BILANCIO DELLA SERATA: oltre 5 milioni di spettatori per l'esordio della serie italiana di RaiUno "Raccontami - Capitolo II" con Edoardo Natoli e Mary Petruolo, seguita da un ottimo ascolto per la prima puntata "L'intesa" della nuova edizione del programma "Report" con Milena Gabanelli; soltanto una terza posizione per il film TV commedia di Canale 5 "VIP" con Matteo Branciamore, programmato in sostituzione del previsto film "Vacanze di Natale 2000". A seguire, risultato buono per l'accoppiata di RaiDue tra un episodio inedito della quinta stagione della serie poliziesca "NCIS - Unità anticrimine" e due repliche della seconda stagione di "Criminal Minds"; il film "Catwoman" con Halle Berry; la serie poliziesca francese "Il commissario Cordier"; l'ultima puntata del programma di La 7 "Vivo x miracolo" con Marco Berry.

LE FASCE DI PRIMA SERATA (ore 20.30/22.30)

A seguire alcune segnalazioni sugli ascolti disponibili di prima serata, e per concludere cosa ci aspetta questa sera sui principali canali TV gratuiti e a pagamento.

IERI SERA IN TV...

• Alle 20.45 il gioco “Affari tuoi” (6.506.000 spettatori - 25,70%). Alle 21.33 la prima puntata (episodi "I misteri di Via Bodoni" e "Pazzie d'amore e di calcina") della serie italiana “Raccontami - Capitolo II” (5.181.000 spettatori - 22,68%).
• Alle 21.03 l'episodio 8 "Anime gemelle" della quinta stagione inedita della serie poliziesca NCIS - Unità anticrimine, con 3.344.000 spettatori (12,90%). Alle 21.50 gli episodi 20-21 in replica della seconda stagione della serie poliziesca Criminal Minds: il primo episodio “Il codice dei ladri” ha totalizzato 3.242.000 spettatori (13,21%), il secondo episodio “Stagione di caccia” (ore 22.36) ha ottenuto 2.579.000 spettatori (12,99%).
• Alle 20.28 il programma “Che tempo che fa” (4.312.000 spettatori, preceduto alle 20.07 da un’anteprima con 2.293.000 spettatori). Alle 21.34 la prima puntata "L'intesa" del programma “Report” (3.716.000 spettatori - 16,23%).
• Alle 20.46 il clip-show “SuperShow Speciale: Guinness World Records” (4.018.000 spettatori - 15,86%). Alle 21.30 il film TV commedia “VIP” (3.430.000 spettatori - 16,13%).
• Alle 19.07 il film commedia “Yuppies 2” (2.125.000 spettatori). Alle 21.07 il film fantastico “Catwoman” (2.945.000 spettatori - 12,24%).
• Alle 18.33 l’episodio “L'ultimo scacco matto” della serie poliziesca Colombo, con 1.598.000 spettatori. Alle 20.44 l’episodio “Classe pericolosa” della serie poliziesca francese Il commissario Cordier, con 1.851.000 spettatori (7,35%).

EVENTI E PROGRAMMI SPORTIVI

• 

  Automobilismo: G.P. del Giappone di Formula 1
  - Cronaca della gara - (ore 06.25, 2.287.000 spettatori - 57,60%)

• “Quelli che il calcio e…” (ore 15.43, 1.796.000 spettatori - 15,91%, preceduto alle 13.51 da “Quelli che aspettano…” con 1.584.000 spettatori - 11,16%)
  Automobilismo: sintesi G.P. del Giappone di Formula 1 (ore 17.08, 1.158.000 spettatori - 11,08%)
  “La domenica sportiva” (ore 23.26, 1.012.000 spettatori - 13,27%)

Sono elencati principalmente i programmi di prima serata. Gli orari e i programmi indicati possono variare senza preavviso.

CANALI IN CHIARO

• Alle 21.10 la serie italiana “Raccontami - Capitolo II”, con Massimo Ghini e Lunetta Savino - puntata 2.
• Alle 21.05 il reality show “L’isola dei famosi” con Simona Ventura - puntata 5. Alle 00.30 il varietà “Scorie” con Nicola Savino - puntata 5.
• Alle 21.05 il programma “Chi l’ha visto?” con Federica Sciarelli - puntata 6.
• Alle 21.15 il varietà “Zelig” con Claudio Bisio e Vanessa Incontrada - puntata 3.
• Alle 21.10 la serie ospedaliera Grey’s Anatomy con Ellen Pompeo e Patrick Dempsey - episodio 4×11, alle 22.05 la serie italiana “Crimini bianchi” con Daniele Pecci e Ricky Memphis - episodio 5,  alle 23.05 la serie Nip/Tuck con Dylan Walsh e Julian McMahon - episodio 5×06, alle 00.10 la serie Californication con David Duchovny - episodio 1×06.
• Alle 21.10 il film d’azione “Ferite mortali” (2001), con Steven Seagal e DMX.
• Alle 21.10 il programma “L’infedele” con Gad Lerner - puntata 5.
• Alle 21.00 il programma musicale “MTV The Most: Lenny Kravitz”.
• Alle 21.00 il varietà “Fuori! - Born to escape” - puntata 3.
• Alle 20.30 il programma sportivo “Diretta Stadio… Ed è subito goal!”.
• Alle 20.45 il programma “Il club delle prime donne”.

DIGITALE TERRESTRE - CANALI GRATUITI:

• Alle 21.00 il film d’azione “Delta Force 2 - Colombia Connection, il massacro” (1990) con Chuck Norris, alle 23.00 la serie thriller Day Break con Taye Diggs - episodio 1.
• Alle 21.00 il film drammatico “The Dreamers - I sognatori” (2003), con Eva Green e Michael Pitt.
• Alle 21.00 la serie animata "Class of 3000", alle 21.25 la serie animata “Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi”.
• Alle 21.00 la serie animata “Wombat City”, alle 21.15 la serie inglese Ace Lightning con Tom Wansey e Shadia Simmons.

DIGITALE TERRESTRE - CANALI PAY:

• Alle 21.00 il film fantastico “Il Signore degli Anelli - Le due torri” (2002), con Elijah Wood e Sean Astin.
• Alle 21.00 il legal drama Boston Legal con James Spader e William Shatner - episodio 3×06, alle 21.40 la serie Ally McBeal con Calista Flockhart - episodi 1×11-12.
• Alle 21.00 il film western “Pat Garrett e Billy Kid” (1973), con James Coburn.
• Alle 21.00 la sit-com Cory alla Casa Bianca con Kyle Massey, alle 21.25 la sit-com As the Bell Rings con Demi Lovato, alle 21.45 il film TV commedia “Incontrando Mark Twain” (1991) con Jason Robards e Talia Shire.

DIGITALE SATELLITARE - ALCUNI CANALI PAY:

