Morning Coffee (10/25/13)

Happy Friday!

The palace has released four official portraits taken after Prince George's christening, and they are adorable.

Because I am apparently dedicated to keeping you informed about holiday TV programming: Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas is coming to PBS. It may or may not be less dirge-like than the rest of their stuff.

Ryan Seacrest has signed on to keep hosting Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. In the absence of Clark himself, I think this is good: like red carpet interviews, this is probably one of those cases in which we don't really think about how good Seacrest is at his job until someone else tries to do it.

A Murder, She Wrote reboot starring Octavia Spencer? Color me intrigued.

This is amazing: Texts from William Blake

I love the BBC.

Oh, here's the counterpart to the girl name link: Map: Six Decades of the Most Popular Names for Boys, State-by-State

Aww: The Time I Was Questioned by Police for Knitting in a Starbucks (I know that doesn't sound like a happy link, but it is.)

Morning Coffee (4/1/13)

PSA: It's April 1st, so TRUST NO ONE. Including me, apparently, because I'm totally unprepared for Morning Coffee today. (But I promise all my links are real to the best of my knowledge, because I hate April Fool's Day.)

Castle fans should read this interview with EP Andrew Marlowe in preparation for the landmark 100th episode tonight.

And here are some older links I bookmarked but never posted . . .

Food stamps put Rhode Island town on monthly boom-and-bust cycle

The Cossacks are back. May the hills tremble.

Australia's coup culture

The Lyndon Johnson tapes: Richard Nixon's 'treason'

A Fork of One's Own

Return to Provence

Our Comprehensive Living Archive of Apples

Hawaii Five-0's Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Experiment

During Monday's episode of Hawaii Five-O, fans will be directed to the CBS site or Twitter to vote for the suspect they think is guilty, and the ending that wins will be shown. (This will happen for both Eastern and Pacific airings, so I will be very curious to see whether the same ending wins both times.) I'm torn about this idea. It's a cute gimmick and I think it will work well for this show. It just has to do with the case of the week, not a major plot point or anything, so it's pretty contained. And I'm all for experiments in making TV more engaging and incorporating the Internet directly into the viewing experience.

But I have two major concerns. The first is technical. I've only seen a few episodes of H50, but as a mystery reader and procedural watcher in general, I'm suspicious of any mystery that is constructed to have three equally valid endings. One of the great joys of mysteries is that moment when the viewer or reader says "Oh, of course, in retrospect I see that he had to have done it," and that narrative satisfaction and closure will be missing here. I can't see how it could be sustainable as a premise for a show. But as a one-off, it's an interesting puzzle for the writers and I hope they find a way to make it work.

My other concern is more serious. As I said, in this context this is a fun gimmick. But I'm worried about precedent. I've seen enough nasty emails and insulting tweets and comments and even death threats aimed at TV writers to make me very, very hesitant about anything that gives that unstable minority in fandom a further excuse to think that they have some right to demand that writers do what they want. The solution to the case of the week doesn't really matter, but I'm afraid of a later chorus of "Well, Hawaii Five-0 listened to the fans, so therefore my favorite show's writers should make xyz characters get married because I'm convinced that's what most fans want."

Aside from the unpleasantness and potential danger that would cause, it's also just not what I look for in TV. Again, as a one-off, fine. But in general, I watch TV (or movies, or read books) to see what the writers have written. I don't WANT to choose my own ending.

Castle Recap: Significant Others

Castle returned from hiatus this week, and my recap of "Significant Others" is now up at TheTelevixen:

Castle returned from its holiday hiatus with a character-intensive episode aptly named “Significant Others.” The show has done a particularly good job with the slow burn of Castle and Beckett’s relationship, but it makes sense that now that they are together, some episodes will focus more on personal issues, with the actual procedural element serving as a subplot.

Read more.

TV Trailer: Ripper Street

I am SO EXCITED about this show. January 19! Matthew Macfaaaaadyen! Ahem.

What I Watched: Apt 23, Ben & Kate, The Mentalist

Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23, "A Reunion . . . (EP201)" - I'm SO happy this show is back, and this reunion episode was really cute, even if I haven't seen enough of Dawson's Creek to get all the jokes.

