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Four Most Underrated TV Shows This Fall

Mokibobolink — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:01:48 +0000

Hi folks! Here’s another guest post and since it includes some of my favorite tv shows this fall, I thought y’all would enjoy it too.

Four Most Underrated TV Shows This Fall
a guest post by Kyle Tesori

The popularity of some television shows is a given each fall; if it is part of the Law and Order franchise, it’s practically a guaranteed hit, and any crime scene show seems to become a darling of the viewing public. But there are plenty of other shows that have to stand on their own, and there are always a few shows that don’t get an instant audience and languish for a while before being “discovered.”

In the fall of 2010, there were a few new shows and some returning series that didn’t pick up a wide viewing audience, but remained on the network because they are excellent programs and have a loyal, but relatively small, following.

Here are my four picks for the most underrated TV shows this fall:

Rubicon (AMC)

The tag line for Rubicon, “Not every conspiracy is a theory”, is a dead giveaway that you’re in for a rollercoaster ride of confusion, tension, and suspicion. Rubicon is complex and intelligent. It assumes the audience is just as intelligent and leaves you guessing or scratching your head at each twist, but rather than going for the outlandish (think Lost), Rubicon is staying squarely in the area of what is plausible. The result is a taut thriller that moves at breakneck speed. If you’ve missed the early episodes, you need to download and watch them otherwise you’ll constantly be trying to get up to speed, instead of enjoying the ride.

Terriers (FX)

This is television that’s pitched to the “man” in all of us. Hank is a former policeman who’s a bit down and out after he botched an investigation and lost his job. Joining forces with his closest friend, Britt, they set up shop as private investigators. You’d be wrong if you thought this sounds like a re-hash of old buddy shows. It’s that same comedy-drama genre, but it’s bold, fresh and innovative.

We’ve all known someone like Hank, who seems like a lovable loser on the surface but has an iron clad code of conduct and sense of what’s really right and wrong that’s just off base enough to keep you guessing. His bad luck and working class roots hide a quiet sense of joy that’s all the more refreshing when it surfaces because it’s such a surprise. No need to feel sorry for Hank – he’s embracing life in all its darkness and still coming out with cock-eyed optimism. All of the characters are rough around the edges and a bit scruffy, but their relative levels of maturity evolve with every episode. A few doses Terriers and you’ll be wishing you had a Hank in your corner, in real life.

White Collar (USA)

Matt Bomer, as Neal Caffery, is a charming former conman who now consults with the FBI. It’s a stylishly filmed, debonair version of Hollywood caper movies with a dramatic underside. While Bomer is at his sexy best as pure eye candy, he also reveals glimpses of his character’s quieter side when he is observing the enviable marriage of his partner, Peter Burke. The real pay-off, however, is the wonderful camaraderie between Burke and Neal, who have become friends despite equal doses of suspicion and rivalry as they solve complex cases. Let’s face it, it’s refreshing to watch a show where the FBI is capable yet fallible. The human element and small, comedic gems in the dialogue set White Collar’s foundation as an entertaining and compelling television program. When it returns this January, be sure you tune in.

Sons of Anarchy (FX)

Sons of Anarchy is going into its third season because of a small, devoted audience that keeps coming back to this biker drama. On the surface, it’s about the criminal enterprises and many confrontations of a gang of bikers, but it’s what lies beneath has the power to astound. The central theme is more about the emotional ties of family, in whatever form you find it, than about the rules and regulations of the biker lifestyle.

Katie Seagal is a revelation as Gemma, the wife of gang leader, Clay Morrow, played with dark hubris by Ron Perlman. She’s a brooding mother hen to the entire gang while revealing she may be the most brutal member of Samcro (the legal name for the gang’s many business enterprises). This show is filled with surprising moments, as you follow the gang from midnight raids on enemy territory, to warm family reunions, to board meetings to discuss Samcro’s next business enterprise. These aren’t anybody’s cast-offs; the Sons of Anarchy are the new, American mobsters and just as concerned with loyalty and what’s right within the family as any Corleone could hope.

Do you agree with my picks? If not, what do you think were the most underrated TV shows this season?

