More TV shows are coming to DVD and Blu-ray on September 18, just in time to catch up before the new season starts. (And why do the studios always wait until a week or so before the new season? Who has time to catch a full season the day before the new season starts?) Fans of Supernatural (premieres October 3), Modern Family (September 26), The Mentalist (September 30), Hawaii Five-O (September 24), and Suburgatory (October 17) actually get a couple of weeks to get all caught up on the previous season … and I have a lot of catching up to do with Supernatural! If you’re having Olympics withdrawal, there are three highlight videos coming (alas, none from the 3D broadcast, which was pretty awesome), and Steve Martin fans can now have a collection of all of his best moments from his television appearances. All of these, plus two classic westerns and more can be yours. Just click on a link in our handy guide to make a purchase!

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Revolution is one of the most buzzed about new shows coming this fall. Actors Tracy Spiridakos and Billy Burke, as well as, the show’s creator Eric Kripke sat down with us at San Diego Comic-Con to discuss the show. Even though the show doesn’t premiere until next week, you can watch the pilot online now.

For more on Revolution, check out the Quibbling Siblings’ preview and An’s preview.

Tracy Spiridakos plays Charlie Matheson. She set out on a search for her uncle Miles after her father was killed and her brother, Danny, was taken by the militia.

Billy Burke plays Miles Matheson, a former marine who hid out in Chicago. He reluctantly agrees to help Charlie find her brother and presumably knows something about why the power went out.

Eric Kripke is the creator of Revolution. He previously created Supernatural and was executive producer for the first five seasons. He provides insight into the “rules” of the show regarding electricity, including what won’t work.

Revolution premieres September 17th at 10 pm ET on NBC.

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This was one of those Wilfred episodes where all the sappiness oozed out your television screen, if you catch my meaning.

In a certain way, this type of episode is a reality check from some of the other wild and wacky chapters that have come before. It grounds us in the reality of Ryan’s thinking because it forces situations on us the same way it does him. Does that make it the type of half hour we like coming from Wilfred? Sometimes. Because even some of the dopiest episodes reveal something about who Ryan is.

There are three basic directions Wilfred leans: The wacky … the “too cutesy” … and the thinking man’s Wilfred. (That last one is the one I like best; it tosses tidbits and clues about Ryan’s condition could be and what Wilfred (the character) offers up in their relationship, often glimmers of hope Ryan uses to his advantage.) Tonight’s episode was one of the “too cutesy” offerings. It didn’t really fit into the whole mythos and was a throwaway story … except for the fact it got Ryan thinking about Amanda, causing him to show up at her doorstep despite the fact he broke up with her earlier.

The “cutesy” of “Resentment” was the love factor in the story: Drew’s overly worrisome demeanor and unmanly pleading, Jenna’s over-the-top enthusiasm and Wilfred’s pesterish concern about the two of them. “Above all love” inscribed in Jenna’s ring? Corny … and not something you would think could come out of Drew. Ryan? Filled to the brim with “resentment” at the two of them on the verge of nuptials, it’s all he can do to wash the bad taste out of his mouth. The only way to remedy it? Dive into it head first by throwing the couple their wedding in light of the events that took place to postpone the date they already had planned. (Wilfred unwittingly causes Drew to get shot in the leg with surgery to repair his damaged limb on the date their wedding was scheduled.) See? I told you it was one of those “adorable” episode …

Still, the conclusion of it was worth wading through all the sappiness. It appears Ryan has been set to rights (at least temporarily) and Amanda might be back in the picture.

Quotes:

“Being happy is just like being gay … it’s a choice.” — Wilfred to Ryan

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Well, that was certainly a shocking turn of events on this edition of Big Brother! I’ve got to hand it to Dan, as much as I don’t like his constant lying and manipulation, he’s playing a text book game. In his life outside the house, I think he has a bright career as a cult leader ahead of him, because he can say and do anything to his fellow House Guests — including the ones he’s aligned with — and they just do his bidding. Poor, deluded Danielle. How much more of this can she take? Will she really buy Dan’s latest line of bull that he took Shane out to secure her the win? Will Ian and Danielle finally be able to have a private chat and connect all the dots back to Dan? I’m surprised and thrilled that Dan kept Ian in the house, because out of the last four only he and Dan really deserve to win, but neither Danielle nor Ian should have been that shocked that Shane was sent packing.

Who was it that orchestrated Frank’s eviction after swearing a final two deal? Who was behind Joe’s and Jenn’s evictions? Who just sent Shane out the door? All roads lead back to Dan, yet these people have put their complete blind faith in him even after knowing the outcomes of each eviction. Dan’s methods, however, made it seem like he was simply suggesting who should go home so everyone else had blood on their hands but at least he admitted before voting Shane out that he truly was up to his elbows in blood. But has he burned too many bridges behind him, or if Danielle makes it to the final two with him will he simply stand up and tell the jury that he was behind every major decision in both the Quack Pack and Silent Six alliances, throw Danielle under the bus, and walk away with another half million?

The poor girl is probably so rattled now that she won’t be able to focus on the first part of the HOH competition — which began right after the live show ended (the live feeds are down as of this writing) — and Ian is probably just as shaken up, having planned on having a nice chat with Julie Chen this evening instead of competing in a competition. If Dan wins (and we’ll post a spoiler update when we find out), they might as well write him the check tonight. But, if Dan has any competition for the prize it’s Ian. Ian’s been pretty cagey within his alliance, and he’s been loyal to the Quack Pack (I feel like calling them the Crack Pack, because that must be what Dan is feeding them to keep doing what he wants them to do). Should Ian be sitting in the final two, I think the jury will award him the prize over Danielle, because they’ll just see her as Dan’s puppet, or Dan because he’s just screwed too many of them over. But, Dr. Will won by standing in front of the jury and telling them all that he lied to each and every one of them, so Dan certainly has that as a precedent to follow (and he could now finally dethrone Dr. Will as the “Greatest Player in Big Brother history”).

I think Dan actually made a huge mistake in evicting Shane. Shane would have been the ideal House Guest to take to the final two because he has no real compelling argument to give the jury to award him the prize. Danielle has at least won HOH a couple of times, but she has to know at this point that Dan is only out to win for himself, not her. Ian, at least, can stand before the jury, expose all of Dan’s manipulations, lay out exactly what he did since the formation of the Quack Pack, and prove he deserves the prize. And, really, all he has to say are these four little words: Dan has already won. That’s also something he needs to drill into Danielle’s head should she win two of the three HOH competitions. I don’t think she has a chance to win against either Dan or Ian, so keeping Shane would have been to her best advantage as well. But keeping Dan could also pay off for her with most of the jury mad at Dan. Can they put personal feelings aside and admire his game against Danielle’s? One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be an interesting finale. I’d actually like to see Dan and Ian duke it out with the jury because they both have compelling arguments to win. I’m Team Ian all the way should he be in the final two. I think he’s played a great strategic and social game, where as Dan has been more like Russell from Survivor, smiling at his competitors (and alliance members) while stabbing them in the back. Once that spell wears off and those people are on the jury, it’s hard for them to justify giving you a vote.