• Alle 21.15 il programma “Cambio vita… mi trasformo” con Natasha Stefanenko.
• Alle 21.15 la serie Runaway - In fuga con Donnie Wahlberg e Leslie Hope - episodi conclusivi 8-9.
• Alle 21.00 la serie poliziesca Bones con Emily Deschanel e David Boreanaz  - episodi 1×19-20-21.
• Alle 21.00 la serie poliziesca Numb3rs con Rob Morrow e David Krumholtz - episodi 2×01-02.
• Alle 21.00 la serie australiana Underbelly con Rodger Corser e Caroline Craig - episodi 3-4.
• Alle 21.00 il programma “I diari della Bond girl” con Olga Kurylenko, alle 21.30 il programma “Pam: spirito libero” con Pamela Anderson - puntata “Sexy e scatenata”.
• Alle 21.00 il varietà “Crozza Italia Live” con Maurizio Crozza.
• Alle 21.00 il programma “Cheaters” - puntata 5.
• Alle 21.00 il programma “Chef per un giorno” - puntata 9, ospite Stefano Masciarelli.
• Alle 21.00 la replica della puntata di ieri sera "L'intesa" del programma “Report” con Milena Gabanelli.
• Alle 21.00 la serie italiana “Il maresciallo Rocca 2” (1998), con Gigi Proietti e Stefania Sandrelli - puntata 3 “Un delitto diverso”.
• Alle 21.05 la serie poliziesca Squadra omicidi con Joe Cortese e Maryam D'Abo - episodio 4, alle 22.00 il film thriller “Corsa contro il tempo” (2000) con Eric Roberts e Cary Elwes.
• Alle 21.00 il film d’azione “Fino alla fine” (1995), con Russell Crowe e Helen Slater.
• Alle 21.00 la serie inglese Testimoni silenziosi con Amanda Burton - episodi 37-38.
• Alle 21.00 la serie inglese Bodies con Max Beesley e Patrick Baladi - episodio 1×03, alle 22.00 la serie inglese Suburban Shootout con Anna Chancellor e Amelia Bullmore - episodi 1×01-02.
• Alle 21.00 la serie inglese BlackJack con Colin Friels e Doris Younane - episodio conclusivo 4.
• Alle 20.30 la serie In Treatment con Gabriel Byrne e Melissa George - “Laura”, episodi 1×16 e 1×21.  Alle 21.30 il documentario “Una vita da gay” (2007).
• Alle 20.50 il film horror “Glass Trap - Formiche assassine” (2005), con C. Thomas Howell e Stella Stevens.
• Alle 21.10 la serie animata “G.T.O. Great Teacher Onizuka”, alle 21.35 la serie animata “Ranma 1/2”, alle 22.00 la serie animata “Virtua Fighter”.
• LA PRIMA VISIONE DEL LUNEDI’ Alle 21.00 il film d'animazione “I Simpson - Il film” (2007), di David Silverman.

= film, serie o fiction in prima visione sui canali non a pagamento, o al primo passaggio sui canali Sky.
= film o film TV.
= telefilm (serie/sit-com) straniero o cartone animato [l'indicazione tipo "3x01" segnala il primo episodio della terza stagione].
= fiction di produzione italiana o straniera.
= soap opera italiana o straniera.
= programma sportivo.
= variazione rispetto al programma previsto.

Oltre Bones anche Criminal Minds e Senza Traccia hanno dedicato un episodio - omaggio a quella tragedia.

La dottoressa Brennan (Emily Deschanel) è a New Orleans per identificare i corpi vittime dell’uragano Katrina. Improvvisando una sala mortuaria all'interno di una chiesa, Brennan identifica i corpi per riuscire a dare una degna sepoltura a tutti.
Brennan comincia un'analisi su un maschio di quarant'anni, decomposto male e trovato nel fango con un piccolo foro nella parte anteriore del cranio. Improvvisamente appare un flash! Brennan si trova nel bagno del suo motel sul pavimento in un lago di sangue. Ha un taglio alla testa e sulle mani e il suo orecchino portafortuna è stato trappato via dal lobo. Cerca di ricordare cos’è accaduto ma è tutto offuscato, vede una lama,del sangue ma non riesce a ricordare nulla.
Brennan agita la sua testa e prova ad alzarsi ma si accorge che il suo polso è lesionato e non riesce a muoverlo.R riceve una telefonata dall’impiegato del motel che gli dice che qualcuno l’attende all’aereoporto. Brennan è confusa e gli dice che lei deve partire solo giovedì..l’impiegato la informa che proprio quel giorno è giovedì. Quindi i conti non tornano… cos’è accaduto a Brennan mercoledì?....

Stasera alle 21:00 su Foxlife canale 111 di Sky.

http://criminalmindsfanatic.blogspot.com/

I’m serious! On Thursday at 8pm, I had the choice of watching Grey’s Anatomy, The Office or the season premiere of CSI live, right? Well, I know I can catch The Office the next day on Hulu or Fancast, & ABC just launched a brand new HD streaming video player so if I ever find a way to get those two hours of my life back that I spent live-blogging the Grey’s premiere, I can catch this week’s episode is glorious high-def whenever I want.

Meanwhile, I tried to watch the episode of Criminal Minds that I missed last week on CBS.com? Turns out, the so-called streaming video player is apparently programmed to freeze unless it passes the minor requirement of playing in the only open tab of the only open Internet browser window that is the only program running on the computer. And even then, it occasionally freezes just because it feels like it.

So, CBS manipulated me, despite my extremely strong objections to their evil scheme, into to watch CSI live, just because I kind of wanted to see what happened to Warrick. Because I will do anything to avoid watching an episode on CBS.com, whereas the rest of the networks, I know I can watch online easily. PS: Videos on CBS? Often not embeddable. Awesome!

All of this is why I was beyond thrilled to hear that CBS has reached an agreement to provide content to YouTube. Currently, that content apparently still sucks---let's just say it includes MacGyver & the original 90210—but at least it feels like CBS is no longer completely ignoring what all of its competitors have already accepted.

TV, like every other form of media, is going online, whether CBS likes it or not. I remain undeterred by the fact that CBS is doing just fine, as far as Nielsen is concerned, in the young fall season (crime procedurals = guaranteed ratings, apparently). Whatever, CBS, it'll catch up with you sooner or later. PS: Joost doesn't count. But that's an entire other post.

-Amy Yen

http://criminalmindsfanatic.blogspot.com/

Sowohl CSI also auch Bones haben gestern wohl ihre Halloween-Folge ausgestrahlt. CSI hat mal wieder seinen Hang zur Absurdität bewisen. Ein (anscheinenbarer) Mord an eines Horrorfilmstars, der Ereignisse auslöst, die so manchen Horrorfilm alt aussehen lassen. Und nachdem Sarah gemeint hat, dass es in Horrorfilmen immer die dunkelhaarigen Mädchen erwischt dachte ich wirklich es erwischt die Neue wieauchimmersieheißt, die bei ihrem ersten Auftritt jeden mit Fragen bombardiert hat. Am Ende war sie auch in einer Situation, die in jedem Horrorfilm zu einem qualvollen Tod geführt hätte.

Achja: Liebe Mitwisser von Verbrechen. Habt ihr nie Krimis gelesen, oder geschaut? Wenn ihr bei der Polizei anruft, und erklärt, ihr hättet Informationen, die ihr unter keinen Umständen am Telefon mitteilen könnt und sie deswegen um ein Treffen bittet unterschreibt ihr in 95% der Fälle euer eigenes Todesurteil.

Cookie am Ende: Zwei Pathologen schauen einen Horrorfilm: "Faszinierend, wenn er ihr die Kehle durchschneidt, kann man den Diagonalschnitt sehen, und ich glaube ich erkenne sogar die Epiglottis."

Bones war mal wieder wie üblich. Ein Fall? So mit ekligen Leichen? Stimmt, da war was, aber die Rededuelle von Booth und Brennan waren viel interesannter, und Hodgins und Angelas Suche nach ihrem Ex. Nicht zu vergessen Zack und sein Kuh-Hinterteil und Brennan als Wonderwoman.

Und jetzt zu Criminal Minds...wer nicht bezüglich der 4. Staffel gespoilert werden möchte klickt einfach nicht auf weiterlesen obwohl wahrscheinlich sowiso niemand aus meinem Fangirly-Gebrabbel schlau wird.