Ben and Kate, "Emergency Kit (EP105)" - THIS SHOW IS SO CUTE. Um. I know I say that every week. But it's true, and I don't necessarily have a whole lot else to say on an episode-by-episode basis. But Maddie remains one of the very few young kids on TV who have never annoyed me, so that says a lot.

The Mentalist, "Blood Feud (EP504)" - This was a nice spotlight on Rigsby, and geez, the poor guy. He and Raylan Givens should hang out and commiserate. I was also very happy to see that Ben's mom (Sarah?) seems to be out of the picture for good, because I couldn't remember exactly how that was resolved last season.

What I Watched: Homeland, Grimm, & More

Homeland, "New Car Smell (EP204)" - Wow. Wow. THIS SHOW. I absolutely did not expect that confrontation at the end to happen so early in the season, and it was a DELIGHTFUL surprise. This show definitely makes bolder choices than pretty much any other show on TV, and the writing and plotting almost always back this up. I'm so excited to see where they go now that they did this thing I absolutely did not think they would do yet. Also: I heartily approve of the addition of Rupert Friend, and I love that in the midst of everything else going on, the show is taking time for stuff like Dana's storyline.

Grimm, "The Other Side (EP208)" - I actually caught up on the past few episodes yesterday, and I think the show is doing a good job this season of expanding the mythology and increasing the serialized aspect while still having interesting cases of the week. And in this one, I loved the combination of science and mythology with the genetic engineering aspect.

The Good Wife, "Two Girls, One Code (EP403)" - Yes, due to football scheduling nonsense, I'm watching CBS's Sunday shows online and so wound up behind this week. Anyway. This episode was so good, except for the Kalinda nonsense, which is so bad. It's just baffling to me. But I loved the case of the week - search engine intrigue! - and all the Alicia/Peter/Will/Eli intrigue was really well done. And even though I'm completely a Will fan, the kiss at the end was quite something. I can't wait to see where they go with it.

The Mentalist, "Not One Red Cent (EP503)" - I know I was unimpressed with the first two episodes of this season, but I thought this one was a lot better, in that it got back to the traditional sort of cases this show does and didn't spend too much time trying to decode Jane's brain or doing weird things with the rest of the team's personal lives. So I guess this bodes well.

What I Watched: Haven, Blue Bloods, Elementary

Haven, "Double Jeopardy (EP305)" - Oh, Nathan. Nathan Nathan Nathan. I completely understand why he's doing what he's doing, and yet it's killing me at the same time. I absolutely do not trust Jordan, but their dynamic is undeniably fascinating. And I liked Duke better this week than I had in quite a while. And with Audrey - again, I understand why she's doing what she's doing, but ARGH. I thought the Trouble of the week this week was particularly good, and creepier than usual.

Blue Bloods, "Scorched Earth (EP304)" - Hey, they remembered Jamie exists! Awesome! I like this kind of plot for him - normal issues that a new cop would have to confront, but heightened because of the microscope he knows he's under. I also like when one case ends up linking the whole family like this, though at the same time, if they did that every week it would be completely unbelievable. And Frank Reagan and Kate Beckett should team up with their "get out of my city" speeches. That was awesome.

Elementary, "Child Predator (EP103)" - I keep liking this show more and more, and not just because they keep having Jonny Lee Miller be shirtless for no apparent reason. They developing dynamic between Holmes and Watson is done very well, and I like the way they make it clear that Holmes's skills are extraordinary without being gimmicky about the presentation. At the beginning of this episode, I thought I saw where the case was going, but I was wrong AND the actual solution was better than what I expected, which is basically the best thing for a case of the week to do.

What I Watched: Castle, Gossip Girl, & More

HIMYM, "Who Wants to Be a Godparent (EP804)" - I actually really liked this episode, not because I thought it was funny but because I thought it was emotionally real and touching, and um, obviously I have Comedy Issues. And goodness, those children playing Marvin were ADORABLE.