So who do you think should win the big prize next Wednesday night? Cast your vote in our poll below, and share your thoughts in the comments section! The poll will close on September 19 just before showtime.

UPDATE: If you’re curious, the first HOH competition has ended and the winner was

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

UPDATE: The second HOH comp was held Saturday evening, and the winner was

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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The penultimate episode of the fourth season of Royal Pains was as stuffed as the turkey served by your grandmother on Thanksgiving. One of the few complaints I’ve had this season is that the writers haven’t had Boris around as much … especially since actor Campbell Scott has been promoted to a series regular. Well, it seems that they were saving him until the end to help wrap things up this season. No worries.

In this eventful installment, Boris requested Hank’s help with his sick friend Dimitri. The two had to travel overseas in secret, but were able to put aside their differences after having a major falling out a few episodes ago. In all honesty, I wasn’t really intrigued by this particular plot, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t happy to see Boris around again. You see, Boris adds a touch of intrigue and mystery to Royal Pains. Having said that, maybe it’s good that he doesn’t appear in every episode. I guess it goes with the whole enigmatic vibe.

So, since Boris appears sporadically, may I nominate Jeremiah to fill the void? I don’t think it’s a secret that Jeremiah is my new favorite character. He fits in so well with HankMed, and I’m intrigued by his crush on Divya. I’m certainly hoping that he comes out and tells her that he likes her. Judging by the previews for next week, Divya may be able to use his lovin’. It looks like her new main squeeze may be two-timing her. This boggles me. Who the hell would cheat on someone as gorgeous as Divya? That’s about as nonsensical as Eric Benet cheating on Halle Berry. I’m just sayin’.

It was nice seeing Divya back in the medical world in this episode. To be honest, I was getting a little tired of seeing her fawn over the horse rider. Granted, he is charming and it was something different, but Divya works best when she’s lending her smarts to Hank and Evan. I liked seeing her and Jeremiah team up to tackle the dilemma surrounding a pharmaceutical saleswoman who had a major sleeping problem. However, she wasn’t the only one with issues.

Paige seemed to have her own. We didn’t learn whether or not guest star Rosanna Arquette is her real mother or not. We’ll find that out in the season finale next week, but I think it’s safe to assume that she’s the real deal. I’ve really enjoyed Paige and Evan this season. It’s nice seeing how the writers have given Paige her own storyline. I’ve enjoyed it as much as I have Jeremiah’s — well, almost.

One storyline that could use a bit more work is Hank and Harper. I like Harper. That chick is easy on the eyes, but, well, I just can’t bring myself to care about her. I think it’s obvious that they are heading to heartache. Relationships for Hank don’t seem to work. Maybe it’s because he rushes. I really want Hank and Harper to work … but maybe they need to slow down. That’s just my opinion.

And that does it, folks! Next week is the season finale! Is it just me or did this fourth season fly by? So, will Divya and Jeremiah ever hook up? Will Hank and Harper stay together? What does Boris have up his sleeve? Share your thoughts!

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Revolution answers what I’ve increasingly wondered in the past few years, what would happen if our electric-centered and internet-focused  society suddenly lost power? How would we exist? Considering our modern society has increasingly lost contact with farming and manual labor, how would today’s google-oriented children exist without toilet paper and grocery store meat? Remember the saying, only the strong survive? Well, in the Renaissance that applied to today’s epi-pen children regarding allergies to peanuts, gluten, pollen and bee stings. Would I really survive in a future tomorrow where today’s medical breakthroughs no longer exist? Revolution‘s answer? Wait and see.

After watching terrible fall pilot (Ben and Kate, Partners) after terrible fall pilot (Go On, The New Normal), Revolution absolutely surprised me. I expected something like FOX’s Terra Nova  — a big budget, high concept, sci fi show that relied on  special effects and a grand concept to draw viewers, but spent little time on providing meaty plots and non-stereotypical characters. Instead, Revolution reminded me of the Fall pilot shows I enjoyed the most. Remember the big budget cinema action style of Undercovers‘ pilot and the tightly plotted amazing-ness of Heroes season one? Remember how you loved The Cape’s pilot, the cinema scope of Hawaii 5-0, and thought Lost was really cool? That’s Revolution.

Revolution reminds me of every single fantasy novel that I ever enjoyed. It’s lush. It’s expansive. It’s epic. It’s cinemagic. Twenty minutes felt like an hour. It’s Lord of the Rings meets Wizard of Oz. No. Revolution is not a Hunger Games knock-off, although its female lead, Tracy Spiridakos, is a brunette in her twenties like Jennifer Lawrence. Revolution surrounds Charlie (Tracy Spiridakos), a twenty-something young woman restless with the borders of her village (a former McMansion community turned Renaissance hamlet). However, when her father is killed and her brother kidnapped, she receives her wish quicker than expected.

I have to especially call out Revolution’s cinematography, characters and actors in addition to its writing and directing.

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Huh. Pole dancing on So You Think You Can Dance. I’d’ve never thought …

Anyway …

We’ve got four contestants left: Tiffany Maher, Eliana Girard, Chehon Wespi-Tschopp and Cyrus Spencer. While each one deserve a spot in the Top 4, one gal and one guy stand out above the others.

Tiffany — while completely deserving with her tidy adaptations in the various genres as well as her own special abilities — plays second fiddle to the brilliance of Eliana. There’s little comparison there. And Cyrus is a definite fan favorite, regardless of the expertise Chehon so easily displays. In a nutshell, there it is. There are your winners: Eliana and Cyrus.

The fact of the matter, however, is that there was still a little bit of dancing to commit before the whole thing got wrapped up. Let’s simply toss out the solo performances — we all know they showed the strengths of each of the four. We belabor what we already know?

Eliana and Chehon: Ballet from a couple of finalists who do ballet? It doesn’t get more fortunate than that. Unfortunately, the routine didn’t showcase anything from Chehon outside his physical strength. It was a piece that shown its light primarily on the female lead … not that Chehon needs any help in that department.

The hip hop routine with Tiffany and Cyrus was frantic and somewhat violent. Interestingly, there were a lot of lyrical elements within it that could have gone very, very wrong for either of the two, but they put on the routine pretty well.

The classical mish-mash that was performed by all four was a bunch of drivel. Sorry Tyce DiOrio, but the choreography — good as it may have been — just didn’t gel with the stuttering music. Too, too much corny-ness to be taken seriously. It was one of those routines that never should have seen the light of day — it was pointless.