My Show doesn't like happy endings. Wer diese Tatsache nach 'No Way out 2' vergessen hatte, wurde jetzt wieder brutal daran erinnert, und Jessy hat einem trotz allem leid getan und ihre Mutter erst. CM ist die einzige Serie, die mich fast zum heulen bringt.
Und warum kriegt Reid immer die religiösen Fanatiker? Und wann lernt er endlich, dass er denen auch die Bibel von vorne bis hinten zitieren könnte (wozu er sicher in der Lage ist...), es bringt nichts. Wie schafft es der Mann eigentlich mit verhältnismäßig wenig Screentime so zu überzeugen? Und wann merkt MGG, dass er mit seinem schauspielerischen Talent auch problemlos in großen Filmen mitwirken könnte? (Hoffentlich nie erst später, auf das er CM noch lange erhalten bleibt). Der Gesichtsausdruck, als Cyrus von 'Gottes Wille' angefangen hat, hat innerhalb weniger Sekunden nochmal jedes Detail von Revelations in Erinnerung gerufen.
Abgesehen davon: Juchu, endlich eine Folge mit Emily im Mittelpunkt. Und wie. Auch wenn ich sie vorher noch nicht gemocht hätte, nach dieser Folge muss man den Charakter einfach lieben. Genauso wie Rossi. Ich hoffe die Folge hat auch einige seiner Gegner erweicht. Ich meine, wie kann man diesen Mann danach nicht mögen?
Achja: DER STAATSANWALT WAR DHARMA & GREG-PETE!!!!! Das ist einfach nur *lol*, ich frage mich ob die beiden beim Drehen der Szene, als Thomas Hotch-Greg Gibson ihn anschnauzt nicht ein paar mal Lachanfälle bekommen haben, es ist ja schon irgendwie seltsam.

So, mein inneres Fangirly hat sich ausgetobt, jetzt kann ich wieder vernünftige deutsche Sätze bilden und geregelten Tätigkeiten nachgehen.

Lunedì ritorno in sordina per "Chuck" e "Life" su NBC; il primo episodio della seconda stagione viene seguito da appena, rispettivamente, 6.6 milioni di spettatori (2.6 rating e 7 share nella fascia 18-49, ascolti in calo del 27% rispetto alla scorsa stagione) e 6.9 milioni di spettatori (2.7/7). Nuovo record negativo per "Heroes", sempre su NBC, visto da 9.3 milioni (4.4/10). Ancora male anche "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles" (5.3 milioni, 2.0/5) e "Prison Break" (5.3 milioni, 2.0/5). Meglio CBS, anche se con ascolti in calo: "Big Bang Theory" (8.7 milioni, 3.3/9, in calo dell'8%), "How I Met Your Mother" (8.8 milioni, 3.7/9, in alo dell'8%), "Two and a Half Men" (13.8 milioni, 4.7/11, in calo dell' 11% nella fascia 18-49), "Worst Week" (9.3 milioni, 3.1/7, in calo del 18%) e "CSI: Miami" (14.3 milioni, 4.3/11, in calo del 17% nella fascia 18-49). Su The CW buoni ascolti per l'altra serie di Josh Schwartz, "Gossip Girl", seguita da 3.5 milioni (1.9/5) e anche per "One Tree Hill" (3.4 milioni, 1.9/4); abbastanza stabile su ABC "Boston Legal" (9.8 millioni, 2.3/6).

Martedì ascolti in crescita per i tre nuovi drama "Fringe", "The Mentalist" e "90210". Secondo i dati Nielsen la serata è stata vinta da Fox grazie ad "House" (13 milioni di spettatori, 5.4 rating e 15 share nella fascia adulta) e a "Fringe" (9.9 milioni, 4.2/11). Benissimo anche CBS con "NCIS" (17.5 milioni, 3.5/10 nella fascia 18-49) , il nuovo "The Mentalist" (15.5 milioni, 3.6/9 nella fascia 18-49); stabile "Without a Trace" (12.6 milioni, 2.7/8). Bene anche NBC con "Law & Order: SVU" (10.4 milioni, 3.7/10). Su CW, ancora benissimo "90210" (3.2 milioni, 1.7/5) mentre ancora ascolti modesti per "Privileged" (1.9 milioni, 0.9/2).

Mercoledì deludente ritorno su ABC per "Pushing Daisies", "Private Practice" e "Dirty Sexy Money". Nonostante le recensioni positive della stampa, "Daisies" viene seguita da 6.3 milioni di spettatori ( 2.0 rating/6 share), meno del 55% di quanto realizzato lo scorso anno. Non è andata meglio alla seconda premiere di "Private Practice" (8.2 milioni, 3.3/8), in calo del 37%, e a "Dirty Sexy Money" (7 milioni, 2.4/7) giù del 33%. CBS ha invece trasmesso "New Adventures of Old Christine" (6.8 milioni, 2.0/6) , "Gary Unmarried" (6.9 milioni, 2.2/6) e "Criminal Minds" (14.8 milioni, 3.9/10 nella fascia 18-49), tutte in calo, e "CSI: NY" (14.9 milioni, 4.1/11 nella fascia 18-49). Non eccezionale ma meglio di quanto ci si aspettasse per il secondo episodio di "Knight Rider" su NBC (7.8 milioni, 2.4/7); in calo del 17% "Lipstick Jungle" (5.3 milioni, 2.0/5). Si salva Fox, con "Bones" (10 milioni, 3.2/9) a cui sono seguiti due episodi di " 'Til Death" (4.2 milioni, 1.7/5 e 3.6 milioni, 1.5/4), il secondo dei quali ha sostituito la già cancellata nuova commedia "Do Not Disturb".

Giovedì molte serie in pausa a causa del dibattito presidenziale; bene "My Name Is Earl" su NBC (7 milioni 2.9/8) mentre in leggero calo "Ugly Betty" su ABC (8.6 milioni, 2.5/7).

Venerdì è il network CBS ad averla vinta, grazie al brillante ritorno di "Ghost Whisperer", seguito da 9.3 milioni di spettatori, (2.4 rating / 6 share nella fascia adulta); non altrettanto si può dire invece del debutto di "The Ex-List" visto da 6.9 milioni (2.0/6), ascolto inferiore del 17% rispetto alla premiere di "Moonlight", in onda nello stesso periodo lo scorso anno (fan protestate!). A seguire, "Numb3rs" (8.1 milioni, 2.1/7) con ascolti in calo del 19%. Su NBC secondo episodio di stagione per "Life" , visto da appena 5.4 milioni di spettatori (1.6/5) Su CW il debutto della quarta stagione di "Everybody Hates Chris" è stato seguito da 2.1 milioni di spettatori.

Domenica disastrosi ascolti per The CW, che ha proposto le nuove serie prodotte da Media Rights Capital "Valentine", seguita da soli 1.1 milioni di spettatori (0.4/1) e "Easy Money", vista anch'essa da 1.1 milioni (0.4/1). Ascolti discreti su ABC per "Desperate Housewives" (15.5 milioni, 5.8/13) e "Brothers and Sisters" (10.6 milioni, 4.0/10), anche se in calo del 18 e del 13% rispetto alla settimana scorsa. Bene anche CBS con “Cold Case” (10.7 milioni, 2.9/6) e “The Unit” (10.7 milioni, 2.9/7), entrambe con ascolti in crescita.

Sulla tv via cavo, venerdì buon debutto di "Sanctuary" su Sci Fi Channel, la prima serie live-action ad utilizzare virtual sets, seguita in media da 2.7 milioni di spettatori. Bene anche" Sons of Anarchy", in onda mercoledì su FX, seguita da 2.19 milioni di spettatori (1.1/3 in 18-49).

© 2005 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. The Information contained herein is the copyrighted property of Nielsen Media Research, Inc.

Dati elaborati da Zap2it

www.telesimo.it

]]> http://dreamingofnothing.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/minimal-loss/ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:59:44 +0000 bookworm36 http://dreamingofnothing.de.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/minimal-loss/ After a long day of fasting and repentence, it's good to sit back and smash the promises not to sin to smittereens.

***Spoilers for Criminal Minds, Season 4, Episode 3, Minimal Loss. Srsly***

1. Okay, so I totally intended to open this post with the words, "I SO CALLED IT."

Except that I didn't. Because there was not a glimmer of Emily/Reid ship in this ep. Which, upon reflection, is not such a bad thing. I've been watching ship-loaded Numb3rs for way too long.