About the Author
Kyle Tesori is a freelance writer for Direct Sat TV . Direct Sat TV is an authorized retailer of Direct TV. Named the 2007 Direct TV dealer of the year, Direct Sat TV continues to provide excellent customer service by providing customers with the best offers available and helping them chose the perfect system for their needs.

TV Episode Recap/Review – Burn Notice “Blind Spot”

Mokibobolink — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:48:58 +0000

In this episode of Burn Notice, called “Blind Spot” everyone is, as usual, working on different cases. First off Fiona comes to the aid of a grieving woman who had her entire life saving snatch from her by a sleazy womanizer. It’s a job tailor made for Sam, so he helps her to get the sleazebag back. Every plan they have blows up in their face until finally they resort to drugging him (twice) to make him black out and think that he’s killed the woman whose money he stole. Then Michael steps in as a “dirty cop” and claims he can make it all go away, which he does (since it never happened in the first place) and gives the money to the client.

Meanwhile Michael and Jesse are after the man who wants Simon’s bible. Sam has a friend make up a fake file on the guy so they can fool Jesse into thinking he’s the reason he got burned. They are trying to help Jesse but have to resort to lying to him in order to do it. Madeline, unable to take looking into the eyes of a man that her son is lying to, decides to leave town. Turns out to be just in the nick of time as Jesse finally figures out who really burned him and takes off, but not before making it very clear what he wants to do to Michael, Sam and Fiona for what they did.

My favorite bits…

The boys having to stop their super secret spy meeting because of a game of Canasta. I know I hate it when that happens in the middle of my spy meetings.

The words “Merchant of Death” appearing under Barrett’s name.

Michael pointing out to Fiona that he and Jesse may be sitting ducks, but they were well-armed ducks.

This line from Fiona: “The man’s a sleazy womanizer. Clearly a job for Sam Axe.”

I’m with Sam, Chuck Finley IS forever!

Sam having to hold Fi back from putting a bullet in the sleaze bag’s skull. So surprising to see how emotionally attached she got to the case.

Fi telling the client “insane is one of our specialties”. Yep, that’s very true.

Sam dropping Charles’ head on the floor at Fiona’s request, not just once but twice.

Laughing my ass of at this bit:
Bad Guy: “You have no idea who you’re messing with.”
Michael: “Well, whose fault is that? You haven’t told us your name yet.”

Cracking up when Michael slapped at a mosquito in the middle of a conversation. No way was that scripted, that’s just a normal part of Miami.

Totally knowing that Fi was gonna reach over and start kissing Jesse when their cover was nearly blown…..and the look on his face when she did it.

The client asking if they had a manual where they get all their stuff. LOL, I’ve always wondered that myself.

Jesse suggesting that Sam had lost his taste for alcohol…..*rolls on floor in hysterical laughter*

Loving Michael’s English accent.

Fi taking on two bad guys in Emily’s house all on her own.

The way they set up Charles to think he killed Emily. Brilliant.

The way Michael kept slapping his hand to emphasize why he needed to charge a million dollars to clean up the “murder”.

Michael questioning “tosser?” when Charles went off on his accountant. LOL. (“Tosser” is a British insult and like “wanker” literally means one who….erm….wanks off. Get it?)

Sam telling Charles the truth about everything in the limo and then leaving him with this awesome line: “You know, there’s nothing more pathetic than a bitch who can’t move on. A raging British jackass once told me that.”

My jaw dropping at the final scene when Jesse figured out what happened and not only held a gun on Fiona, but actually cocked it and threatened to kill her for betraying him.

Overall an episode that transitioned from the normal action packed with a bit of comedy, straight to dramatic and gasp inducing in the space of about 30 seconds. Next week’s finale looks to be awesome.

Don’t miss out on my next review! Be sure to subscribe to The Positively Positive and get updates straight to your email!