Chehon and all-star Alison’s lyrical piece was incredibly strong and powerful. It showcased Chehon in light of everything we’ve seen of him previously to be.

 Both the guys, dancing together to a Sonya Tayeh routine, were strong, masculine and both were not only in their genres at times but were given opportunities to step out of there elements a bit, too.

Eliana and all-star Alex did indeed got lost in their Travis Wall routine as Nigel mentioned. Beautiful stuff, elegant lines. Eliana was every bit the feminine epitome of a ballet dancer the dance asked from her.

The rumba Tiffany and Chehon did was utterly emotionless and lacked even the slightest amount of connection. Was it the difference in height between the two that helped contribute to that? Probably. They tried, but it was a moot effort.

Twitch and Cyrus do an animated piece “the whole world has been waiting for.” The kicker here was the aftermath stirred up by Nigel and his comments post-performance. If there was any doubt about Cyrus winning the season as the top male dancer on the show, that doubt has been removed by Nigel’s comments. Voters will take their choices for Chehon and offer them Cyrus’ way. Unintentionally, Nigel did one a huge disservice to the ballet dancer while handing one monumental gain to the dub stepper:

The proof of my predictions will be in next week’s pudding.

And … huh. Pole dancing. Go figure …

Notes:

• Of interest and something that bears repeating (and which has been mentioned several times over): Tiffany and Cyrus have never been in the bottom of the pack during eliminations the entire season. That’s really saying something …
• I would like to know what anyone out there thinks of Nigel’s comments to Cyrus at the very end.

Quote:

“The last time I saw anything like that it was with (American Idol judge) Randy Jackson … but we won’t go into that …” — Nigel commenting on Tiffany and Eliana’s Broadway pole dance routine

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It’s no secret that I love Sons of Anarchy. If you’ve read any of my reviews, that fact is readily apparent. The season 5 premiere only solidified its standing as one of my absolute favorite shows on television. From the opening sequence to the final scene, this episode was one jaw-dropping event after another. Even though there was a ridiculous amount of action and plot development, it’s Gemma’s storyline that has me most excited for what’s to come.

For four seasons, we’ve watched Gemma lord over everyone as the HBIC. As the president’s wife and the vice-president’s mother, there was no question that she was the most powerful woman in Charming (although what it actually means to be the most powerful woman in this extremely male-dominated culture is another story). While she’s certainly displayed Lady MacBeth-like tendencies over the course of the series, Gemma has always been a woman driven by love and family, not power.

Central to this is her love for her husband Clay. Her bond with her husband was so strong that it not only weathered the occasional  errant out-of-town blowjob, but it arguable even eclipsed her love for her own son at times. While Gemma would probably never admit it to herself, she has definitely put Clay’s well-being over that Jax’s on more than one occasion.

In fact, Gemma was driven so much by her love of Clay that she was willing to have her husband – and Jax’s father – murdered so she could be with him. She let her son grow up fatherless so she could be with the man she loved. Now that’s dedication.

Twenty years have gone by, however, and Gemma and Clay’s relationship has finally reached the breaking point. Not only is Gemma done with the marriage, but she’s pretty much done with Clay existing on this earth (moral of the story: Don’t marry Gemma Teller. YOU WILL NOT MAKE IT OUT ALIVE). This new development is going to allow us to see a very different Gemma.

This is clear in the opening of the show, as we see her in a home that is not her own, blond bimbos passed out around her, having sex with someone who is decidedly not Clay. That somebody turns out to be Nero, played by Jimmy Smits in the first interesting role in which I’ve seen him. Nero runs a high-end escort service, but clearly comes from the streets. He’s not interested in the young girls with whom he works, and I already love him.

The act of tearing Gemma out of the role she’s occupied for the past two decades and throwing her into an unfamiliar situation (meeting a new man) is going to provide ample opportunities for Katey Sagal and the writers to shine. Gemma is one of those characters who can be the perfect villain one moment, and then turn on a dime, showing a deep vulnerability that will make you take her side in an instant. She is at her best when the situation is out of control, and now her entire life is out of her control.

I’m sure there are many dating books that would tell you to play it coy with a new guy, but Gemma clearly hasn’t been reading them. By the end of this episode, she’s already using Nero to harbor fugitives. He’s a complete stranger, but Gemma is already trusting him enough to bring him into the family. When you trust someone like that, it gives them power. Gemma handing this power over to Nero is certain to have some entertaining implications– especially once Clay is brought into the mix and finds out what is going on. While the things in this episode that actually made me gasp out loud didn’t have anything to do with her, to me, this season is going to be all about the new Gemma Teller.

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It seems to be common knowledge among my family members and friends that I tend to bore rather easily. Perhaps I suffer from a minor case of attention deficit disorder. Or maybe it’s a major case of being hyperactive. I don’t know. I’m not Dr. Phil. Still, while I am privy to the fact that I like to be involved in a lot of different activities, I know when I’m doing too much. I wonder if celebrities know the same.

Sometimes I question whether or not fame and fortune brings upon a desire to remain in the spotlight by staying super active. Case in point: Steve Harvey, one of my absolute favorite comedians, who has pretty much done it all. He’s perfected stand-up comedy. He’s had his own sitcom. He currently hosts a decent morning radio show. His best-selling advice book launched the successful film, Think Like A Man. Am I forgetting anything? Oh, yes — he’s the current host of Family Feud, and now he has his very own talk show, The Steve Harvey Show.

Whew, nelly. Now, that was exhausting.

Obviously, Harvey has done a lot, but when is enough enough?

Now, before I go any further, let me be very clear… I am not hating on Steve Harvey. I am not green with envy and I certainly haven’t been sippin’ on any Haterade. It’s too expensive. I just want to know whether or not he’s stretching himself thin. I love the fact that Harvey hosts Family Feud. I think it may just be my favorite game show. As I told comedian Jamie Kennedy in my interview with him a few weeks ago, the Family Feud theme song stays in my head. However, Harvey is known for missing some days of his radio show which leads me to thinking that he may be doing just a bit too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve never been one to try to hold someone back. I believe if you have a talent then it should be utilized. However, I can’t help but wonder if there’s a limit to how much someone should showcase — sort of like overexposure in a sense. I’m all for people expanding upon a versatile resume, but in this case I kind of feel as though Harvey should stick with what he knows. I just don’t see him as a talk show host. Then again, I didn’t see Michael Strahan as the ideal co-host for Kelly Ripa, but that seems to be working out nicely.

