thursday
Sincere thanks to those who’ve written to me and/or sent some warm wishes or contributions my way during this tough time. Y’all rock. Your kind thoughts, contributions, and job leads are appreciated at all times, but now more than ever (for those just tuning in, I was laid off from my job yesterday).
And now, for what you’ve all been waiting for (or visiting this webpage for).
So many great picks today, I’m almost overwhelmed. I’ll be a happy girl in spite of all that’s going on in my life if I watch today’s episodes of China Beach, Babylon 5, Gilmore Girls, Now and Again, Sports Night, Homicide and then maybe Support Your Local Sheriff and/or The Great Escape. Okay even now that I’m unemployed, I don’t have time for all of that (though perhaps I should stockpile these things on tape or Tivo for a day when there’s not so much good stuff on).
Featured pick:
If you’ve been watching Babylon 5 (Sci-Fi, 6pm, letterboxed) this time around on the Sci-Fi channel, you may have noticed yesterday’s rerun was something of a Major Cliffhanger. That cliffhanger nearly wiped out me and other B5 fans when it originally aired. ‘Cuz it aired in June and we had to wait until the very end of October for the next episode.
Today’s episode is the first of the last five episodes of the series. Much was made about the last five episodes during that long long stretch between June and the end of October; I really doubted any episodes could live up to my expectations by then.
And yeah, there are bits that disappoint me and I like some episodes better than others, but ultimately the last five episodes of B5 are pretty darn cool. They left me wanting more and while that ticked me off at first, that’s also a sign of a tale well told.
Many like the final episode of the series best of these five, but I’m particularly fond of this evenings episode.
How fabulous is Peter Jurasik as Londo Mollari? How wonderful is Andreas Katsulas as G’Kar? They both rock, but this episode belongs to Jurasik as Londo.
When I first saw Babylon 5, I thought the makeup and the effects and whatnot were awfully cheesy (and not in a good way). It distracted me. I wasn’t sure what to make of Londo Mollari at all, or why I should care.
Now I think he’s one of the more memorable characters of any fiction I’ve encountered. He and G’Kar are linked in my mind, and are (IMHO) the best part of Babylon 5.
More picks and possibilities:
Dorothy Lamour, Virginia Mayo, and Lloyd Nolan guest star as classic film stars (imagine that!) who need the help of Remington Steele (PAX, 3pm).
Colleen McMurphy (Dana Delany) has trouble adjusting to life back in her hometown after she returns from Vietnam in the “Fever” episode of China Beach (History Channel, Noon and 6pm).
If you missed Seth Green on The Daily Show (Comedy Central, 6pm) last night, you can still catch him on the show this evening.
While Gilmore Girls (WB, 7pm) has moved to it’s new timeslot (7pm on Tuesday nights), it’s also still sometimes airing in it’s old timeslot on Thursday nights. The more Gilmore Girls airs, the happier I am. In tonight’s episode, Lorelai says she’s gonna break up with Rory’s teacher Max Medina (Scott Cohen), but ends up doing something else altogether . . . something quite embarassing for Rory. I’m telling you– don’t let the title or these episode synopsis or anything else you’ve heard turn you off: Gilmore Girls is one of the best shows on right now. (And did you hear that rumor a while back that Aaron Sorkin wrote the show? Crazy . . . and untrue).
More James Garner movies: Support Your Local Sheriff (TCM, 7pm) is a very funny film. And The Great Escape (TCM, 9pm) is, of course, a classic. Garner is also in The Children’s Hour (TCM, midnight) with Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Maclaine. As a TV girl, I mostly associate Garner with television: Maverick, The Rockford Files, those Kodak commercials with Mariette Hartley. But this Garner month on TCM is reminding me that Garner has been in some really good movies.
I’m probably one of the few people on the planet who made a point of renting Kalifornia (Showtime, 7pm) because Michelle Forbes and David Duchovny were in it (not because Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis are in it). It’s awfully dark and not really my kind of movie, but hey.
Jeremy Piven Alert!
Jeremy Piven and Maria Pitillo (who’s also cool) guest star on Will and Grace (NBC, 7:30pm). This episode is followed by two more episodes of Will and Grace (NBC, 8pm and 8:30pm) in case you’re interested (alas, no Piven near as I can tell in the other episodes; tune in a half hour late for the first episode and you’ll be seeing Woody Harrelson instead of Jeremy Piven and you really don’t want that). If you really like Will and Grace, you might want to make a night of it and check out Will & Grace: Inside Out (E!, 6pm), a behind-the-scenes special on E!.
The “Pulp Turkey” episode of Now and Again (Sci-Fi, 8pm) is incredibly cool and fun. It seems that Michael Wiseman ends up at his family’s house for Thanksgiving. This would be no big deal on any other show, but on this show his family thinks he’s dead and well, he’s in a superhuman body they don’t recognize and then there are some bad guys to be dealt with and the omnipresent Doc and well. It’s fun! It’s funny! And romantic, too (awww).
Jay Mohr and David Paymer are among the guest stars on a new episode of Night Visions (FOX, 8pm). Henry Rollins hosts this anthology series.
“Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennesee” is one of my favorite episodes of one of my favorite series: Sports Night (Comedy Central, 9:30pm). If you’ve not tried the show yet, this is a good one to try. Have no fear, it’s not (really) about sports at all. The show’s got that quirky Aaron Sorkin mix of drama and humor just like The West Wing (but, IMHO, better). And how fabulous is Robert Guillaume in this episode? Amazing.
“Hate Crimes” is one of my favorite episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street (Court TV, 10pm). I’ve watched it many times, probably the most of any episode of Homicide outside of the pilot episode. It’s one of my favorite episodes of any series. It’s so very good. Oddly enough, it’s a Thanksgiving episode so it kindof goes with the Now and Again Thanksgiving episode. I’ve recommended this episode before. And another time (you’ll have to scroll a ways to see that rave or do a “find” on “Hate Crimes”). Dean Winters guest stars. Written by James Yoshimura and Tom Fontana, directed by Peter Weller. Featuring the song “What A Good Boy” by Barenaked Ladies. This episode is probably more accessible than many of the earlier episodes, for what it’s worth.
Tom Green is on The Late Show w/ David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm): consider yourself warned. Somehow I bet Dave will have a lot to say to Mr. Green (especially because of his relationship with Drew Barrymore).
Nicolas Cage sits on the couch and talks to Jay, while Russell Crowe performs with his band as musical guest (really!) on The Tonight Show (NBC, 10:35pm).
Mira Sorvino (where on earth has she been?), Jim Breuer, and Train on Late Night w/ Conan O’Brien (NBC, 11:35pm).