Gossip Girl, "High Infidelity (EP602)" - I am completely bored by Blair's fashion storyline, but liked much of the rest of this. Georgina is delightfully evil, and I kind of love the idea that Dan has been so disillusioned that he just wants to burn everything down. The Chuck/Lily/Bart dynamic always gets me. And of COURSE Serena and Nate are dating a father and daughter. And no one sees any real problem with this. Dear Matt Camden: DO NOT TAKE PARENTING ADVICE FROM SERENA.

Castle, "Murder He Wrote (EP504)" - Castle and Beckett take a trip to the Hamptons, and this episode basically felt like fanfic, but I mean that in the best possible way, I swear. They are somehow still adorable together without being TOO perfect or the relationship being too easy/flawless. I love the way Ryan figured out about the relationship, and I can't wait to see what he does with that information.

Copper, "A Day to Give Thanks (EP109)" - It's Thanksgiving but Corcoran is NOT FEELING VERY THANKFUL because he found his wife but she's insane or drugged or something and may or may not have murdered their daughter. So that's all fun. And hey, John Wilkes Booth shows up, so that won't possibly end badly.

Morning Coffee (10/15/12)

This weekend at TheTelevixen: My weekly news round-up (Coulson lives!) and recap of the most recent Castle, "Secret's Safe With Me."

I'm increasingly unconvinced that there's a way to make football acceptably safe, but standardizing concussion evaluations would be a start.

HOLIDAY. PRINGLES.

This Torah fraud case is fascinating.

If TV Shows Were Relationships

You must read Cassie Clare on cyberbullying.

Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights recognizes that it "isn't really a romance at all" and now I can't wait to see it.

What I Watched: Fringe, Haven, Blue Bloods, & More

Fringe, "The Recordist (EP503)" - I know a lot of people were disappointed in this episode, but I really liked it, even though it was different and much quieter than we're used to. I loved the chance to see a little glimpse of how all of the huge changes in the world affected normal people who were living very different lives than our heroes. And I thought a lot of the family-related scenes were very powerful - both the Bishop family and the recordist family. The big scene between Peter and Olivia was wonderful and heartbreaking, and I'm so glad Peter articulated that he wants a second chance. (Though what the heck is up with Olivia's memory?) And they both had some great moments with Etta - Peter automatically checking her for the skin condition in a very natural dad-like way, and Etta and Olivia quietly holding hands. But I am so afraid that the father saying goodbye to his son and sacrificing himself will turn out to be foreshadowing.

Haven, "Over My Head (EP304)" - I liked this episode much more than the last one, I think. I love how Nathan isn't bothering to hide how hurt he is and is basically just being hostile to Duke and cold to Audrey, though of course he's always there when she actually needs him. And boy, is Lucas Bryant a good glarer. I'm very interested in this semi-secret society he's trying to join/infiltrate, and I may have yelled "Nooooo!" at my TV when he realized he was the only person Jordan could touch, but that was a really compelling, magnetic scene and they have good chemistry. I'm torn, because obviously I think Nathan and Audrey are meant to be, but Nathan can hardly be faulted for considering his options given that Audrey is trying so hard to push him away.

Blue Bloods, "Old Wounds (EP303)" - No, seriously, WHERE IS WILL ESTES? I think he had all of two very short lines last night. I wasn't necessarily wild about his plot last season, but at least he had one. I hope the lack of him in the first few episodes of the season means there's a Jamie-intensive plot coming up soon. Other than that, I liked this episode; it was full of Lessons but that's basically this show's thing so I don't mind. Tom Selleck and Len Cariou imparting life lessons is a pretty decent way to start the weekend, really. I did roll my eyes at Danny taking so long to consider the rape victim's brother as a suspect in the murder of the rapists, since IN THE SAME BREATH he was offering to beat up someone who hurt his sister.

The Good Wife, "And the Law Won (EP402)" - UGH. This Kalinda story. Why do her stories have to revolve around sex? Why is she suddenly incapable of remembering to do her job when her husband comes to town? Other than that, though, I liked this episode; I'm glad Will's back and I always like it when Alicia has to confront the fact that everyone knows Diane and Will don't really see her like the other associates, as much as everyone claims there's no special treatment. The way the dynamic between Alicia and Peter is developing this season is fascinating. And hey, Gilmore Girls actors together in court! That was exciting. Too bad Cary wasn't there too.