I’ll admit that I’m interested in seeing Harvey’s new talk show. I don’t think we’ve had an African-American male talk show host since Montell Williams. Sheesh. That was ages ago, wasn’t it? Still, I think I’d prefer Harvey as a game show host and comedian. He’s showcased his intellect in his book, and I wouldn’t mind reading more from him, but I don’t want the brother to overexert himself. It makes you wonder when he has time for his wife … wife number three I might add. Does the man have a personal life? It’s none of my business. Still, with all that he’s doing, I’m curious.

With that being said, I think that Harvey is certainly talented. He’s definitely one of my favorite funny actors, and his comedic timing is simply superb. He undoubtedly helped Cedric The Entertainer of TV Land’s The Soul Man and Wendy Raquel Robinson of BET’s The Game become better known with urban audiences. I just watched his old WB sitcom, The Steve Harvey Show — not to be confused with the talk show bearing the same name — on Centric a few hours ago. Good stuff. I’m definitely a fan of Harvey’s and I’m not knocking him. I’m just saying that he doesn’t have to do everything. Spend some time with your wife, Steve! You don’t want her to feel neglected, do you?

After all, that may lead to a real family feud, wouldn’t it?

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Thanks to a very inconvenient bout of strep throat last week, I’m back to CartoonClack. Huzzah, huzzah. Futurama ended its season (although really it was a half season, since they’ll be back in just a few months), and the last two episodes that made up the finale night couldn’t have been more different.

The first episode, “31st Century Fox,” was honestly the worst episode of the whole season … which was not the best way to start the evening. Bender takes up arms against fox hunting, but only after he discovers that the fox used is actually a robot. But they’ve already done a few different versions of this story before — they’ve had Bender outraged at robots being used for human whims and they’ve had multiple episodes involving the treatment of animals. For both of these focuses, the previous episodes worked far better than this one. The episode went into several directions with really poor pacing and worst of all, the jokes weren’t very funny. I can only think of one joke that made me laugh out loud — Bender telling Judge Whitey he’d seem him in court only to cut directly to Judge Whitey being the judge and throwing out the case — while most episodes of this show have me laughing consistently through. So yeah, not a good way to start off the finale.

However, the second episode was a huge improvement. Like “Tales of Interest” and their old-timey/8-bit/anime episode, “Naturama” was a set of three tales with a theme — mating rituals in nature! Cue every prepubescent audience member giggling. What a lot of people don’t know about Futurama is how many of their writers and producers hold math and science degrees. I mean, executive producer David X. Cohen has a masters in computer science and both of his parents are biologists, so I’m not at all surprised that the facts behind the three stories are more or less accurate … with some jokes thrown in. Salmon really do die right after mating; that breed of tortoise does have that much trouble thanks to its speed (and sadly, the last Pinta Tortoise died earlier this summer, which makes the middle story that much more somber); and elephant seals really are jerks.

“Naturama” works because they were able to balance interesting, real information (narrated by Phil Lamarr doing a spot-on Morgan Freeman impersonation) and funny jokes, and mixed in the actual characters as the animals. The one that worked the best was the salmon story, because we got to see a really engaging story using Fry and Leela finding love, but they also didn’t sugarcoat the facts about their mating habits — the salmon die, and the dark humor in their deaths works. If you can say anything about the episode, it’s that it wasn’t afraid to shine a light on the morbidity of these nature shows. Also, if you don’t think Fry is adorable as a happy hopping finch, then you might not have a soul.

This season was a mixed bag of really good episodes and just alright episodes. Most of them were just OK with some funny moments here and there, but stand-out episodes like the surprisingly sweet “Fun on a Bun” and “The Bots and the Bees” made the season well worth it. Another shout out goes to “Zapp Dingbat” for allowing Leela’s mom some depth and dignity as a character with a real story arc while keeping it funny. The next season is already in production (I’ve heard rumors of Patrick Stewart guest voicing), so look forward to that going into 2013.

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When you look at it from different perspectives, you can see how either of the two remaining home cooks on the last MasterChef of the season could win it all.

On the one hand, Joshua Marks came roaring back after getting eliminated in episode 12. In so doing, he certainly plated some bold choices for Gordon, Graham and Joe to judge. And one of the boldest of all was blending a lobster — shell and all — to make stock for his final appetizer, a glorified lobster and grits dish. Add to that the fact he showcased talent many of his competitors didn’t come close to possessing in the end. Lastly, for him to shine in some of the challenges in time frames that were seemingly impossible made some of his feats all the more amazing. There. You have solid, concrete reasons why Josh should win MasterChef.

On the other hand, you have Christine Ha — a legally blind home cook — who has relied on taste and memory multiple times in cooking her dishes. It was said in an earlier episode by Joe Bastianich a good cook who can do just that is a chef indeed. And it’s been a winning combination that’s worked for her throughout the competition. None of the other contestants could come close to what Christine accomplished with this unique ability. A pretty impressive item to have on your resume and reason enough why she should win MasterChef.

But, as it’s been drilled into us over the last two shows: “There can only be one MasterChef.” And that person turned out to be Christine.

Was it her final entrée of pork belly that did it? It certainly wasn’t her coconut lime sorbet or simple crab salad that won the competition because Josh’s lamb and superb vanilla bean ice cream definitely won out over them. Could it really have been his slightly undercooked lobster that took points away? Everything else was masterfully prepared … and surprisingly so per the three judges. But that might have been the deciding factor. Plus the fact Christine has been a truly amazing performer throughout.

I wasn’t necessarily pulling for Josh to win, but neither was I whooping it up for Christine to take it either. I figured it could go either way based on their final preparations.

I believed Josh’s won out handily over Christine’s … but in the end that wasn’t the case.

Christine? Congratulations on a job well done. You deserve the win, the title and all that come with it.

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Entering its fourth season, Glee is at a crossroads. Many of the characters have graduated from McKinley High School, taking their stories far from the safe confines of Lima, Ohio. The departure of so much talent leaves a vacuum at the top of the New Directions call sheet. Will these changes be enough to right the Glee ship? The show’s ratings have been slowly dropping, and critically the show leaves quite a bit to be desired. I’ve taken a look at the first episode and there’s not really enough there to make me think things will be much different.

The first season of Glee – more specifically, the first thirteen episodes – were really great television. Musicals on television had been tried before and, for the most part, had failed. Glee brought more than just music – and its ridiculous secondary-revenue stream via online sales – to the table early on; it was a smart, tight dark comedy taking on the challenges of high school life differently than it had before. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line it lost that focus – many will point to season two, but I always attribute season one’s “Theatricality” as the beginning of the end.

Since then, Glee has stopped knowing what kind of show it wants to be. If you’re looking closely enough, you can almost see three different shows with the same characters and locations – one each for executive producers Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. There have been some seriously good episodes, tackling stories like bullying and teen suicide. More often, though, the stories meander across the high school landscape, watching certain characters progress and regress at the whim of the story – I’m looking at you, Sue Sylvester.