I mean, there is the whole awesome hug and reassurance bit, which was really sweet, but it's completely platonic. Which really kinda squishes my little baby ship into mush. Which I guess doesn't surprise me too much. Though I think I'll still be writing it, because I've been feeling remarkably fluffy lately. Yes, I'm horrified too.

Looking at the non-canony shippiness of this fandom, though, I was 100% expecting about twenty Prentiss/Reid fics to follow the airing of this ep.

So far, I've not seen a single one, though Hotch/Prentiss ships seem to be exploding. Go figure.

2. See below for, quite possibly, the best line in this episode.

Cyrus: (Religious whacko, and pointing gun at Reid) No one had to follow. God could have stopped me.

(Morgan enters and guns the guy down)

Reid: He just did.

I really, really liked that. Reid was particularly awesome here, especially since the entire thing had to be riddled with flashbacks, even though they didn't actually show any evidence of that. Also, since my entire day has been riddled with Revelations flashbacks, due to the confession/repentence theme of that particular holiday.

(Disembodied, flashbacky voice: It's time to repent, Spencer Reid.)

*Shiver* Yeah. Plus, Reid was so, so awesome with the whole 'sorta running the show with Cyrus (religious whacko) without Cyrus even really noticing that he's being totally manipulated' thing. I'm so proud of him. Even though, as usual, the entire world is out to get him.

3. Emily. Freaking. Prentiss.

She was... I don't even know how to properly say it other than 'Abso-bloody-lutely Incredible.' She was all protective of Reid by saying that she was the bad guy and getting herself all beatup over it (which is going to send Reid into fits of guilt again - he really never gets a break) and all super-womany and tough and... Ooh. She's slotting her way into my utmost favorite characters right now.

Plus, the way she knew that the team had bugged the place and kept talking to them and ended up having that awesome laser-pointer semi-conversation with Morgan (basically, she talked, and he moved a laser-gun-sight on the wall to tell her things) and basically spearheaded the whole rescue effort and called after Morgan and Reid when the complex they were in blew sky-high was just really cool. A lot of reaction posts I've read seem to be from people who don't really like Prentiss, but personally - I love her. She's incredible.

Also, the little sob-inducing powow in the jet at the end - where she basically tells Reid that Cyrus was a psycho and that Reid shouldn't blame himself for the whole getting-beat-up thing, because he ended up being sort of able to save everyone except at the end when Cyrus got a bit too paranoid and started beating Reid up too. See icon at top of post. (Everyone is out to get him, I tell you).

Of course, Reid is totally going to keep feeling guilty anyway. Because he's, well, Reid.

4. Rossi. Why am I actually liking you? It's a very freaky feeling. I'm too used to hating your guts. This new feeling of actual like is disorienting me.

Rossi was a lot more major in this ep than he usually is. Being that he was running the negotiations and all. He was actually really, really good and not acting as stuck-up as he usually does. I was shocked to discover that yes, Reid and Prentiss's lives are in his hands, and yes - I actually trust him with those lives. I would never have said that a few months ago, when I was still happily hating David Rossi with all of my heart.

5. Hotch was also really good.

Firstly, there was the throwdown with the jerk of an Attorney General (who basically made the whole mess in the first place, by making an ATF raid while Reid&Prentiss were investigating a child abuse allegation and most importantly not telling JJ when she called ATF to say, "Are you going to make a raid?" so that they'd know if they could send Team in there), where he basically told the guy that he'll be lucky not to be brought up on homicide charges if this goes bad and to, I quote, "Get off my crime scene." Which is a line not easily forgotten.

Secondly, as Morgan-Rossi-Hotch listen to Emily being squished into a pulp through their bugging devices (and, even better, repeatedly saying, "I can take it," even though she's sort of not because she knows that Big Brother is Watching and doesn't want them to raid the place and get all the adorable kiddies killed), Hotch never puts down the headphones. Morgan stops first, because he can't stand to keep listening to Emily shrieking, then Rossi, but Hotch, despite his obvious agony, doesn't ever stop listening. Because she's talking to them, and he's the true leader of the team. Gideon and Rossi respectively have sort of been semi-leaders of the team (AKA, not offical leaders but kind of taking the role anyway) but it's moments like this that show that Hotch is the leader of the team, and he really cares about them and protects them.

And he'll remain strong for them, his own pain completely aside. Because that's what good leaders do for their teams.

6. Really, though, I think this should have been a two-part episode, like The Big Game/Revelations or the Fisher Kings. Because it all seemed a bit rushed, and it was like they were trying to cram way too much into the 41 minutes they had. That's just my feeling.

Also, the scenarios I plotted out in my fanfiction ideas I almost like better. Well, I had thought before this thing aired that Reid&Prentiss were undercover. And thusly the first thought I had was What was that brilliant strategist on, because Reid would be the absolute last person I'd send undercover into a religious cult. So I'd come up with all these reasons why he and Prentiss were the only two that could go, and a whole undercover discovery scenario, and... it was fun to write. I've got to see if I can finish it, though, after finally watching the real Minimal Loss.

Though in my writing, Reid got whumped a lot more. Because I'm just evil that way. We scare because we care :) (Which sorta means that I have no place to critize the writers of Criminal Minds for making Reid's life basically a living hell, because I'd do that too - but I'm not putting it on television. And you know, there is a point when it just becomes ridiculous.)

So at the end of the day, it was great, but I'm torn between whether I like this or The Angel Maker better. Because The Angel Maker was awesome, and after how excited I got about Minimal Loss, it's almost a let-down. Still really, really good, especially if thou likes Emily or Reid. Or Hotch. Or Morgan. Or Rossi. Just about anyone, really, except Garcia or JJ, both of whom didn't really show. I miss Garcia. Though JJ's baby bump isn't being hidden anymore, and we don't have to resort to the pregnancy-desk/file/laptop/vase/box/etc. that Numb3rs had to use for Megan. Which is good, because it also keeps JJ on the show. I hope.

Anyway, that's about it, I think.

***Cue cessation of spoilers***

I'm going to go work on my fanfic, even though I should be plotting for NaNo.

Or alphabetize my collected 153 CM icons again. I do this about twice a week. Right now they're alphabetized by first name of character, name of designer, and name of icon. But it can change.

Or drink some cranberry juice.

Either one.

~DreamingOfNothing

*watch 'Criminal Minds' here*

Claro que tudo isso podia ser remediado se assinasse uma tv a cabo, mas depois da última oferta que a Net me fez, praticamente desisti de fazê-lo. A oferta foi a grade de 33 canais a R$ 39,90 pelos três primeiros meses. Olhando assim pode até ser algo bom, mas não é. Destes 33 canais, apenas 5 são exclusivos da Net, e o resto são os canais que minha antena convencional já pega TV Senado, Rede Viva e por ai vai. Ahh a atendente de telemarketing me ofereceu algum canal de esporte por seis meses de cortesia, quando falei para ela que não acompanhava nenhum esporte ela me ofereceu um canal de filme Hallmark ou alguma coisa assim.

Quando perguntei para quanto iria a mensalidade depois dos três primeiros meses, ela não soube me informar. Preferi mandar um e-mail para a Blockbuster pedindo que ela aumente a quantidade de séries para locação. Por enquanto Tv a cabo somente se eles melhorarem a programação ou o preço. Acabamos alugando o Criminal Minds e foi uma boa pedida.

http://criminalmindsfanatic.blogspot.com/

http://criminalmindsfanatic.blogspot.com/

CBS est l'un des rares networks qui propose autant de nouvelles séries cette saison qu'en septembre 2007, soit 5 shows. L'échec patent des nouveaux programmes de l'année dernière (Cane, Kid Nation, Viva Laughlin, Moonlight) les a propulsés dans les oubliettes de la TV. A la différence de ABC qui a revampé certains shows de l'année dernière (cf- La rentrée des networks - la grille de ABC) après la grève des scénaristes, CBS est allé faire son marché à l'international : 3 des 5 nouvelles séries sont des adaptations. "Worst Week" et "The Eleventh hour" viennent de Grande-Bretagne tandis que "The Ex-List" est un remake d'un succès israelien.

