Post by Naj on May 30, 2005 16:19:53 GMT -5
Short mention of Cold Case finale.
Posted on Mon, May. 30, 2005
Season ends with style, audacity
By Charlie McCollum
Mercury News
Some thoughts, views and serious 'tude on the last few weeks of the network television season:
• Best series finale: ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' which handled its swan song with the same grace and humor it has shown over nine years on the air. (``NYPD Blue'' is a close second for its stylish exit back in March.)
• Worst series finale: ``Third Watch.'' The producers apparently thought loud explosions and implausible mayhem made for a fitting farewell.
• Best season finale: Whoa, a lot of contenders of this coveted prize -- ``24,'' love the final shot of Jack Bauer walking off toward the sunrise; ``Desperate Housewives,'' which deftly resolved its underlying mystery while kicking off new story lines; and ``Gilmore Girls,'' a poignant, bittersweet episode with a sensational performance by Lauren Graham as Lorelai. But my choice for sheer audacity and the scope of what it attempted: ``Lost,'' a rousing end to a terrific first season.
• Best finale you may not have seen (but should have): The gripping showdown between Detective Lilly Rush (Kathryn Morris) and a serial killer (John Billingsley) on ``Cold Case.'' Another example of how good this series has become in its second season.
• Final scenes with most kick: ``Alias,'' where Vaughn was just about to reveal his real identity to true love Sydney when they were rammed by a car; ``NCIS,'' with the unexpected death of Kate Todd; and the ``Gilmore'' moment when Lorelai asks Luke to marry her. All were didn't-see-that-coming moments.
• Most satisfying end to a season: ``The Amazing Race'' when Uchenna and Joyce Agu -- two nice people -- beat out the couple everybody loved to hate, ``Boston'' Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich.
• And admit it: Weren't you more than a bit happy to see Brad Rutter beat out über-geek Ken Jennings on ``Jeopardy''?
• OK, OK, any number of ``highly paid'' observers (me included) were wrong in predicting that Bo Bice would be the big winner on ``American Idol.'' I still think Bice is the better performer. But Carrie Underwood has the kind of country voice and sweet charm that should lead to a long and profitable career.
• Most graceful exit: The WB's ``Jack & Bobby.'' The creators realized the chances were good that the show would not get a second season, so they crafted a sweet season finale that provided an emotional payoff for viewers. Truly a class act.
• On the other hand . . . Even though they knew there was a strong possibility the series would not be renewed, the producers of ``Joan of Arcadia'' gave us a season finale that left all kinds of things up in the air. Whether born of arrogance or delusion, the decision showed much disrespect for the show's loyal fans.
• Speaking of exits, here's hoping that wasn't the swan song of Calleigh Duquesne (Emily Procter) in the finale of ``CSI: Miami.'' The character and the actress have been two big reasons to watch the show.
• Best bit of dialogue: On ``Lost'' when Hurley first sees the pirate ship and asks, ``How exactly does something like this happen?'' Replies mysterious French woman Danielle: ``Are you on the same island as I am?''
• And in a month with a high TV body count, we note the passing of Rex Van De Kamp (Steven Culp) on ``Desperate Housewives,'' Caleb Nichol (Alan Dale) on ``The O.C.,'' Kate Todd (Sasha Alexander) on ``NCIS,'' Jason Teague (Jensen Ackles) on ``Smallville,'' Maritza Cruz (Tia Texada) on ``Third Watch'' and Boone Carlyle (Ian Somerhalder) on ``Lost.'' Farewell, and may you rest in peace.
Remote controls
• ``Faith of My Fathers'' (8 tonight, A&E), the film version of Sen. John McCain's bestselling book about his younger years and his time as Vietnam War POW, simply isn't a very good flick. The writing is pedestrian, the direction is sluggish and it looks like the movie was made on a budget of about $1.95. But -- and it's a very large ``but'' -- McCain's story is so compelling and the performances by Shawn Hatosy (``Soldier's Girl'') as McCain and Scott Glenn as his father are so good that ``Faith'' is still worth a couple of hours of your time.
• Also worth noting on this Memorial Day: ``Nightline'' will air its second installment of ``The Fallen'' tonight (11:35 p.m., Ch. 7). It will show photographs of the more than 900 members of the U.S. armed forces who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past year as anchor Ted Koppel reads the names. To accommodate the memorial, the show will expand to 45 minutes.
• There's no better acting performance on television right now than the one comedian Anthony Anderson is turning in weekly on ``The Shield'' (10 p.m. Tuesday, FX) as gang lord Antwon Mitchell. More than holding his own in a cast that includes Glenn Close and Michael Chiklis, Anderson has made the ruthless Mitchell into an engrossing and complex figure.
• And finally, for movie buffs, TCM has another must-see documentary this week in ``Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool'' (8:30 p.m. Wednesday). McQueen was a consummate actor on the screen and an elusive figure off, and this film gets into both sides of his life. The documentary is followed by one of my favorite McQueen movies: 1965's ``The Cincinnati Kid.''
