Grid Effect

I stated yesterday that you can identify a great series if each episode improves on the one before it. Well, last night’s episode of Mad Men, “Hobo Codes”, wasn’t necessarily better than its predecessor, “Red in The Face”, but it certainly made me cringe more often than not. Next time I get in a drunken verbal spat with someone, I am definitely calling them a “whore child”.

Just a couple programming suggestions (sans football) for this weekend, they’re both on HBO’s Sunday lineup: obviously, and I’ve mentioned it several times here before, Curb Your Enthusiasm debuts its sixth and potentially final season (though in the wake of Larry David’s divorce, I suspect there could be a seventh) at 10pm ET. Reviews have been laudatory, and even if they were shitty I’d still strongly suggest tuning in. Its been almost two full years since Larry moved to Arizona to find out he wasn’t gentile.

Leading into the seasoned comedy is HBO’s new raunch drama, as I am going to dub it, Tell Me You Love Me. It is surprisingly sexually explicit and yet artful, making it the ideal series for male liberal arts majors. We will be watching and offer a review, but the jury is still out as to whether it will actually deliver, HBO is starving for a quality drama. It’s on at 9pm ET, or currently on HBO OnDemand.

Linkage…

Well, it looks like I’m going be forced into watching 30 Rock on a regular basis this season. Not only did they snag Seinfeld for a cameo (the lead on arguably the greatest comedy of all time) and Will Arnett (the supporting lead for a series in the same category), but also Edie Falco (the best female lead performance in television history). I miss the days when I could believe Tina Fey wasn’t funny…

Speaking of cameos and guest appearances, the aids queen from Nip Tuck is scheduled to play Tami Taylor’s supportive sister on the upcoming season of Friday Night Lights. Will she be of loose morals in Dillon as well? Probably not, but I’m holding out.

Michael Cera and Jason Bateman are in the same film, and they are quick to tell you, it’s not a reunion. An indicator of Arrested Development’s success is when one of its cast members is in another project, everyone immediately queries about the series. Way to drop the ball on that one, FOX.

Jenna Fischer has had a difficult summer. First back surgery, and now a divorce. This article asks whether her newfound celebrity was the cause of the separation. I’m sure it played a role, but if she left her husband because he wasn’t on par with her fame? That is fair un-Pam Beesly like.

Fox News viewers hate FOX’s primetime lineup. Honestly, these people have to have something better to do with their time then complain about something as trivial as American Dad.

The Wire has wrapped up filming, and now I wait on pins and needles for the beginning of the end. What the hell else am I going to spend my time on uselessly pondering once that series stops airing new episodes?

Suggestions for an Entourage rebound. The reviewer seems to be under the impression Drama will be portrayed as more successful than Vince. That is really some misguided idealism to think Vince will be portrayed as anything less than his peers.

That’s it for now, I’m exceptionally busy at work today, but I’m going to attempt to start and finish the last fall preview for FOX, as the season premiere of Curb is somewhat worrisome that my window is closing to finish these.