On notera que CBS mise beaucoup cette saison sur les comédies. Est-ce pour rajeunir son audience comme elle le fait avec succès avec "Two and a Half Men"(Mon oncle Charlie avec Charlie Sheen) depuis 6 saisons ? Est-ce pour rectifier une grille très "Cop show" ? En effet CBS a été accusée à juste titre d'une certaine monomanie policière :  NCIS, Without a trace (FBI: Portés disparus), Criminal Minds, la franchise CSI (Les experts), Numb3rs, Cold Case, etc. Un peu de comédie en dehors de sa soirée du lundi, saupoudrée ça et là dans la grille ne ferait donc pas de mal se sont dit les dirigeants de CBS.

C'est pourquoi le network a lancé un nouveau bloc Humour le mercredi entre 8:00 et 9:00 pm, composé du revenant "New Adventures of Old Christine" avec Julia Louis Dreyfus et du nouveau "Gary Unmarried" avec Jay Mohr. La série du vendredi "The Ex-List", une femme à hommes doit retrouver dans ses exs l'homme de sa vie ou bien rester seule à jamais, est quand à elle prise en sandwich entre "Ghost Whisperer" et "Numb3rs". Cette rupture dans la continuité du registre (drama vs humour) n'est pas bienvenue et pourrait nuire à la soirée. Enfin, "Worst Week" a pris la place de Old Christine le lundi à 9:30 pm. Dans l'arbre généalogique de la pop culture, ce show est dan la lignée de "Mon beau-père et moi" avec Ben Stiller. Mais la poisse du personnage principal risque de s'étendre à la série tout entière car les audiences ont dérapé malgré le lead-in de "Two and a Half Men" : de 11 millions pour le pilote à 8,8 Millions le lundi 6 octobre.

Les résultats d'audience du 3 octobre dernier semblent également peu encourageants pour  "The Ex-List". Avec 6,9 millions de téléspectateurs, la série ne dépasse pas l'audience de Moonlight diffusé dans la même case l'an passé. Avec 8 millions de 2+ pour son lancement, Moonlight avait été annulée. The Ex-list, bientôt une Ex-série ?

Le bloc du mercredi ne dépasse pas les 7 millions de téléspectateurs dans une tranche peu compétitive puisqu'y sont diffusés les peu convaincants Knight Rider sur NBC et Pushing Daisies sur ABC. Mais ces 3 séries visent un public de moins de 50 ans et se neutralisent à 6 % de part de marché sur les 18-49 ans. Le gagnant de cette bataille est finalement Bones sur Fox avec 10% de pdm. A titre de comparaison, "The Big Bang Theory" et "How I met your mother" atteignent cette saison tous les deux 9% de pdm sur les "key demos"et sont juste en dessous de la barre des 10 millions de 2+ le lundi.

Le tour d'horizon de la grille de CBS ne serait pas complet sans parler du drama "The Mentalist" qui rencontre un franc succès le mardi à 9:00 pm. Le show a pris la place de The Unit relégué au dimanche 11:00pm. Emmené par un solide NCIS, l'enquêteur blondinet à la logique toute Sherlock Holmes-ienne, est l'un des rares succès de la rentrée. Près de 15 millions d'individus ont suivi ses déductions les 23 et 30 septembre, sa pdm 18-49 est d'environ 9% et celle sur les 25-54 de 12%. C'est d'autant plus méritoire que sa concurrence est difficile (Dancing with the stars sur ABC et Fringe sur FOX). De plus The Mentalist a réussi à attirer plus de téléspectateurs pour son numéro 2 que pour son pilote, fait assez rare pour avancer sans trop de risques que la chaîne va très vite commander une deuxième saison.

Mais le succès des networks se jouera cette saison plus sur la tenue des returning shows que sur les nouveautés. Et de ce point de vue, CBS est la grande gagnante de la rentrée. Dans un contexte marqué par l'explosion de l'équipement en DVR (Digital Video Recording, on y reviendra très bientôt), l'écoute de plus en plus mobile et délinéarisée, les chaînes voient leur audience TV reculer par rapport aux saisons passées. Dans ce contexte difficile, CBS a vu les "Season Opener" de trois de ses plus fortes franchises gagner des téléspectateurs d'une année à l'autre ! NCIS, CSI: NY et CSI: Miami, non seulement dépassent les 15 millions de téléspectateurs mais ont gagné entre 3 et 4 millions de nouveaux curieux pour cette nouvelle saison par rapport à septembre 2007 ! Un meurtre et le sourire revient chez les patrons de CBS !

(nota: CSI et The Eleventh Hour n'ont pas encore été lancés à l'heure où ce post est écrit).

(à suivre)

In addition, my brother is going to see the Mythbusters. <Insert growl of jealousy here> It's okay, though. Really. He's a great kid, more obsessed than I am, and he really does wish I could come with him. What is there not to love?

Even better, High Exposure was put up on CBS. Which is good, because TiVo failed last night. So we're all happy (even though we won't be able to watch it for a few days. Because of the Undisclosed Location trip. I think I'll live, though).

Also, I now own a copy of Suite Scarlett, because I won the heavenly lottery with an amazing author. I won a contest she had, and she sent out one of four or five different books, and I ended up with the one that I really wanted. So now I can change my Shelfari from 'wish list' to 'own,' which makes me very happy.

I finished both Endgame by Nancy Garden and Cycler by Lauren McLaughin. Endgame was good, even though the ending was a bit unrealistic (and annoying, since I was vouching for the poor kid the whole time. I have a bad habit of identifying with kids who are severely picked on, even if they end up to be school shooters. Because if I'd had a gun a few years ago - I think I'd be blogging from a jail cell) and the same for Cycler. Well, the whole thing was unrealistic, but the ending was a little... Unsatisfying. I didn't feel that the story was over. Even though I really loved Ramie. But I didn't have much else to do. Today I actually alphabetized everyone I know by first, last, and middle names, as well as by first letter of last name and last letter of first name.

Yes. I am a nerd.

So don't get too settled. I'll be back in a few days. And I'm thrilled with the publicity my last post about The Angel Maker got me - when I get back, I'll blog about High Exposure and, eventually Minimal Loss (which still gives me shivers of excitement - I can't can't can't can't wait). But I'm excited for the trip, too, which starts in about thirty seconds, so I'll bid you adieu.

~DreamingOfNothing

It seems that Lower Canaan, Ohio, was once home to a serial killer nicknamed the Angle Maker. The man was caught and sentenced to death, a sentence that was delivered on a year ago. A pretty blonde woman is alone at home, and is creeped out by a noise. After the ominous horror movie music, we discover it was her cat, eating from a pot on the kitchen counter. Silly girl ( and a little cliched, writer Dan Dworkin. Tsk, tsk. I think it knocked you down a bit from " Elephant's Memory" level).  Our lovely lady sees a shooting star and decides to make a wish. That's when we see the intruder stealthily move behind her, vanishing into the house. Our fair maiden goes to bed... and our intruder decides to smash her over the head with a hammer.

Hotch is still having ear trouble, and bullies the ENT doctor into allowing him back into the field. JJ has a new case- the DNA of our dead serial killer has turned up in our victim. The police is feeling the stress, and our team heads off. Hotch decides to fly ( against doctors orders, for sure), and Reid tosses out the idea of an evil twin which gets the reaction you would expect from a group of profilers. The town hasn't been the same, the chief says, as Hotch and Reid view our new crime scene. When a note arrives, Reid deems it to be authentic, and the chief exhumes the body of our serial killer- only to find the body missing. Then our team learns that the execution didn't go off as planned- our killer died a long, slow, painful death. Justice for sure, I guess.