More Burn Notice Reviews….
Burn Notice, season 3, episode 10 “A Dark Road”
Burn Notice, season 3, episode 11 “Friendly Fire”
Burn Notice, season 4, episode 1 “Friends and Enemies”
Burn Notice, season 4, episode 2 “Fast Friends”
Burn Notice, season 4, episode 3 “Made Man”
Burn Notice, season 4, episode 6 “Entry Point”
Burn Notice, season 4, episode 8 “Where There’s Smoke”
Burn Notice, season 4, episode 9 “Center of the Storm”

TV Episode Recap/Review – Rizzoli & Isles “I Kissed a Girl”

Mokibobolink — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:02:29 +0000

I’ve always had a thing for buddy cop shows, buddy movies, etc. Two guys who are opposites, fighting cantankerously but always having each other’s backs when push comes to shove. It’s a formula that has worked over and over again and now I’ve found a new love for a different kind of buddy – the girl buddies.

I first started watching Rizzoli & Isles because Sasha Alexander (who I liked in NCIS) was in it. I wasn’t sure what to expect and frankly, I wasn’t even sure if I would like it. Was this going to be like Sex & The City with guns? Were the girls going to be more catty than buddy? After all I like myself a good chick flick, but I had no idea how the two ideas would mesh. The truth is they don’t. You will find no vestiges of the chick flick in the show, unless you count the fact that the two main characters are women. That is where the similarities end though. After that it’s just about two women who are best friends, despite being complete polar opposites, and make the perfect crime solving team.

In last night’s episode, aptly named “I Kissed a Girl” (a title it shares with one of my favorite songs by Katy Perry), the ladies are after a killer who attacked and murdered a woman outside of a lesbian bar. In order to get closer to the killer, Rizzoli allows her profile to be put up on a ladies only dating site and sets up a bunch of dates at the bar. Isles goes undercover as a waitress to secure DNA from each of the prospective suitors and the boys stay behind the scenes listening in.

In the end it turns out to be a case of betrayal as they find that it was the woman’s wife, along with her bartending lover, who committed the crime.

My favorite bits…

Rizzoli only agreeing to the double date if Isles told her what killed the victim. She’s so devious.

Rizzoli going on a date with a guy who just wants to find a strong woman so that he can be a stay at home dad. Okay call me crazy but for a second there I really thought those two were a match made in heaven.

The funny way Rizzoli said “dildo” out of the side of her mouth to confirm that’s what Isles was talking about.

The boys and Isles trying to figure out how best to describe Rizzoli on the dating site.

Rizzoli saying she might “flip” for a woman on the dating site who had front row season tickets to the Celtics.

Isles’ speech about how she is in awe of what human beings can do. That was really beautiful and made me think we all should do that every once in a while.

Really wanting that top Isles was wearing in the bar.

Rizzoli’s very unique method of getting a DNA sample from the bartender.

The girls getting into a push fight in yoga class. It made me giggle so hard because it totally reminded me of myself and my girlfriends when I was younger.

Overall I really got a kick out of this episode and each week I find that I am loving Rizzoli & Isles more and more.

TV Episode Review/Recap – Burn Notice: Center of the Storm

Mokibobolink — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 23:07:28 +0000

Having ridden out a hurricane or two in Miami, this week’s episode of Burn Notice, called “Center of the Storm” was somewhat familiar. Putting plywood up on windows, evacuating to higher ground, cleaning up afterwards, yep I’ve been there and done that.

Then again, Michael and his friends did have a smidge more to worry about than I did in my last hurricane. First of all, now that they’ve got Simon’s bible (which they are sure is a code cipher), Michael wants to meet with the man himself. While he’s trying to arrange that, he’s still keeping the secret from Jesse that this whole business is what got him burned, oh and he gets kidnapped.

The two FBI agents that used to follow Michael around need his help when they lose their witness that they were supposed to be protecting. Michael goes looking for the witness and ends up finding the hitman after the poor guy. He manages to talk his way out of getting dead by convincing said hitman that he’s another hitman who has info that can help. Michael does manage to find the witness and also talks his captor into helping to save his life when yet another hitman shows up to finish the job. This episode was lousy with hitmen.

My favorite bits…

Fi reluctantly mumbling that though she had been mocking Michael for wanting to get a face to face with Simon, he wasn’t wrong about why it needed to be done.