Season four, sadly, solves none of those problems. Rachel is chasing her dream at NYADA, though things are not going so swimmingly. While she is at home behind a microphone, she clashes with her dance teacher, played by Kate Hudson. While I’ve been a big fan of Hudson since her turn in Almost Famous – and she’s pretty good here – it’s hard to believe her as a top-notch dance instructor when we know Heather Morris’ Brittany could dance circles around her. Kurt is the only other graduated New Directioner that gets any screen time in the premiere. His NYADA rejection still hangs above his head, but by the end of the episode, where the story takes him is telegraphed like a billboard on the interstate.

With so many graduates, refilling the ranks of New Direction is an important task – though apparently the old requirement of needing twelve students to compete isn’t a priority early on. New students Marley Rose (Melissa Benoist) and Jake Puckerman (Jacob Artist) are solid additions, though I think Marley brings much more to the table than Noah “Puck” Puckerman’s half brother. I was not a fan of Wade “Unique” Adams last season, and I’m not a fan of him here. There are also some new antagonist students around McKinley, include a new Cheerio who is a teenage version of Sue Sylvester.

The other graduated students – Finn, Puck, Mike, Quinn and Santana – are mentioned, but there is little information on how their post-high school life is going. We will eventually see each of them, but I’m not sure that’s going to be a good thing. Sure, I’d personally be sad if Quinn was gone for good, but manufacturing reasons for her – and the others – to appear hopefully won’t be as awkward as I expect it to be.

I really want to like Glee. I was a big fan of the show when it premiered and was one of those that defended it while the quality slipped in the second season. Sadly, though, the show has just gone too far off the rails for me to be able to continue to do so. I’ll still probably watch this season hoping to be proven wrong. If things don’t change, though, it’s probably the end of Glee for me.

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Well, after all of the excitement last week with another Big Brother double eviction — and no one taking my advice to form a new alliance against Dan — we found out who won the second HOH of the night (well, those who don’t subscribe to the live feeds): Ian! The boy has become a serious contender in the last few weeks, and now he’s finding himself to be a huge threat to everyone else in the house, especially Dan.

In another of those really interesting behind-the-scenes episodes (meaning, not much else has happened since Thursday’s show), we got to see what really happened when Dan won HOH and nominated Ian as the proverbial pawn against Jenn. What no one knew Thursday was what we all got to see tonight — Dan actually wanted Ian out because he’s really his biggest threat, and Ian (like Frank before him), thinks he has a solid final two deal with Dan. Really, Ian? Is Dan really that good of a mind game player to completely make you forget that he had a hand in not only getting Frank out the door, but Boogie as well. And he completely sold Ian and Britney out to save his own hide, which led to Britney’s eviction. Why on earth would you even consider trusting him to go to the final two at this point, especially if Danielle is still in the house?

But with Ian’s POV and HOH wins, he’s got the perfect chance now to take out his biggest threat, and it ain’t Shane. Or Jenn. No jury member will ever award them the prize unless they have to. But Dan still worked his magic and escaped nominations, but how long can he stay safe … especially after Saturday’s POV competition? It all comes down to who wins that, and I have the answer if you’re so inclined to find out. Will Danielle’s admission to Shane that she saved his ass have an impact on his nomination? Will Jenn, who must realize that she absolutely cannot trust Dan, spill the beans to Ian that he was the real target in order to save herself? Sooner or later, someone is going to have to rat out Dan because, at the moment, he’s got everyone bamboozled with his Jedi mind tricks! I just hope Ian will be able to snap out of it and see what Dan’s really been up to … or wait for Dan to make another slip like he did with Frank before he was evicted. Come on, Ian, wake up!

Don’t forget to tune in Wednesday night for a special eviction episode.

Spoiler Alert! The POV competition was held Saturday, and the winner was …

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

The POV ceremony was held Monday and

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

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As the new fall season approaches, many returning shows are seeing the past season released this week to tie in with their new seasons including The Big Bang Theory (new season premieres September 27), The Vampire Diaries (October 11), Castle (September 24), Blue Bloods (September 28), Private Practice (September 25), 30 Rock (October 4), and Up All Night (September 20). There’s also the second season of Spartacus, and the return of the Absolutely Fabulous gang in a very funny series of specials that aired this year, culminating in a hilarious Olympics episode. The best news is that there will be another Christmas special and a full series in 2013! Halloween is also represented with some spooky kids’ fare, some Hammer horrors, and one of the most talked about TV movies of its time, Dark Night of the Scarecrow. It’s definitely worth a look! (There are even a couple of Christmas movies!) To see what else this week has in store, check out the guide below, and click on a link for more information or to make a purchase — you’ll be helping support CliqueClack in the process! We thank you!

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“There are a lot of warning lights and sounds vying for your attention.
So we invented a warning … you can feel.
Introducing the all new Cadillac XTS, available with the patented safety alert seat.
When there’s danger you might not see you’re warned by a pulse in the seat.
It’s technology you won’t find in the Mercedes E Class.”

I debated. Really … I did.

Should I squawk about this latest Cadillac ad? Or should I just let it lay simmering in its own ridiculousness? My conclusion was I needed to rail at it. Otherwise, I would be doing a disservice to those who might not know any better.

First, however, let’s take a gander at what got my boxer briefs in a bunch:

<rant>

For millions of years (okay … about 100 years … get off me) people have been driving cars. And in all that time there have been many occasions where they’ve needed to either back up or drive backward. What did they do before this “patented safety alert” technology came along? Why … they turned their heads, that’s what they did. They turned their heads to see if anything was behind them. They turned their heads — and kept them turned — until they could determine they were able to go in a backward direction safely without bumping into anything, without hitting anything, to see if there was any oncoming danger. Now? Cadillac has virtually eliminated the need in doing so, a tried and true maneuver we’ve been taught and which we have collectively subscribed to ever since we learned how to drive.

Instead? We have ass shocking devices embedded in our seats. Yes, folks … technology that basically shocks the back of our fronts at any sign of oncoming danger. They “send” us a message we’re in imminent danger of hitting something or that something is going to hit us as we’re backing our vehicles up. You know what they’re really saying? “Hey, dumbass: Do you realize you’ve spent an additional $800.00 plus tax to get your ass shocked because you’re too damned lazy to turn your head around and see what’s behind you? The joke’s on you, Bozo.” That’s what they’re saying.

But wait … there’s more. Cadillac claims above “It’s technology you won’t find in the Mercedes E Class.” Want to know why? Because Mercedes Benz is too busy installing weather control devices in their vehicles to tell us what kind of climate we’ll be accosted with when we get in our cars to run a couple miles down the street to pick up that double cheeseburger we’ve been craving. That’s what they’re doing.