The team is going through the correpondence of our killer, and Morgan and Emily go off in search of a prison guard Morgan had met while at the prison gathering the letters. They find him dead- and then discover that he popped a Viagra before he died. It changes the profile from a male fan to a female fan, and the team now goes off to interview ladies. One, who clearly has to be insane to be  in love with this monster, finally tells them something useful- he once sent her a letter that was clearly meant for someone else, a woman he called his Dove.  And we get another victim, a daycare worker.

While examining the scene, Emily makes the connection of why the notebook paper appeared in the previous victim's puncture wounds. Our unsub is using a template. Reid is still looking at letters, trying to figure out why the difference between the letters he sent to Dove and the ones to others. Reid deduces that there could be a code.

Emily finally comes up with a reason for the patterns- they are constellations in the Heavenly Waters, and our unsub is finishing our killer's work. Reid breaks the code- it's a binary code used by the Aryan Nation. The killer and our unsub seem to really be in love with each other ( creeptastic, no?) She got semen from our killer, and JJ suggests it might have been to conceive a baby. The team searches birth records, and finds one that clicks, but the baby died in the hospital, which set our unsub off, allowing her to leap into killer herself.

Off to the killer's house we go, where it's clear that she can't let go of the loss- and the team finds the corpse of our killer in a trunk in the nursery.  The discovery of the day planner leads them to the name of the next victim.

Our killer is prepping to kill our next victim, and the team arrives at the house. Hotch sends Morgan to find a way  in to rescue the woman inside, and Emily tries to distract our killer through a megaphone. It works, and our killer wanders off from the victim, and Morgan helps her escape. But the profile states that our killer cannot be talked down, so as the team tries to figure out how to bring her in without hurting her, our killer takes the last pattern, inflicts it on herself, takes her gun, wanders outside, and dies by suicide by cop.

The episode was strongly written, with genuine moments of humor in the darkness ( my favorites- both Reid moments- are an exchange between Rossi and Reid where Reid goes on about the code being in plain sight, and Rossi asks what Reid will need to crack it. " The ability to clone myself and a year's supply of Adderall". Then the second, Reid goes on about how he discovered the code and how they would usually use a computer to decipher but it was faster for him to do it long hand. Emily pokes his cheek and says " He's so lifelike.") Strong performances by our team aid us, but the hidden unsub actually does allow for a genuine twist midway. I did expect a fan copycat, but not a woman ( again, statistics dictate most violent. serial criminals are men). Great editing and directing as well this week. Overall, a superior episode.

Grade- A

And this week Criminal Minds returned to its gory, serial-killer-of-the-week formula. This week’s baddie was the titular Angel Maker, a man who killed six women in a small town in the mid-nineties, bashing each in the head with a hammer as they slept and then poking random holes in her stomach post-mortem before placing the victim in a position of repose. However, considering that the Angel Maker was executed one year prior to his alleged return, it is clear that the BAU will be dealing with a copycat killer, despite the fact that the semen present at the fresh crime scene did indeed belong to the original Angel Maker.

The agents find a letter at the crime scene that appears to be authentically from the Angel Maker himself, which Reid speculates may have been written before his death and was obtained by the copycat at a serial killer memorabilia auction. In researching the auctions, Garcia discovers a power-seller who specifically traders in Angel Maker merchandise, including several origami figurines made from cigarette boxes that Garcia finds eerily adorable. The power-seller turns out to be the Angel Maker’s former prison guard, but by the time Morgan and Prentiss go to question him, he has already been murdered in his home, shot in the head and the testicles, which, combined with the Viagra in this bathroom, leads Prentiss to believe that the copycat Angel Maker is actually a woman, likely one of the Angel Maker’s diehard groupies, of whom he had many.

Morgan gets copies of all the correspondences the Angel Maker had with his fans throughout his incarceration and Reid realizes that the majority of the letters are written to one woman, The Dove. He believes that the Angel Maker had been writing her letters in an advanced code formerly used in the ancient world.

Rossi: What do you need to crack it?
Reid: To clone myself and a year’s supply of Adderall?

After a second victim is killed, Prentiss realizes that the puncture wounds on the victim’s stomachs are all different and seemingly random because they represent 9 constellations in a formation called the heavenly waters. Each thing represented in the constellations is also represented in the origami cigarette boxes. The only constellation that hasn’t been completed yet is Columba, the dove.

Fortunately, Reid also dabbles in linguistics and is able to solve the cipher in a matter of days, leading the team closer to the identity of the new killer and her intentions to finish the Angel Maker’s work. I already loved Reid, but now I love him even more. Sexy code-breaking skills are so hot.

The copycat killer, Chloe, was a regular visitor when the Angel Maker was imprisoned, and she somehow got him to give her a sperm sample so she could impregnate herself with his child, the birth of which she believed would keep her close to him, even after his imminent death. However, her child died at the hospital, leading her into a bout of loneliness that could only be lifted if she carried on to continue the Angel Maker’s work, which they both believed was a way of freeing people and releasing them to God.

Oh yeah, and she dug up the Angel Maker’s body and kept it in her hope chest.

The BAU team intercepts her just before she can take her final victim, whom Morgan spirits out of the house. Prentiss talks Chloe down over the bullhorn and forces her out of the house, where she commits suicide by police. Chloe had punctured her own stomach, though, with the constellation pattern for Columba, in a last-ditch effort to finish her lover’s work.

The Husband:

Between this episode of Criminal Minds and this week’s Bones, I can save both factions of the FBI (the Jeffersonian team and the BAU) a whole lot of time as far as investigations go. Take this advice, once proclaimed high atop the hills by Dave Chappelle: always check for semen.

For said advice, you can watch this hyah video (or you can just fast-forward to 4:15m into the clip).

from Chuck Palahniuk,

"We all die. The object is not to live forever.  The object is to create something that will."

My short story is out in the mail! (Actually, in my paranoid way, I just checked the USPS site to see if it got in yet. It arrived this morning. Hurrah!) So I'll now be waiting until November 30 to find out what lucky duck won. Because it won't be me, that's for darn sure. But it was a fun write (at least, it's fun now. The last week was hell on earth, but then again - the last weeks always are) and I'm glad I entered. Even if I have a greater chance of dating Spencer Reid than I do winning this thing.

Speaking about CM, I just finished tonight's episode, and since I recall writing commentary things about Numb3rs, I'm going to do it for Criminal Minds too. Except not really, because my actual while-watching commentary was done in a special file that no one will ever find. ("Oh, no worries, my sweet. You will never find them.") I'll just simplify it for those of you playing the home game here.

***Spoilers, and I mean it. Don't even think of reading this unless you've already watched or have no intention to watch The Angel Maker, Episode Two of Season Four of Criminal Minds. Also, mild spoilers for the entire series so far***

First things first. The director on this was incredible. Even though they probably worked horror movies before this, because it really made me think of Steven King. Edit: Actually, I looked this guy up - turns out he's produced almost every Criminal Minds episode to date, though he's only directed a few. They're the ones on which I've commented that the cinematography was good, like Legacy, which had an awesome glasses/bloody drain shot. Don't look at me like that. It was an amazing setup, from a photography perspective. I'm serious.

Second: I'm glad that Hotch did end up using medical advice, especially when looking at last week ("I pulled shrapnel from your leg!" "Doctor, I'm alright! - Where are my clothes, please?" *Giggle* He looked so lost in that hospital gown) and at the beginning of the episode ("You need to be careful. Your ear could sustain permanent damage." *Nod, nod, nod* "So will you sign the paper saying I can go back to work?" I could almost see him thinking, sell it to her, sell it... And by 'it' I mean his story that of course he'll be fine. He won't go deaf or anything. Right).

Kudos to anyone who can read the previous paragraph. It's so full of ** and () that I'm having difficulty. Whatevs.

Third: They were totally setting Prentiss up for the next episode (Minimal Loss! *party*) but I don't care. She was awesome.

Observe:

Reid: (Referring to the ridiculously complex written code) Normally you'd use a computer to run all the combinations, but it was quicker just to do them longhand until I found the right one.

Prentiss: *Pokes Reid's cheek* (Sounding shocked) He's so lifelike!