Posted on Mon, May. 30, 2005
Season ends with style, audacity
By Charlie McCollum
Mercury News
Some thoughts, views and serious 'tude on the last few weeks of the network television season:
• Best series finale: ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' which handled its swan song with the same grace and humor it has shown over nine years on the air. (``NYPD Blue'' is a close second for its stylish exit back in March.)
• Worst series finale: ``Third Watch.'' The producers apparently thought loud explosions and implausible mayhem made for a fitting farewell.
• Best season finale: Whoa, a lot of contenders of this coveted prize -- ``24,'' love the final shot of Jack Bauer walking off toward the sunrise; ``Desperate Housewives,'' which deftly resolved its underlying mystery while kicking off new story lines; and ``Gilmore Girls,'' a poignant, bittersweet episode with a sensational performance by Lauren Graham as Lorelai. But my choice for sheer audacity and the scope of what it attempted: ``Lost,'' a rousing end to a terrific first season.
• Best finale you may not have seen (but should have): The gripping showdown between Detective Lilly Rush (Kathryn Morris) and a serial killer (John Billingsley) on ``Cold Case.'' Another example of how good this series has become in its second season.
• Final scenes with most kick: ``Alias,'' where Vaughn was just about to reveal his real identity to true love Sydney when they were rammed by a car; ``NCIS,'' with the unexpected death of Kate Todd; and the ``Gilmore'' moment when Lorelai asks Luke to marry her. All were didn't-see-that-coming moments.
• Most satisfying end to a season: ``The Amazing Race'' when Uchenna and Joyce Agu -- two nice people -- beat out the couple everybody loved to hate, ``Boston'' Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich.
• And admit it: Weren't you more than a bit happy to see Brad Rutter beat out über-geek Ken Jennings on ``Jeopardy''?
• OK, OK, any number of ``highly paid'' observers (me included) were wrong in predicting that Bo Bice would be the big winner on ``American Idol.'' I still think Bice is the better performer. But Carrie Underwood has the kind of country voice and sweet charm that should lead to a long and profitable career.
• Most graceful exit: The WB's ``Jack & Bobby.'' The creators realized the chances were good that the show would not get a second season, so they crafted a sweet season finale that provided an emotional payoff for viewers. Truly a class act.
• On the other hand . . . Even though they knew there was a strong possibility the series would not be renewed, the producers of ``Joan of Arcadia'' gave us a season finale that left all kinds of things up in the air. Whether born of arrogance or delusion, the decision showed much disrespect for the show's loyal fans.
• Speaking of exits, here's hoping that wasn't the swan song of Calleigh Duquesne (Emily Procter) in the finale of ``CSI: Miami.'' The character and the actress have been two big reasons to watch the show.
• Best bit of dialogue: On ``Lost'' when Hurley first sees the pirate ship and asks, ``How exactly does something like this happen?'' Replies mysterious French woman Danielle: ``Are you on the same island as I am?''
• And in a month with a high TV body count, we note the passing of Rex Van De Kamp (Steven Culp) on ``Desperate Housewives,'' Caleb Nichol (Alan Dale) on ``The O.C.,'' Kate Todd (Sasha Alexander) on ``NCIS,'' Jason Teague (Jensen Ackles) on ``Smallville,'' Maritza Cruz (Tia Texada) on ``Third Watch'' and Boone Carlyle (Ian Somerhalder) on ``Lost.'' Farewell, and may you rest in peace.
Remote controls
• ``Faith of My Fathers'' (8 tonight, A&E), the film version of Sen. John McCain's bestselling book about his younger years and his time as Vietnam War POW, simply isn't a very good flick. The writing is pedestrian, the direction is sluggish and it looks like the movie was made on a budget of about $1.95. But -- and it's a very large ``but'' -- McCain's story is so compelling and the performances by Shawn Hatosy (``Soldier's Girl'') as McCain and Scott Glenn as his father are so good that ``Faith'' is still worth a couple of hours of your time.
• Also worth noting on this Memorial Day: ``Nightline'' will air its second installment of ``The Fallen'' tonight (11:35 p.m., Ch. 7). It will show photographs of the more than 900 members of the U.S. armed forces who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past year as anchor Ted Koppel reads the names. To accommodate the memorial, the show will expand to 45 minutes.
• There's no better acting performance on television right now than the one comedian Anthony Anderson is turning in weekly on ``The Shield'' (10 p.m. Tuesday, FX) as gang lord Antwon Mitchell. More than holding his own in a cast that includes Glenn Close and Michael Chiklis, Anderson has made the ruthless Mitchell into an engrossing and complex figure.
• And finally, for movie buffs, TCM has another must-see documentary this week in ``Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool'' (8:30 p.m. Wednesday). McQueen was a consummate actor on the screen and an elusive figure off, and this film gets into both sides of his life. The documentary is followed by one of my favorite McQueen movies: 1965's ``The Cincinnati Kid.''
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I just wanted to get back on this thread.