Let me ask you something: When was the last time you got in your car and wondered “I guess I should check to see if I need an umbrella before I buzz on over to In ‘N’ Out for a Double-Double animal-style, just in case.” News Flash: No one in the history of driving has ever done this … !!! The only folks I know who might need such technology are the people in New Orleans who just experienced Isaac. They could use that type of technology. Not you, not me.

Besides: Aren’t we supposed to be paying attention to the road, not the console on our dashboards? With all the laws popping up against texting and jawing on our cell phones and the like, this kind of technology flies right in the face of the common sense! Geez, Louise!

Time and again I decry The Decline of Western Civilization, folks. Continually, and in the same breath, I bring up the fact Devo had — and still has — the theory of devolution dead to rights.  We’re devolving, people. We’re slowly becoming schlubs who won’t be able to do anything for ourselves anymore.

</rant>

But, according to Cadillac, they’re“… bringing the future forward.”

No … they’re not …

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There’s only two more episodes left before the summer finale of Royal Pains and I’d be lying if I said things weren’t heating up. There have been mixed opinions regarding this particular season, but I think there have been more ups than downs. There’s been a lot going on. No lie there. This episode certainly was eventful with storylines that were definitely pushed in the right direction.

One of those storylines is the one revolving around Paige being adopted. Evan was able to talk her into finally visiting her folks after her stern father paid him a visit asking for his help. However, how many of us anticipated Paige’s biological mother showing up at the end of the episode to speak with her? I sure as hell didn’t. Drama is definitely on the horizon. I find this plot to be fascinating because it seems that the writers are really using Paige to her fullest potential. This keeps Evan busy as well, and it’s also infusing the show with a nice touch of suspense. Maybe this is the year of Paige.

Does the same hold true for Divya? Eh. Not really. You know, I like Divya. I really do. I’m glad that she’s got a handsome main squeeze … but I’m just not excited about what’s going on with her. It doesn’t seem to be contributing anything new to the show. Last night, she hosted a party for her boyfriend in order to have her friends meet him … and that’s about it. Sad. In my opinion, she hasn’t been doing much lately aside from sleeping with her new lover. To be honest, I’m much more interested in Jeremiah and his secret crush on Divya than Divya herself.

Well, I guess that crush is not so secret anymore. Evan pretty much put two and two together, but Jeremiah is keeping mumb for now. I don’t blame him. Heck, that’s his business. I feel sorry for him having to see Divya happy with someone else. Who knows? Maybe her boyfriend will die and Jeremiah can move in. I really hope that Divya at least gives him some sort of consideration. He really is a good guy. I think he’s awesome.

I also think Hank and Harper are awesome … but I believe they are moving a little too fast. Forgive me — but Hank seems to be a bit flighty. I don’t want to get into a rehash of his relationship with Jill, but he sure isn’t wasting anytime bed-hopping. Is he looking for a good time or looking for a girlfriend? That needs to be specified. Harper seems like a good girl, but I’d rather see them going on dates as opposed to be getting it on in Hank’s car … at least not yet. Does Hank even know what he wants?

I ain’t Dr. Phil.

I don’t have the answer. However, maybe you do! Weigh in and give me your opinions! What will Paige do when she finds out that her biological mother wants to see her? Will Evan even tell her? Will Jeremiah win over Divya? And will Hank get a clue? Sound off below!

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If you follow reality television (and So You Think You Can Dance is no exception) you anticipate the episode where everything comes together, all the performances align with the heavens and everything is right with the world. Airing 13 of season 9 was that episode.

Holy guacamole, were there ever some outstanding performances by the remaining cream of the crop on SYTYCD. Sure, there was a stumble here and there in the 2 hours of program, but the majority of it showcased routines that ellicted powerful images and emotion that oozed out the television screen. I’ve highlighted a couple of the below.

The first really powerful piece came from Sonya Tayeh’s choreography as realized by Cole and all-star Melanie Moore, last year’s SYTYCD champion. With her being the aggressor in the duo, the piece forced itself on you and didn’t let you look away from the screen for fear you might miss something. Just look at some of the moves Cole and Melanie pulled off. Amazing stuff:

Chehon and Kathryn’s turn was no less riveting:

Later, we got a strange and emotive “marriage-to-be” gone wrong lyrical piece from Witney and Marko. I’ve noted previously it’s taken time for me to dig these pieces, but I’m completely on board now. Just take a gander below and you’ll see why:

Lest we get too wrapped up in lyrical and contemporary performances, dub-stepper Cyrus got the luck of the draw with a routine right in his wheelhouse; he and all-star Comfort committed a hip hop-ish/dub number showcasing both their strengths brilliantly:

Lastly, Cole and Eliana do a powerful “hate” routine to “Adagio For Strings” with incredible choreography from Mia Michaels that raised the bar:

The overall feel of the evening was one of exhiliration — superb choreography interpretted brilliantly by the contestants. Sure, there were stumbles along the way: Chehon can’t cha cha to save his life. Tiffany’s solo was *meh* to the point of drabbery. They can’t all be gems.

Still, Tiffany’s done enough to get the nod to advance to the finals unlike Witney, who’s been at the bottom of the pack time and again. She was let go, leaving Tiffany and Eliana to duke it out in the finale.

The slight surprise came with the guys, who wouldn’t make the cut. Really: Which two of the three advance between Chehon, Cole and Cyrus? Cyrus is the clear favorite, but I was still worried about him making it. Chehon has his faults, but so does Cole. In the end the viewers chose the first two as their champions, Cole pulling up the rear.

So, the finals are set: Eliana, Tiffany, Chehon and Cyrus will perform in the finals and challenge each other for title of best girl and best guy for the season. My picks: Eliana and Cyrus.

It won’t be as fantastic a show as this one was, but you just never know.

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I feel like I’m doomed to dislike every single new comedy pilot this season. Go On is next on my fall season hit list. The NBC comedy surrounds radio sports shock jock, Ryan King (Matthew Perry), who is placed on bereavement leave by his station after his wife’s death, pending completion of ten counseling sessions. Unsurprisingly, despite fighting the process, King makes connections with the highly diverse local community support group undergoing similar life changes, particularly the Owen character.

Go On reminds me of everything I hated about Community’s pilot. It featured the good-looking, smart alecky white guy, and the too-obvious love interest, who bonds with and leads an island of minority misfit toys. Luckily, Dan Harmon realized that schlock didn’t work and revamped his show to the three-season awesomeness we previously witnessed. Considering this will probably serve as Community’s final season, I sense NBC wants to fill the void in advance. Unfortunately, appropriating a template that didn’t work until Harmon re-booted it isn’t the way.