/hysterical laughter. It was great. I am so looking forward to the two of them being trapped in a cult next week.

Fourth: Rossi was also good. Which is saying something, since I usually hate his guts. (And not because he replaced Gideon. No, not at all. Okay, maybe a little).

Observe:

(Team discovers that Dead_Unsub committed a crime apparently postmortem)

Rossi: We have parachutes on board, right?

Reid: They should. It's standard on all federal transport.

Rossi: Maybe we can give one to the elephant in the room? Get him out of here?

I think I'm actively liking him. Which is a weird feeling.

Fifth: No, Reid, I didn't want you to have to wait until fifth. But the other things were a bit more important than your haircut. And you got mentioned while I was raving about Prentiss. So it's okay.

I miss his Sirius Hair, though. The loss of it makes me sad.
 
 

*sigh* It's okay. I'll find ways of surviving somehow. (Like continuing my spontaneously begun fanfiction for Minimal Loss. Because Reid + Religious Freakos = Drama. Any way you look at it. Especially when you add in the subequation of Photographic Memory + [Religious Freako x Psychosis²] = Never, Ever Forgetting Revelations And The Subsequent Bad Stuff Contained Within. Which, ironically enough, was the first episode I ever watched. I'm not sure why I kept going either)

Sixth: Also, I figured out a prime element of this case before anyone else did. *Airpunch* I saw the puncture wounds in weird formations and instantly said, "Constellations!" Of course, I just attributed it to my complete and utter nerdiness on that front and the fact that I've memorized nearly every constellation there is. Still, it was pretty cool to get something way before even Reid. Who's usually the first to get these things.

So... Yeah. It was a great episode.

***Spoilers will now cease. For The Angel Maker, that is***

Personally, though, I love my own ethics. We're now in the Ten Days of Repentance, and while I'm not lying to anyone, I'm certainly concealing the truth pretty well. So that probably makes me a huge hypocrite.

Whatever. I personally think I'm doing pretty darn well for someone who wrote a short story which is basically one gigantic tribute to Spencer Reid without even knowing it until last night. Suave, DreamingOfNothing. Suave.

(Shut up, Stupid Voice. I mean it)

~DreamingOfNothing

Here we go:

Chuck: Oh, how I missed Chuck. With the exception of some of the Lester/Jeff/Anna/Morgan stuff, which can get a little too annoying and over-the-top, there's not a thing I don't love about this show. This season started off with a bang -- interesting premise, interesting wrench thrown into said premise, great action, great comedy, a little bit of romance and longing between Chuck and Sarah, great guest star in the form of one Michael Clarke Duncan, and plenty of Casey. What more could you ask for? Cannot wait to see more. And in case you haven't heard it enough in recent posts, I absolutely adore Zachary Levi and want to be BFFs with Yvonne Strahovski.

Sarah Connor Chronicles: I know that I posted last week (or whenever) that SCC was in trouble. I'm happy to report that I must've been on glue. Or something. Matt Roush addressed the issue in his Ask Matt column yesterday, and while, yes, SCC's ratings haven't skyrocketed this season, they're still seeing solid results in the form of playback (on TiVo and DVRs and through iTunes downloads) and that FOX expected this. His verdict? He's not worried. (Yet.)

But wow. "Alison From Palmdale" was, in my opinion, the best episode of the series. As a Firefly fan, I knew Summer Glau was fantastic. Spectacular, even. She made River Tam vulnerable and sympathetic and heart-breaking and mysterious (and yes, a bit frightening) without making her a caricature. River was by far my favorite character, even topping the always awesome Captain Tightpants Mal Reynolds.

Even knowing that, however, her performance last night was remarkable and stunning and nuanced and, yes, phenomenal. It was interesting to see Cameron forget that she was a machine and revert to the human from whom she drew her inspiration and personality. I love the moment that John walked into the halfway house and saw her playing foos ball, acting like a normal 17-year-old girl and not a cold, calculating killing machine.

I'm not sure what we learned, though. Has Cameron always been, as she called it, an infiltrator? I choose not to believe that, especially since it makes no sense that she'd be sent back in time to protect John. She could've killed him the instant she met him in that classroom and prevented the rebellion that ultimately destroys the machines. I think it is a chip malfunction. My cousin Emily made a very interesting point -- she believes (and I concur) that Cameron is actively choosing to go against her programming.

Anyway. Last season was good, but so far this season is better. I am really loving the exposition and the plot arcs and I like Sarah and John a whole lot better than I did last year. Last year I mostly just watched for Cameron, and while I would probably be less motivated to watch if she were suddenly to blow up, the writing seems a lot more consistent.

NCIS: I missed a large chunk of last season, but I think I've more or less caught up thanks to reruns on USA. I've always liked the show, but I've only been watching semi-consistently (and now consistently) for the last 18 months or so. I'm so glad USA and ion have it in syndication. ion's episodes are back in the days of Kate (I miss Sasha Alexander) and USA's are about two seasons ago. Provides great exposition for me for this season.

I think they explained the finale's events in a fairly realistic and compelling way in last week's premiere. Made for an interesting story, and the twist at the end will provide for an interesting season. I, for one, didn't see it coming. I really like Gibbs and his team, and I'm glad that Lauren Holly's gone. I have nothing against her, but I just was never that attached to Jenny. Looking forward to the new season -- and how they'll get Tony off the sub to which he's been assigned.

Fringe: I've been gushing about Fringe since before I'd seen anything but the trailer, and I haven't stopped. Love. This. Show. As Steve Betz so succinctly said, it's an homage to The X-Files with far better storytelling. Is it dark? Well, yes. Graphic? Certainly. But -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- there was some pretty gruesome stuff on The X-Files, too. I wouldn't call Fringe gratuitous, and I'm pretty sensitive when it comes to gratuitous gore and violence.

Also, Anna Torv has been criticized for playing Olivia Dunham too woodenly. Again, feel free to tell me otherwise, but Dana Scully was no ball of sunshine. Not only has Olivia been flung into a series of mind-boggling, inexplicable occurences, but her boyfriend almost dies, then she finds out he's betrayed her, and then he does die. (Or at least she thinks he's dead) within a week or two at most -- why, exactly, should she be walking around with a 100-watt grin on her face?

John Noble is excellent, and I love Pacey Witter. Er, Joshua Jackson. He's just so cute. And now he's all grown-up. Yum.

Criminal Minds: Glad that none of the regulars were blown up, and what a chilling end to a chilling arc. Not a whole lot to say about this show -- it's a criminal procedural, and a solid one at that. I like the characters, I like the storytelling, I like to see how the resolution is reached.

Pushing Daisies: Absolutely a modern-day fairytale. I obviously haven't seen the premiere yet, but I hear it's fabulous. This show oozes charm and whimsy and I cannot help but smile the entire time I'm watching. Lee Pace is delightful -- the entire cast is delightful. Definitely deserving of the Emmy consideration, and I can't wait to see how the new season unfolds, especially since we got an abbreviated glimpse last year, due to the writers' strike.

The Office: Oh my goodness. The rest of the episode leading up to the rainy rest station proposal are kind of a blur. Okay, that's not true. What a premiere. Funny. Very funny. I hope Amy Ryan sticks around forever. She is awesome and is the perfect counter-balance for Michael.

But come on -- Jim proposing to Pam? I think I rewound that scene three times.

Maybe four.

Perhaps a half-dozen.

Also?

Poor Toby. He reminds me of Eeyore.

Heroes: Yeah, okay, so I know I said I absolutely wasn't watching this season, but I admit -- the first three hours have been interesting and a lot less erratic and uneven than the majority of last season.

I still don't like any of the Petrellis, although Future Peter is a lot easier to take than Whiny Present Day Peter. And wow, Mama Petrelli is chillingly creepy. Is she really Sylar's mother? I see far more resemblance between the two of them than Obama Nathan or Peter.

