Romo's World: Looking Back and Ahead at The Same Time

Archive

Well the weather is getting warmer is getting warmer, which means that people will get outside and neglect their TVs until September rolls around. Before I go out and drink a nice cold beer on the patio I’d like to look at some of the great season finales of my favourite shows.

Desperate Housewives

Wow….what can I say? After a very mediocre middle of the season the writers sure packed a punch for the finale. I feel like an idiot for not connecting the dots sooner. It was so obvious that Deirdre was Zach’s mother yet in my stupidness I missed it.

Mike leaving Paul Young alive, albeit stranded, was a nice move and fits with his character. Now the fate of Mike lies in the hands of Zach, hmm…is Mike Zach’s real dad? It seems like that is the next obvious way to go. It sure would help out Susan as another reason to get Zach to not date her daughter. “Sorry Zach, now that I am married to Mike, you are now my step-son and the love of your life, Julie, is now your step-sister.”

Lost

What a great three hour finale. Sure I could quibble about some minor points, and yeah sure it’s a bit annoying that there are all these little hints and secrets only super geeks with TIVO and slow-motion actually catch.

I can’t wait to see how Walt reacts to his captors. Hopefully he will remember some of what Locke taught him and be able to use his powers against them. Then again they obviously know about his powers so they should be ready for it.

How will Sawyer, Michael and Jin survive being stranded some 15 miles from landed with a torched and beaten up raft?

What I really liked was the development of Locke. For a while it seemed like Locke was some perfect, almost sage-like figure. The finale brought him back to earth. For one he totally messed up with not protecting Walt. He ignored warnings from Sayid and at the last minute Hurley about opening the hatch (which now seems like a HUGE mistake).

The battle of Faith vs. Science has taken shape between Locke and Charlie.

For a more detailed and overall better recap and analysis of the finale check out John “Duran” Duran’s Lost Recap.

Deadwood

I had to wait a couple of weeks longer before I got to watch the finale. Since I was away for the last two episodes and for some stupid reason TIVO has not come to Canada I waited till last Monday night when TMN replayed the last two episodes of the year.

During this second season there seemed to be a mellowing of violence in the mining camp of Deadwood. Sure people died with abundance but after the first week’s big fisticuffs between Swearengen and Bullock none of the major players were involved.

Thanks to perhaps the best villain on the small screen today, Al Swearengen, this all changed in the season finale. This past year has not been kind to Al. He barely survived a kidney stone after repeated jabs up his urethra by the doctor. Incapacitated during his recovery it looked like Al was losing control of the town to his rival Cy Tolliver and super-rich mining-developer George Hearst.

With the help of his former combatant, Bullock, he managed to get free elections and also got Deadwood annexed to the Dakota Territory on his terms, not Hearst’s or Tolliver’s. Al then magnificently turned the tables on Tolliver by convincing Hearst he indeed was the man to do business with.

After setting things straight Al proceeded to reward his loyal friend from China, Mr. Wu. The highlight of the finale was the violent attack by Wu and three of Swearengen’s employees on Mr. Wu’s rival. To show his thanks and respect to Al, Mr. Wu rips off his ponytail and proclaims himself American. Now isn’t this what America is all about? People of different races getting together for acts of murder to further illegal activities (in this case the opium/prostitution trade).

The episode also featured an unlikely marriage between Alma Garrett and Whitney Ellsworth, yeah that’s the first I heard of his last name too. The wedding countered the sad funeral that dominated the second to last episode.

That funeral of course was for William Bullock. After the tragic death of Seth Bullock’s adopted son it seems that Seth and his former sister-in-law, now wife, Martha have decided to stick together. A surprising turn really because Martha seemed so anxious to leave Deadwood once her son had died. No doubt realising she was stuck married to a man who only married her out of obligation and loved another woman.

To top things off Deadwood ended off with the death and near-death of two big characters. Cy Tolliver is stabbed by his former colleague-turned preacher Andy after repeated threats and harassment by Cy. One of the more interesting characters in Deadwood, Wolcott, hangs himself after his boss, Hearst, fires him upon finding out Wolcott has a propensity for murdering prostitutes. The survival of Tolliver is left in doubt at the end of the episode. Even if Cy survives he will awake to find that he has lost any position of power to Swearengen.

All in all a great way to end a very solid second season. I can’t wait for next year.

Summer Shows

Well over the past several years the quality and quantity of summer programming has grown. This summer does have a good mix of everything audiences might want. I am looking forward to the return of Entourage and Six Feet Under, along with continued the greatness of Family Guy.

There are some interesting new shows appearing in the summer, mostly of the reality variety.

Here is a list by dates of some the shows appearing in the summer.

Sundays

ENTOURAGE
(Sundays at 9:00/8:00c on HBO; new season premieres June 5)

THE COMEBACK
(Sundays at 9:30/8:30c on HBO; premieres June 5)
Lisa Kudrow plays a washed up actress looking to make a comeback.

FAMILY GUY
(Sundays at 9:00/8:00c on FOX; new episodes begin June 5)

AMERICAN DAD
(Sundays at 9:30/8:30c on FOX; new episodes begin June 5)

THE 4,400
(Sundays at 9:00/8:00c on USA; new season premieres June 5)
The Sci-Fi hit returns and though I am interested in it solely out of loyalty to Michael Morality Sunday at 9 will be tough with Family Guy and Entourage.