I loved Matthew Perry in Mr. Sunshine and I looked forward to Go On as I thought it would pull from the cynical snarky nature that Perry has crafted over the years. But, in Go On, the snarktastic personality is no longer a comfortable coat. Instead, it is a shellacked armor that Perry pulls on far too easily, making it hard to see the emotions beneath.

The moments that felt true were the silent, unexpected moments when NBC didn’t try to hit us over the head with the characters’ over the top personalities. The mini-montage and Owen’s self-declaration all worked, but everything else seemed too much and too focused on the entertainment factor provided by each character’s personality, instead of embracing the dramedy. Maybe that’s my problem with the pilot. The episode didn’t have a focus other than showcasing the entertainment factor. It felt too shiny, too glossy, too happy and too determined to avoid revealing any emotions save in small, saccharine-oriented doses. Yea, it’s a comedy. But, it’s a comedy about death. It’s OK if we feel something every now and again.

Go On features a strong, established cast including John Cho (Star Trek, Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle), Laura Benanti (The Playboy Club) and Bill Cobbs (OZ: The Great and Powerful, The Drew Carey Show, JAG). Like every single other comedy I panned this season, Go On has promise. But, it needs to let its supporting and its lead characters feel. It’s OK if the writing displays uncontrolled emotional messiness that doesn’t fit into a “more you know” bow. Although I like Matthew Perry and the featured cast, I didn’t like this pilot. It was too tightly controlled and too designed to make me feel, without letting me feel. But, who knows … Community grew out of its one-dimensional template, maybe Go On will as well.

Go On premieres Tuesday, September 11^th at 9 PM EST on NBC.

If you’re interested in seeing the pilot before it premieres on network TV, check out the episode on Hulu.

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If you’re of a certain age, you grew up watching musical/comedy variety shows on TV instead of reality competition shows and karaoke contests. The early days of television, especially when it was live, was filled with variety shows from Your Show of Shows to The Dean Martin Show, not to mention the series of variety specials hosted by Bob Hope, and the hybrid sitcom/variety show starring Jack Benny. But on September 11, 1967, CBS premiered a new variety show starring a former cast member of The Garry Moore Show, as well as a Broadway star in her own right — Carol Burnett. The show ran for 11 seasons, and featured everything from original skits and musical numbers to movie parodies and musical performances by the biggest artists of the day. And the guest list was an amazing mix of TV, movie and Broadway stars from Rock Hudson to Lucille Ball to Beverly Sills, exposing TV viewers to another side of their favorite movie stars or introducing them to stage legends they may never have heard of. Carol’s list of characters has become legendary: the bubble-headed (and butt-ed) Mrs. Wiggins, Stella Toddler, Nora Desmond, the Charwoman, and of course, Eunice among them. Carol also surrounded herself with a top-notch cast of supporting actors — Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway, Lyle Waggoner and Dick Van Dyke (who, unfortunately, never seemed to fit in with the cast when he became a regular after Harvey left the show) — that excelled in comedy and music as well. And out of 11 seasons, you can probably pinpoint the one defining moment of the show (out of many) when Carol and company gave the classic Gone With the Wind their own comedic spin (in honor of the movie’s first ever television broadcast … on another network). Carol descending the staircase in a dress made from something she “just saw in the window and couldn’t resist” gave the show one of its longest recorded laughs and became symbolic of the show’s sharp humor (Mattel even produced a special edition Carol Burnett doll in the same outfit).

But by the end of the 10th season in 1977, the television landscape had changed and variety shows (including those hosted by Sonny & Cher, Donny & Marie, The Captain & Tennille, and Tony Orlando & Dawn) were on the wane. Carol’s rating had taken a tumble, particularly after CBS moved the show from its prime Saturday night time slot (yes, people actually used to watch TV on Saturday!) to mid-week where it withered in its last season. Many of the episodes were edited down to 30-minute Carol Burnett & Friends syndicated reruns (mostly eliminating the featured musical acts), but the full-length episodes were never seen on TV after the end of its run (although Columbia House did offer restored episodes over the course of 33 volumes featuring two episodes per DVD before suddenly dropping their mail order TV Club membership service). Now, thanks to the efforts of Time Life, The Carol Burnett Show is back on DVD to entertain fans young and old!

Time Life has put together an “Ultimate Collection” which contains 3 volumes of episodes categorized under various headers. The first set, “Carol’s Favorites,” contains 16 episodes on 6 DVDs with bonus material on three of the disks. This set contains “Went With the Wind” (episode 1002), an episode of “As the Stomach Turns,” the very first Family sketch (episode 722), “The Walnuts” spoof of The Waltons (episode 814), a salute to MGM musicals (episode 1022), and guests stars including Roddy McDowall, Dinah Shore, Steve Martin, Betty White, The Jackson 5, Maggie Smith, Shirley MacLaine, Joanne Woodward, Rock Hudson and Vincent Price. Bonus features include the reunion special Let’s Bump Up the Lights, and an episode of The Garry Moore Show featuring Carol in the “Supergirl” sketch — which featured Carol doing the famous Tarzan yell for the first time on TV!

The second set, “This Time Together,” contains 17 episodes plus bonus material on 6 DVDs. Highlights include a spoof of the hottest box office hit of the time, The Godfather (episode 612), a round of TV commercial spoofs, three special guest-free Family shows, another “As the Stomach Turns” episode, several “Family” sketches, “That’s Entertainment, Part 86,” Mrs. Wiggins and Mr. Tudball, the Australian show filmed in Sydney (episode 710), Tim Conway’s Oldest Man, and Stella Toddler. Special guests include Steve Lawrence, Lily Tomlin, The Pointer Sisters, Dick Van Dyke, Bernadette Peters, Sammy Davis Jr., Petula Clark, Madeline Kahn, Eydie Gorme, Peggy Lee, Stiller & Meara, Edward Villella, and Hal Linden. Bonus features include “This Time Together,” a reunion with Carol, Vicki, Tim and Lyle, “Gags and Gowns: A Tribute to Bob Mackie,” and “Side Effects May Include … – About the TV Commercials.”

The third set, “One More Time,” contains 17 episodes plus bonus material on 6 DVDs. Highlights include Carol & Sis (episode 718), TV commercials (episode 806), “The Cockney Lesson” (episode 909), “Mama’s Birthday” (episode 911), the hilarious Family sketch “Sorry!” (episode 809), “Mildred Fierce” (episode 1009), “Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde” (episode 707), Eunice’s appearance on The Gong Show (episode 616), and “Snow White: 15 Years Later” (episode 616). Special guests include Joel Grey, Telly Savalas, The Smothers Brothers, Maggie Smith, Betty White, Bernadette Peters, Helen Reddy, Tony Randall, Ken Berry, Jim Nabors and Ruth Buzzi. Bonus material includes the featurette “Focus on The Family,” “From Soaps to Nuts: About the TV Parodies,” and interviews with Carol and Vicki.

