Television's Amusements of the Week (10/13-10/19)

Most weeks, a handful of amusing moments from TV shows stick out at me. Sometimes these moments are intentional; many times they're not. Regardless of their intent, here are five that caught my eye last week.

1) Silas Goes Greek (The Vampire Diaries)

The flashback styling on The Vampire Diaries never fail to amuse me, but Silas's ancient Greek style might take the cake for funniest costuming yet. Forget the outfit; the curls alone would have earned this moment a spot on the list.

2) Mellie's Drunken Monologue (Scandal)

 

 

I love Mellie in just about any form, but drunk Mellie might take the cake. With just one scene in which she celebrates her continued ability to make her "puppet husband dance," the bouffanted first lady stole the show.

3) Julia's Nightmarishly Hideous Vest (Parenthood)

 

Sometimes when I'm cold, I'll wrap a blanket around myself as a makeshift poncho. It's not a good look, and yet it's still 10 times more fashionable than this sartorial monstrosity. I know Julia's supposed to be in a rough place on the show, but this vest needs to be burned with fire.

4) Sarah's Gummy Bear Scheming (MasterChef Junior)

 

Don't be fooled by the cute exterior of MasterChef Junior's youngest competitor Sarah. As she enjoyed the perks of a challenge win, safety and a massive container of gummy bears, she explained to Gordon Ramsay her plan to make Jack think she's his friend so it will be "that much easier to wipe him out." She then called Jack over so she could drop a gummy bear from above as a sign of good will.

 

 

 5) The Return of Jessie Spano (Dancing with the Stars)

 

 

I'm so excited. I'm so excited. I'm so ... happy that this actually happened. Last week Elizabeth Berkley reenacted her iconic caffeine addiction scene from Saved by the Bell on Dancing with the Stars, and it was everything I wanted it to be.



What television moments amused you last week? Chime in with a comment below.

Early Previews of Fall 2013 TV Pilots

For the past several television seasons, a number of shows have released their pilots online prior to the shows' actual premiere dates. These pilots tend to sporadically pop up over a period of weeks. So to make things easier for you, I'll be keeping a running list of the 2013 fall pilots you can preview before their television premieres.

Early Pilot Previews

• Trophy Wife
• Watch on Hulu
• Watch on ABC
• Back in the Game
• Watch on Hulu
• Watch on ABC
• The Goldbergs
• Watch on Hulu
• Watch on ABC 
• Welcome to the Family
• Watch on Hulu
• Watch on NBC
• Ironside
• Watch on Hulu
• Watch on NBC
• We Are Men
• Watch on CBS

Bonus

You can also watch The Mindy Project's second season opener a week before its premiere date Tuesday September 17th.

• Watch on Hulu
• Watch on Fox

"Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Trailer 

 

Opening Scene

 

Closing Scene

Transmedia Storytelling Article

For those who are interested, here is a link to Henry Jenkins' "Transmedia Storytelling" article he penned for MIT Technology Review. 

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/401760/transmedia-storytelling/

"YMCA" as performed by the Lord of the Rings characters

Whoever edited this video must have had a lot of time on their hands!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVx6_5J7Ymw

More Br Ba

Since the focus seems to be on Breaking Bad, I though that I would toss this out for everyone. Breaking Bad just feels right in so many ways - maybe it is due to the five-act structure.

The West Wing: NBC's Cavalcade of Stars

I am reviewing Janet McCabe's book on The West Wing for my final paper, as well as finishing watching the final episodes of the series on Netflix. Even before Sorkin and others left the show, it has been remarkable to see who has appeared over the years in regular or guest appearances, beyond the ensemble cast of Bradley Whitford, Dule Hill, John Spencer, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Rob Lowe, Janel Moloney, Joshua Malina, and Martin Sheen.

Some of the Hollywood heavyweights and welterweights I have spotted:
Stockard Channing
Elisabeth Moss
Mary-Louise Parker
Gary Cole
Marlee Matlin

Lily Tomlin
John Goodman
James Cromwell
Adam Arkin
Alan Alda
Jimmy Smits
Kristen Chenoweth
Glenn Close
Matthew Perry
Christian Slater
Timothy Busfield
Milo O'Shea
William Fichtner
Teri Polo
Oliver Platt
Mary Kay Place
Clark Gregg
Mark Harmon
Connie Britton
Terry O'Quinn
Ed O'Neill
Ted McGinley
Hal Holbrook
James Brolin
Taye Diggs
Edward James Olmos
Jane Lynch

O.K., so maybe I had to consult IMDb to confirm/learn the names of "What's his face?". Playing "Name That Actor" can become maddening while watching the show itself. My point is that there is so much triangulation happening of really smart, savvy actors with other movies and television programs on The West Wing. This show must have been quite a draw for actors working a decade ago in Tinsel Town. A corollary can be found with Grey's Anatomy. When the curtain slides back on the patient du jour in the exam room, the audience never knows which famous or vaguely familiar face will appear (replete with makeup to look like they have a goiter protruding from their necks). Speaking of Grey's, Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens, Jr.), the chief of surgery, shows up on The West Wing as the mayor of Washington, D.C., arguing for school vouchers--as a Democrat.

Who said the variety show with the parade of famous faces is over in this era of television? Seeing multiple Oscar nominees and winners on the list, I have to think of Amy Poehler's joke as host of the Golden Globes Award Show (along with Tina Fey):

"Only at the Golden Globes do the beautiful people of film rub shoulders with the rat-faced people of television."

Apparently she is not a fan of The West Wing, where it happens weekly.