Michael screaming at Vaughn and demanding to speak to Simon, then coming down to almost a whisper to declare that he’s pretty dangerous too. Honestly it was the whisper that scared me more.

Cracking up the moment I saw agents Lane and Harris were going to be the clients for this episode.

The way Michael double-timed it out of Fi’s apartment after announcing that he was doing a favor for the FBI, especially the little grin he gave right before he snuck out the door.

Cringing myself when Sam threatened to shoot the car. Why do they always have to shoot the pretty cars?

Michael and Sam being nice enough to leave a bag of chicken with the guys they locked in the trunk.

The look on Michael’s face when he got caught by the assassin in his apartment. Oopsie.

Cole telling Michael to keep talking because he was “fun to listen to.”

Vaughn going to Fi’s and offering her a deal to get Jesse back in if she gets him Simon’s book and then telling her that Michael is addicted to his life and on his way to becoming like that maniac. Ugh, what a sneaky bastard to go behind Michael’s back like that but sometimes I think he might be right about Michael being addicted.

Maddie’s CB handle being “Smokin’ Mama”

Finding out that Cole used to be in the Corps and Michael pointing out that if the guy was already daydreaming about leaving the life that he wasn’t cut out for it.

Wondering when Michael said “breaker one nine” on the CB, if he actually was on channel 19.

Maddie figuring out the code that Sam and Jesse used to give Michael a description of the house.

The annoyed look Michael gave when he had to repeat that he was Michael Westen and he was there to save those people.

Michael managing to get Cole on his side and protecting the guy he was supposed to kill and then the two of them building a bomb to catch the other hitmen. That was awesome.

Laughing when Maddie told Michael that if she had evacuated then she wouldn’t have been around to save his “skinny butt”. LOL!

Knowing that I was right and Fi would never give the book to Vaughn. Good girl!

Lane and Harris acting as Michael’s personal FBI guys in black suits. I guess it pays to have the FBI owe you a favor.

Overall I found this a really exciting episode of Burn Notice. From the hurricane to Michael getting kidnapped by a hitman and finally to it becoming very clear that Michael is going to be facing some personal demons when he meets up with Simon. I’m very excited for the rest of the season.

Don’t miss out on my next review! Be sure to subscribe to The Positively Positive and get updates straight to your email!

TV Episode Recap/Review – Dark Blue “Urban Garden” and “Liar’s Poker”

Mokibobolink — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:40:06 +0000

Ah, once again it’s time to thank my DVR for allowing me the chance to see a show that I never got to watch last summer. Dark Blue suffered due to just too many good shows on tv, but this year I decided to check it out.

Boy am I glad I did.

Last night was the season premiere – two episodes shown back to back to back, first up “Urban Garden”, followed by “Liar’s Poker”.

After watching both episodes I already know that this is my kind of show. About a team of LAPD officers who work deep undercover, led by Lieutenant Carter Shaw (played by Dylan McDermott), Dark Blue has now added Tricia Helfer to the cast. She plays FBI Agent Alex Rice, who has a case that accidentally crosses over into Carter’s territory, and subsequently takes over his case. Her objective is to get to a dirtbag in order to get to his boss, but after one of Carter’s old friends is killed by said dirtbag, he wants to nail the guy for the murder.

Everyone manages to play nice and they do manage to put away the baddie. Afterwards Shaw and Rice jump into bed together to celebrate, secure in the knowledge that they’re never gonna see each other again. Oops, turns out Rice has been assigned to run a special joint FBI/LAPD task force.

So some awkwardness ensues but mostly the two of them try to forget it ever happened. Meanwhile, another couple team members are knocking boots too. They are trying to keep it just as a physical thing but when one of them goes undercover and seduces a beautiful woman, the other starts to show what could be jealousy.

Needless to say the show is sexy, but not in a sappy soap-opera way that might get annoying in what should be a cop show. It has a fair amount of action and is a little dark too, but with enough humor to keep things from getting maudlin. Overall I liked the first taste I got and I’m eager for more.

Don’t miss out on my next review! Be sure to subscribe to The Positively Positive and get updates straight to your email!