The Mentalist, "Devil's Cherry (EP502)" - These hallucination sorts of episodes are usually not my favorite, but I thought this one was done pretty well. And by all means, Jane, please listen to your imaginary daughter and MOVE ON. I did like that drugged Jane insisted that Lisbon was the only person who really knew him, and hey, that plot left them with no time to spend on Rigsby's and Cho's ridiculous, out-of-character personal crises, so hey! The case was fine but the villain seemed a bit cartoonishly evil and eager to confess.

What I Watched: Ben & Kate, Mindy Project, & More

Ben and Kate, "The Fox Hunt (EP103)" - I loved the way this episode showed how siblings can hurt each other more than practically anyone else, since they know each other so well and care about each others' opinions so much. But they managed to keep things warm and fun despite this turn for the more serious. But. Not enough Maddie! (Also, I've seen a lot of people complain about BJ, so I must mention that I like her.)

The Mindy Project, "In the Club (EP103)" - This was . . . an improvement! It didn't really enrage me about anything new! It just made me be uncomfortable and cringe a lot! But there were actually a few funny moments. It is still ON NOTICE, but this was a definite step in the right direction. I think.

The Mob Doctor, "Change of Heart (EP104)" - This is still on the air! I still like it! Shocking. I thought this episode did a good job of showing Grace navigating her decisions, not just obeying Constantine (even if maybe he was manipulating her all along) OR following the rules.

Major Crimes, "Cheaters Never Prosper (EP109)" - I'm still way more interested in the characters, especially Rusty's story, than in the cases, but that's pretty standard for me with procedurals, so whatever. And the ending of this episode was completely heartbreaking. POOR KID. Also, Mary McDonnell is AMAZING, as usual.

What I Watched: Bones, Castle, HIMYM, Gossip Girl

HIMYM, "Nannies (EP803)" - This was a cute episode, and the nanny stuff was all funny and in character. (And I'm always happy when we get to see Marvin a lot.) And the rest of the episode did a good job of laying the groundwork for the upcoming breakups, though I'm a little concerned that we're in for another round of Robin and Ted before either of them actually make any progress.

Bones, "The Tiger in the Tale (EP804)" - This was . . . not my favorite episode. The case itself was, I don't know, fine I guess, but I didn't enjoy the rest. The stuff about Brennan running for president was just silly, and this was one of those times when they suddenly wanted us to believe that she had literally no idea how the world works. Since they kept messing with Sweets and Daisy, I'm just as happy that they went ahead and broke them up, but it wasn't done very well. And the conflict between Hodgins and Angela just seemed manufactured and out of the blue.

Gossip Girl, "Gone Maybe Gone (EP601)" - Oh, I don't know. At this point I'm trying to think about this as little as possible and just enjoy what I can from the last handful of episodes. I hate what they've done to a lot of the characters, but there were several really funny lines in this premiere. And Barry Watson was an interesting addition.

Castle, "Secret's Safe with Me (EP503)" - This was a fun episode - I liked the case, and the relationship stuff is still adorable but believable. I was happy to see Martha and Alexis back, and the scene with Alexis and Castle at the end made me cry. It was nice to see the human side of Gates, too. Overall, this felt like an episode from the early seasons, with the added bonus of Castle and Beckett being together.

Morning Coffee (9/28/12)

Recently at TheTelevixen: I have a feature with Bree Williamson about her new role on Haven (starting tonight!). And I did not like The Neighbors.

This article about a high school female quarterback is pretty heartwarming if you can avoid thinking about how football may be permanently damaging these kids.

They're making a movie of Girls Like Us (about Joni Mitchell/Carly Simon/Carole King)! With Taylor Swift! I... I'm cautiously optimistic.

This liveblog of the Vogue September issue made me actually want to buy it, so there's that. But hmm, is it off newsstands by now? Not sure.

Rebecca update: Things look promising.