Mondays

THE SCHOLAR
(Mondays at 8:00/7:00c on ABC; premieres June 6)
A bunch of smart kids compete for a college scholarship. ABC seems to be playing it up as a classy reality show with values.

SIX FEET UNDER
(Mondays at 9:00/8:00c on HBO; new season premieres June 6)
The last season, I can’t wait.

HELL’S KITCHEN
(Mondays at 9:00/8:00c on FOX; premieres May 30)
A reality show where wannabe chefs compete under a Simon Cowell-esque head chef. The winner gets their own restaurant.

ROCK STAR: INXS
(Mondays at 9:30/8:30c) Premiers July 11
Mark Burnett tries to one up American Idol. The winner of the show becomes the lead singer of INXS. Oh poor Michael Hutchence.

Tuesdays

AVERAGE JOE
(Tuesdays at 8:00/7:00c on NBC; new season premieres June 21)
Another instalment, the fourth I believe, of the reality show that proves that women are just as shallow as men.

I WANT TO BE A HILTON
(Tuesdays at 9:00/8:00c on NBC; premieres June 21
A reality show about living the high-life, ala the Hiltons. Blah!

TOMMY LEE GOES TO COLLEGE
(Tuesdays at 9:00/8:00c on NBC; premieres August 16)
Tommy Lee, yes the one with the big unit who married Pam Anderson, I think he may have been in a band or something too. Well he decided to go to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and NBC follows him around.

FIRE ME, PLEASE
(Tuesdays at 9:00/8:00c on CBS; premieres June 7)
People compete to see who can get fired the quickest.

BIG BROTHER 6
(Tuesdays at 9:00/8:00c, on CBS; premieres Thursday, July 7 at 8:00/7:00c)
Julie Chen is back to annoy us but for diehard reality fans this may be as good as it gets.

ROCK STAR: INXS
Tuesdays at 10:00/9:00c; premiers July 11
Yeah it’s on twice a week.

RESCUE ME
(Tuesdays at 10:00/9:00c on FX; new season premieres June 21)
The critically acclaimed show about fireman returns. Sorry I’ve never seen it but everyone who has says it’s really good but I don’t get FX in my backward country.

EMPIRE (5-week, 6-hour limited series)
(Tuesdays at 10:00/9:00c on ABC; premieres June 28 at 9:00/8:00c)
This is about the story of Octavius, Caesar’s nephew, who is forced into exile after Caesar’s murder. Gladiator fans rejoice!

Wednesdays

BEAUTY AND THE GEEK
(Wednesdays at 8:00/7:00c on The WB; premieres June 1)
Another reality show where 7 beautiful, but not so bright, women and matched with 7 smart, but no so attractive, guys compete for $250,000. Oh yes I will be watching this!

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
(Wednesdays at 8:00/7:00c on FOX; premieres July 20)
Fox brings out what seems to be an American Idol clone but for dancers. I hope its better then the movie Honey.

THE INSIDE
(Wednesdays at 9:00/8:00c on FOX; premieres June 8 at 9:00/8:00c)
Ooh finally a new dram. This is a show about the FBI Violent Crime Unit.

DANCING WITH THE STARS
(Wednesdays at 9:00/8:00c on ABC; premieres June 1)
Have you seen the ads? Well basically Evander Holyfield and other celebs compete in a ballroom dancing competition.

BRAT CAMP
(Wednesdays at 9:00/8:00c on ABC; premieres July 13 at 8:00/7:00c)
This one sounds like Nanny 911 for teens. Bratty kids get sent out to camp which is manned by Damon Wayans, oh wait that was a crappy movie. Well you get the point.

THE REAL GILLIGAN’S ISLAND
(Wednesdays at 9:00/8:00c on TBS; new season premieres June 8)
My guilty pleasure. I guess I just like having the choice between Mary Anne and Ginger (times two in the case).

ROCK STAR: INXS
Wednesdays at 9:30/8:30c; premieres June 11
Oh yeah actually it’s on three times a week, bored yet?

Thursdays

THE CUT
(Thursdays at 8:00/7:00c on CBS; premieres June 9)
A Tommy Hilfiger Apprentice-like show. Where the winner gets to design a new line of clothing. Personally I am waiting for The Apprentice: Ron Jeremy.

HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME
(Thursdays at 9:00/8:00c on NBC; premieres June 2)
From what I read this is some sort of music competition show. I think it pits actual musicians against each other and the audience votes for the winner.

THE LAW FIRM
(Thursdays at 9:00/8:00c on NBC; premieres July 28)
David E. Kelley, the creator of Ally McBeal brings a reality show about real lawyers trying real cases in a reality TV competative environment.

BIG BROTHER 6
Thursdays at 8:00/7:00c on CBS
You just can’t get enough of it can you?

Fridays

INTO THE WEST (6-week, 12-hour limited series)
(Fridays at 8:00/7:00c on TNT; premieres June 10)
This is a Stephen Spielberg mini-series, story about the opening of the west. It sounds like it would be amazing if it weren’t done for a Turner network.

MONK
(Fridays at 10:00/9:00c on USA; new season premieres July 8)
Tony Shalhoub returns as the loveable and bumbling Monk.

Saturdays

BIG BROTHER 6
Saturdays at 8:00/7:00c on CBS
Hey nothing else is on.

Now a call out to anyone who wants to recap any of the summer shows, even if they are not listed here as I did not put them all down, please contact Murtz Jaffer at murtz@4sternstaging.com