But that’s not all! There are four DVDs of exclusive bonus features including Carol’s final appearance on The Garry Moore Show, a great featurette on the show’s opening Q&A segment, the infamous dentist sketch with Tim Conway reducing Harvey Korman to a giggling mess, bonus sketches with Jerry Lewis, Lucille Ball, and Bing Crosby, a 2004 interview with Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, a look at the season ten guest stars, a tribute to the show’s writers, a celebration of the movie parodies, another interview with Harvey Korman from 2004, and celebrities like Lainie Kazan, Bernadette Peters, Carl Reiner, Jerry Lewis, Amy Poehler, Ellen DeGeneres, Jane Lynch and Betty White reminiscing about Carol and the show. That’s all on the first 2-disk set!

The second bonus set includes a Cinderella sketch from The Garry Moore Show, a 2004 interview with Harvey Korman, a featurette about the show’s mini-musicals, the Sunset Boulevard spoof “Sunnyset Boulevard,” a featurette on the show’s ensemble chemistry, a tribute to Harvey Korman, the Love Story parody “Lovely Story,” and interviews with Rita Moreno, Amy Poehler, Gail Parent, Lyle Waggoner, Tim Conway, Steve Lawrence, Bob Mackie, Vicki Lawrence and more.

Time Life has done a magnificent job bringing these shows back to life on DVD. The episodes, originally shot on video, look as good as they did during their original broadcasts (based on what I’ve seen so far … this is a massive set to get through), and the bonus material from The Garry Moore Show (probably from Kinescopes) looks a little worse for the wear, but we should be happy to have them at all. All of the new interviews look great as well. If you’re a real Carol Burnett fan, or want to introduce the show to a new generation, you will have very little to complain about with this ultimate set (there’s also a smaller collection available as well). I’ve been a fan of The Carol Burnett Show since I watched it back in the day, and I’m thrilled to have these full episodes available on DVD, some for the very first time! If you love the show, you can’t go wrong with this deluxe box set (a memory booklet is also included). Thank you, Time Life, for your efforts in putting this amazing set together!

This review is based on The Carol Burnett Show Ultimate Collection provided to CliqueClack by Time Life Video. The Ultimate Collection and The Best of The Carol Burnett Show are available exclusively from Time Life Video.

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Okay, sue me. I am not afraid to admit that I love 2 Broke Girls. In fact, it’s the only sitcom on CBS that I watch. But there are many that have dismissed its crude humor and “offensively” stereotypical characters as patently unfunny and a waste of Kat Dennings’ talent (why does no one ever mention Beth Behrs when they say that?). So, yes, I will take a stand for 2 Broke Girls and hope that others will discover what could become a true comedy gem.

If you’re unfamiliar with the plot, Behrs plays Caroline Channing, the daughter of a not-so-vague Bernie Madoff-like father who finds herself broke and on the street after his financial scandal sends him to jail and puts all of her money and belongings in the hands of the system. Dennings plays Max Black, a sassy waitress at a Brooklyn diner who has nothing but a tiny apartment, a cheating ex-boyfriend, and a dream to become a famous baker of the world’s best cupcakes. Max and Caroline meet on the subway one day, and feeling sorry for her, Max takes Caroline in and gets her a job, her first, at the diner. Hilarity ensues, with the neat little hook that Caroline is driving Max to fulfill her dream by starting a cupcake fund for their business that tallies up at the end of each episode (or down if they have to use the money for something else). It’s a neat little hook that gets you invested in their journey.

The girls are like a modern Laverne & Shirley surrounded by a cast of wacky stereotypes including Han Lee (Matthew Moy), the Asian owner of the diner, Oleg (Jonathan Kite), the horny, eastern European cook, and Earl (Garrett Morris), the cashier at the diner with a quip for any situation. Coming in to the story midway through the season is Sophie Kachinsky (Jennifer Coolidge), a cleaning service owner who lives in the same building as Max and gives the girls some part-time employment to help them raise money for the business. Han, Oleg and Sophie all have some kind of TV-ethnic accent which has been the focus of much of the derision against the show, but they’re all actors who knew what they were stepping in to so if they don’t have a problem with it, then no one else should either.

I’ve gotten a kick out of the show over the past season, and I have to say that it’s been pretty consistently funny. The characters of Max and Caroline certainly are “types” but Dennings and Behrs have a natural chemistry together that makes the relationship, and the comedy, work. As is pointed out in the bonus “making of” feature on the video, everyone assumed the actresses knew each other long before they got this job because their friendship seemed so natural. That really comes out on the show. The writing is pretty sharp too, even if it does tend to go a little more to the sexual side at time — there are no innuendos here folks. This ain’t Three’s Company. And there are the occasional heart-tugging moments as well, particularly when Caroline had to take her horse to live out in the country (you just can’t keep a horse in a tiny yard in Brooklyn), and when Earl suffered a heart attack while fretting about his taxes. But even when a little drama creeps in, there are always some laughs to bring the mood back up. Overall, I really enjoyed the first season, and I’m looking forward to the second which will air Monday nights on CBS at 9:00 PM Eastern.

Warner Brothers has just released the complete first season on DVD (3 disks) and Blu-ray (2 disks). The 1080p Blu-ray image is sharp and clear with vibrant colors as would be expected from the high definition recordings. The DTS-HD Master Audio is presented in a 5.1 mix and everything is well balanced. Most of the audio is front and center with the surrounds used mostly for the musical bumpers before and after each commercial break. There are also subtitles in English, French and Spanish. Bonus materials are slim. The highlight is the “2 Girls Going 4 Broke” featurette with a behind the scenes look at how the show came together with input from creators Michael Patrick King (Sex and the City) and Whitney Cummings (and this show is so much better than her own sitcom on NBC), as well as all of the regular cast members (and it’s odd to hear Moy and Kite speak in their normal voices). There is also a collection of unaired scenes from several season one episodes, but what I really wanted was a blooper reel. You’d think with a sitcom, there’d be a great blooper reel! I closely watch the actors during some of the funnier moments of the show, and I know I’ve seen both Kat and Beth trying hard not to crack. Maybe they’re just so good that there aren’t any bloopers. Other than that major shortcoming, I highly recommend the set for the fans of the show (and with your purchase, you also get access to the episodes via Ultraviolet, which allows you to stream your purchased content to a number of devices), and if you haven’t yet bothered to watch it because of the reviews, now’s your chance to give it a sample!

This review was based on a retail copy of the Blu-ray provided to CliqueClack by Warner Home Video.

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