Claire is so incredibly annoying, I don't even know where to begin, so I'll leave it at that.

Same with Mohinder.

And Maya.

The villain angle is very interesting, and Weevil turning up as first Peter and than some scary bad guy was a nice little twist.

I love love love Daphne. She reminds me of Kristen Bell. Must be the hair. And the sarcasm. And the tiny blondeness. I sense a major connection with Hiro coming up.

Speaking of Hiro -- I'm now dying to see the events that lead Ando to the point of betrayal and murder.

Noah and Sylar as partners? This is the most compelling storyline of the season, I think.

And I'm already sad that Elle's leaving, even though Kristen Bell has a 13-episode agreement.

Anyway, I'm sticking around this season so far. It certainly has gotten off to a far better start than Volume II.

Prison Break: I still fast-forward through a lot of the Company stuff, but I like the parts involving Michael and Sara and Lincoln & Co. It has a very Ocean's Eleven-type feel, and the action sequences are great. It's a pleasant show. Doesn't suck, I don't feel the urge to watch it again when it's over. A nice diversion.

Life: This is a show that I started liking when its season was almost over. It was pretty easy to pick up on, though, and I caught the last 4-5 episodes before the writers' strike. I caught last night's special premiere and really dug it, and am definitely looking forward to Friday's episode -- and the rest of the season.

Damian Lewis and Sarah Shahi are awesome.

House: Honestly...even though Hugh Laurie is just as amazing as he's been since the pilot, and even though the show is still firing on all cylinders, I am less and less enthused to watch. I think House's misogyny and, well, sociopath-like tendencies are grating on my nerves.

The character of House has to be like a seesaw -- make him too warm and cuddly and that ruins the entire premise of the show. But make him too much of a sociopath, and he loses any smidge of a sympathetic quality he may have had.

The writers have done a great job in the past at allowing House to retain that sympathy -- even a touch of vulnerability. Episodes like the little girl with cancer, or the autistic boy, or the episode where Cameron helps the one guy commit assisted suicide, or one of my favorite episodes, Three Stories -- even though the guy's a jerk, there are moments where you do kind of see through the walls and the facade and feel a bit sorry for him. Or at least kind of understand why he is the way he is.

But lately, he's been all jerk and nothing else.

Makes me not really want to watch anymore.

And I've given up on anything happening between him and Cameron. At this point, I think I'd lose any respect I had for her.

Bones: Still funny. Still awesome. Still fascinating.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Cold Case: See Criminal Minds. A solid procedural that is always interesting thanks to the time period shifts. I really enjoy this show and have watched it consisently since its premiere.

That's it, I think.

Off to watch tonight's Fringe and maybe last week's House.

I'm running a bit behind -- somehow I feel that'll be a theme this season.

Spouse has already moved out of town and today was his very first day of work. Not only does it have better weather but the locals appear to be more friendly. He's been asked to attend several events in towns by college staff and neighbors. This is seriously awesome.

Piper is enjoying the mountain air, if not the wood-paneled basement. I suspect it's because she's getting on in years (6) and is accustomed to having a soft spot to lay down. Spouse has a bare minimum of furniture due to the move, including a love seat instead of a proper sofa. There is no room on the love seat for Piper because Spouse is 6'2".

I'm putting together a Sweetest Day care package for him. I don't generally go in for Hallmark holidays but I found an amazing musical card and was inspired.

Fall means the return of fall shows! My current viewing line up consists of True Blood (HBO), Heroes, Life, NCIS, Supernatural, Gray's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Bones, and House.

Bubble shows include Chuck, Entourage (HBO), The Sarah Connor Chronicles, The Mentalist, Private Practice, Brothers and Sisters, and Sanctuary.

Shows I've already dropped: Fringe and The Lipstick Jungle.

Chuck seems to be off to a good start. Tonight was my first episode of SCC and I only caught a few episodes last season. I really enjoyed The Mentalist (and was suprised by how much so) and will definitely make sure to catch the next couple before I decide. Private Practice and Brothers and Sisters suffer from the same problem- I find the shows interesting, but not interesting enough to make sure that I watch them. Sanctuary is on the bubble because it hasn't started yet but I'm optimistic.

Clearly I'm into mystery/suspense shows more than relationship foo foo. The only comedy shows I watch are on Thursday nights as well, but when you've only got one Tivo it means you're watching SOMETHING online. 30 Rock and The Office it is!

Of the new returning shows, I'm most excited about Life. I loved the entire season and can't wait to see what they do next. I'm thoroughly enjoying all of the returning shows that have premiered and am very happy that I have a Tivo. I spend too much time watching TV. Way too much time.

Alguém realmente esperou que Horatio fosse morrer? Não, não é dessa vez que nos vimos livres das frases de efeito e das pausas dramáticas, que em conjunto com um roteiro que insiste em fazer de Caine uma espécie de super-herói, tornou o protagonista dessa franquia de CSI em caricatura. Para piorar, juntando as pistas da finale com a primeira cena da premiere, eu precisei de meros dois segundos para entender que Horatio e Ryan Wolfe tinham, juntos, armado tudo. Pelo menos os roteiristas entregaram tudo aos 14 minutos (não que tenha sido pouco), ao invés de tentar fazer alguma revelação de última hora.

É claro que entregar a “ressurreição” de Horatio tinha um propósito, afinal, como o maior justiceiro do Miami poderia ficar escondido enquanto uma trama burlesca para derrubar seu arqui-rival Ron Saris e o traficante Juan Ortega se desenrolava? É claro que no final tudo acabou bem. Bom, quase tudo, porquê o corpo de Saris desapareceu depois de uma massiva explosão. Parece que o vilão é tão invencível quanto Horatio. Será que os dois são algum tipo de mutação genética? Honestamente, acho que eles teriam lugar cativo em Heroes.

Para completar, o desaparecido namorado de Calleigh, Jake Berkeley volta a dar as caras e nós descobrimos que ele tinha voltado a trabalhar disfarçado, explicando o porquê de ter estado completamente ausente da série desde o episódio nove. Mas ele só voltou para colocar um ponto final na relação, que parece ter acabado de vez, o quê possivelmente deixa o caminho aberto para Eric.

O episódio foi previsível e emaranhou tantas tramas que até me deu dor de cabeça. Apesar de eu já assistir CSI:Miami esperando o trash, um pouco de criatividade nunca faz mal. Menos maquiagem e melhores atuações também, mas aí já esperar de mais.

Criminal Minds - 4×01 - Mayhem (MVP: Thomas Gibson e Shemar Moore)
Exibição: 24/9/2008

Quem morreu na explosão da van? A resposta é Kate Joyner. Eu não esperava que um integrante principal da equipe fosse morrer e que alguém tenha de fato morrido foi até corajoso (apesar de eles terem feito de tudo, na finale, para que antipatizássemos com a agente sósia da ex-mulher do Hotch), mas que fica um gostinho de artifício barato fica. Porém, isso é televisão, e a não ser que você esteja em CSI, tenta-se manter o elenco principal intacto ao máximo de suas possibilidades e Criminal Minds já perdeu dois de seus integrantes originais.

Ainda assim, o episódio Mayhem é um verdadeiro primor, contribuindo para o patamar cada vez mais alto que a série atinge em qualidade. Quem dera os filmes de ação do cinema conseguissem injetar em mim um quarto da tensão que esse episódio conseguiu. É claro que há muitas diferenças entre TV e cinema e o fato de eu acompanhar esses personagens há anos ajuda em minha empatia imediata, mas a verdade é que o roteiro é extremamente inteligente, a direção prima pelo realismo, a edição cria um ritmo angustiante e as atuações são extremamente convincentes, elementos que andam em falta em Hollywood (talvez eu esteja vendo os filmes errados. Aceito sugestões). Redondinha e emocionante do jeito que está, Criminal Minds tem tudo para ser a melhor série policial da temporada (e umas das melhores no geral).

Texto originalmente publicado no TeleSéries.