes together in an effort to help their friend Jack, a highly successful film star, get off cocaine for good following a few well-publicized disasters.  It is clear that approaching Jack in a rational way isn't going to make a difference, so naturally the friends decide to kidnap him.  Ben fumbles to assist with the plan, but it is clear that his friend Chuck, a surgeon, is both the brains and the brawn of the operation, while Allison, who is in love with Jack, seems to have the purest motivation.  This leaves Ben and his ex-girlfriend Lindsey largely alone with the question of where it all went wrong. 

If there is anything to complain about in this book, it might just be the romance between Ben and Lindsey.  It feels forced, and almost too easy at several moments, and in comparison to some of the relationships Tropper depicts in his later novels (and I just can't resist comparing), it truly pales.  Lindsey's rationale for their initial breakup is an earnest, fairly reasonable one, and so their reunion is just a little too convenient, feeling like it could use a bit more substance or complication.  Fortunately, I think the fact that this is an ensemble-heavy story is what saves it:  the dynamic of the larger group and most particularly each person's relationship with the wayward Jack is what keeps Lindsey and Ben from becoming tedious to read about, and what proves that they could not have carried the story on their own.

Despite the specific agenda of the plot, this book is about "what it means to be an adult against your will" (I read that on the back cover and I really just love the phrasing).  Ben and his friends discover the hard way that fancy jobs, money, and romance notwithstanding, you simply can't and won't be happy if you're stuck in the past or else simply standing still, waiting for life to happen to you.  The novel concludes in a manner that is satisfyingly consistent with this theme, with no loose end tied up too neatly and no doors entirely closed on the possibilities of the future.  They are, after all, only 30.

Read this book.  Read it for your friends, as a re-affirmation that you really would do anything for them, and that their company is, 90% of the time, all you really need to feel better.  Read it for a lost love, for the one who got away or for the one who stuck around for way too long.  Read it for yourself, to remind yourself that life is never perfect, never, and that you have to find a way forward in spite of that.

Book Review: How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper

Jonathan Tropper has carefully carved himself a niche, and that niche is a depiction of grief that is somehow both poignant and peppered with hilarity.  I didn't think such a combination stood a chance at succeeding until I read Tropper's 2011 novel, This is Where I Leave You, and even then I thought it must be a piece of stand-alone genius, that Tropper must be a brand new voice, perhaps even a one-hit wonder.  So imagine my surprise when I picked up How to Talk to a Widower by pure chance at the library and discovered that this particular brand of brilliantly witty tragedy is something Tropper has been perfecting for years.

In How to Talk to a Widower we meet Doug, the titular widower (try saying that three times fast), a man who, at age 29, was hardly expecting to find himself lost in the aftermath of his wife's tragic demise and struggling to simply function in a world that has kept on turning without him.  Doug's family appears on the scene, an integral part of his mourning process and a wonderfully dysfunctional group who are themselves walking a tightrope between support for and frustration with their wayward relative.  Doug's twin sister Claire is especially charming in a sardonic fashion, convinced she can kick her brother's ass right out of his funk while simultaneously dealing with her own crumbling marriage.  But by far the best supporting player is Doug's rebellious teenage stepson Russ, who falls seamlessly into dual roles as both the child in need of guidance and a uniquely understanding friend with whom Doug can commiserate.

What is most impressive about this book, though, is the journey we take within Doug's mind, guided by a tortured narration that is devastatingly real.  Doug spends huge amounts of time obsessing over the details of his wife's death, over memories that are more significant than ever in the wake of his loss.  He even writes a regular column for the magazine he works at, examining his experience and almost inadvertently sharing the feelings he tries to suppress; and while this might sound over-the-top, it adds yet another layer to the intricate portrait of a man in transition, a man who must navigate a new world without the person he had come to rely on to guide him.

For anyone who's lost someone, and even for those who haven't, this book is a must-read.  Tropper's insights may emerge from unexpected places but they ring all the more true for it.