June Thomas points out that decent procedurals are actually pretty brilliant.

Is this the real James Bond?

What I Watched: HIMYM & Castle Premieres & More

How I Met Your Mother, "Farhampton (EP801)" - Can I tell you how much I do not care about Quinn OR Victoria? So I'm not so invested in . . . a good deal of this, I guess. THAT SAID, I am very invested in Robin and Barney, and now that we have confirmation that they will get married, I'm willing to be patient to see how it plays out. And I still love Marshall and Lily, and would like to see more of adorable baby Marvin, please. I no longer care much about stupid Ted and the stupid mother, but yay for progress on that front, anyway. Oh, and Barney's 60-second summary of the whole plot was the best thing ever. As was his storage unit.

Castle, "After the Storm (EP501)" - I loved this premiere, especially how adorable Castle and Beckett were together and how honest they were with each other. I'm very excited about this season going forward. My full recap will be up soon at TheTelevixen.

Bones, "The Partners in the Divorce (EP802)" - And on the flip side of what I just said about Castle, I loved that everything WASN'T happy and adorable on Bones. Booth and Brennan are actually fighting and confronting their problems and I love it. I've always liked this show, and them, but I've been feeling way less invested in it recently, and these first two episodes of the season have gotten me back on board.

Partners, "Pilot (EP101)" - My goodness, this was AWFUL. I don't think I smiled once. I know I didn't laugh. Review up tonight or tomorrow at TheTelevixen.

The Mob Doctor, "Family Secrets (EP102)" - I'm actually really enjoying this one, not that that's going to do me any good, since it will presumably be cancelled at any moment.

Major Crimes, "The Shame Game (EP107)" - I started watching this show purely because I love Mary McDonnell, but it's become very solid. I can't say I tend to care very much about the cases of the week, and this episode was no exception there, but the team dynamic is fascinating and I love the Rusty story.

Bones Premiere Music Break: "Ho Hey"

A few people have asked me about the song playing over the closing montage of the Bones season premiere, so! After extensive research that consisted entirely of IMing "Hey, what was that song?" to my friend Marisa, I can completely non-exclusively tell you that the song is "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers, from their eponymous album released earlier this year. Here it is.

First Look at Graceland

USA Network released an extended look at new show Graceland yesterday, and WOW. I cannot wait. It's from Jeff Eastin, the creator/showrunner of White Collar, though it's supposed to be slightly darker and more adult than that show. It's about undercover agents from a bunch of different federal agencies living together in a house in California. And the stars include Aaron Tveit (Trip van der Bilt!) and Daniel Sunjata (Ranger!). SO EXCITED.

White Collar Summer Finale Tonight!

I've seen it, and it's awesome. Here's why. Really, you don't want to miss this one.

1. I don’t want to get into hyperbole here, but the final twist really will change Neal’s life forever. As Jeff Eastin told reporters last week (more from that conversation soon!), he prefers to end on still, quiet notes that nevertheless pack an emotional wallop, and he definitely achieves that here.

Morning Coffee (9/12/12)

Hey Castle fans, check out some pictures from the season premiere.

Lionsgate will distribute Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing.

Here's Taylor Swift's new song, for Stand Up to Cancer.

The Weatherman Is Not a Moron

The saga of Hollande's personal life is pretty fascinating.

CBS will be shifting its Sunday schedule to accommodate football.

A Civil War shipwreck washed up in Alabama.

Morning Coffee (9/5/12)

This week is very confusing. I have no idea what day it is.

Interesting read: Obama did not change Washington. Was there a way around united Republican opposition?

This interactive graphic of how the Cameron cabinet reshuffle affects the direction of the British government is pretty nifty.

Wondering exactly how the party platforms differ? Here you go.

Here's part one of a series in which Maureen Johnson says important things about publishing and the Internet.

Bones fans: Here are some intriguing pictures from the premiere.

Roussillon: New Frontier in French Winemaking

Take a look at an early D&D prototype.

Ooh, new stuff coming to Amazon Prime streaming.

I had no idea elephant poaching was such a huge problem right now.