Summer TV at Its Finest

Under the Dome, Breaking Bad, The Newsroom

So, it’s the middle of Labor Day weekend, and I cannot believe that the summer of 2013 is nearly over. True, it doesn’t end until September 22, but when you live on the Jersey Shore, the (non) official end of summer is this weekend. Unfortunately, with the end of lazy, hazy days, is the end of some of the best stuff on television.

Sunday nights have been my biggest television night, well, for a long long time. Going back to the days of In Living Color, The Simpsons and The X-Files (yeah, I’m THAT old), we would hold Sunday night TV in high regard, planning an entire evening around it. Not much has changed in the last twenty years. Now, leaving the cartoons and comedies behind, my main viewing tends to be on HBO and AMC. There is a reason that HBO and AMC have topped the list with Emmy Nominations (save for American Horror Story: Asylum). What they are putting into their programming has been amazing, entertaining, heartbreaking and exciting in ways that I haven’t seen in a long time.

Summer TV at it’s Finest: Under the Dome, Breaking Bad, The Newsroom

Starting with HBO’s The Newsroom that is a show about, well, a newsroom, should not be as edgy and exciting as it is. When you throw in an actor like Jeff Daniels and give him a character like Will McAvoy, I don’t know how you could miss. Not a traditional hero or anti-hero, Will McAvoy is an outspoken, numbers-loving, Republican ex-attorney who has decided that he just wants to do the news, and do it honestly. He wants to have the public’s trust (and viewership) and, he wants to make it all happen with this cast of characters surrounding him. Lots has been posted about Jane Fonda’s guest roles, or the work of his co-stars Sam Waterson and Emily Mortimer, all very talented and equally amazing on this show. But to overlook the supporting cast would be a mistake. Olivia Munn, who plays financial guru Sloan Sabbith gets some of THE BEST LINES of each episode. The chemistry that is building between her and Don Keefer (Thomas Sadoski) has actually made me like the character of Don. That in itself is remarkable. Unfortunately, only given nine episodes for it’s sophomore season, I can only hope that come next summer, HBO will generate more for this underrated gem.

AMC’s Breaking Bad is also in the home stretch towards its’ SERIES finale. Just let that sink in for a moment… No more Walt. No more Jessie. These two men, who (if you’ve watched from the beginning) have been breaking your heart, causing you to scream or cry or unable to breath for years, will be gone. I’ve never had such a love/hate relationship like I have had with Walter White. And, even after the latest episode 5×11 Confessions, I still don’t want to see him get caught. For all that he’s put his family through, for all that he’s put Jessie through, and himself… just doesn’t seem right for this cancer-stricken chemistry teacher to pay for just trying to provide for his family. Just want to give a big shout out of thanks to Vince Gilligan for making me realize how blurry my moral lines really were. What else can you say that hasn’t already been said about Breaking Bad? If this wasn’t a show that you watched, I suggest to purchase a Netflix subscription and binge.

Last, but certainly not least, Under The Dome will also be ending its first season soon. Originally slated as a 13 episode mini-series, CBS has decided that it has enough viewers to extend to a second season. When it first started, I had said out right that even though I read the book, I wouldn’t compare the two. After the first few episodes I realized just how impossible that would be. The story took a completely different turn nearly immediately, and it worked perfectly. While the characters are familiar, the story is fresh and works better for television that the story originally told in the novel. With only two episodes left, it’s hard to imagine getting to the mystery of the dome, so I am extremely happy that season 2 will be back next summer.

With all this great programming ending, I am very thankful for the fall season starting! What is on your TV viewing schedule?

Renewed! Cancelled! HALLEJUAH! TV Gods Hear Our Prayers!

First… Let’s give a big “WOOT WOOT!” to NBC for finally getting their heads out of their asses and doing the right thing (well, except canceling The Office… no worries, there will be a full on temper tantrum about that in an upcoming article). I don’t know if it was the war cry of “#sixseasonsandamovie” or the fact that the Peacock Network has slashed two of their four Thursday night comedies, but NBC seemed to finally concede, and recognize the fact that COMMUNITY is a force to be reckoned with. Well, either that, or they are just as in love with Joel McHale and his abs as we all are. Yes, even YOU. So returning this fall to your screens will still be two of the funniest shows on television – along with the Greendale Gang will be the amazing ensemble from Pawnee, Indiana – Parks and Recreation. Seriously, how can you NOT bring that gang back? On the close of their AMAZING fourth finale we left knowing that Ron Swanson’s girlfriend, played by the dazzling Lucy Lawless, was going to be his baby mama. Umm, hello! Ron Swanson… AS A FATHER?! Yes Please! While they aren’t the hottest couple on television, Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt definitely have my vote for one of my favorite TV couples. Leslie Knope, certainly not a woman to be outdone, and her nerdy counterpart, Ben, have found a way to make Job OCD and Geek, sheek, sexy and sweet. And, yes Leslie, we concur; Ben does have a very nice butt and we are glad to see it back for season 5!

Sticking with NBC for the moment, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief that they have decided to finally let Whitney go. The fact that they kept it on the schedule for as long as they did, and that it warranted enough attention to even have a consideration for a second season makes me extremely sad. I, personally, tend to think that NBC had some of the smartest, funniest shows on television. But allowing Whitney to stick around would be akin to letting Mose run the farm completely (if you don’t get that reference, no offense, but this blog may not be for you). Moving on to some of the Peacock’s other programming woes; they have decided to cancel The New Normal. Gotta say, for a show that I never watched, I was most surprised about seeing that cancellation. The buzz had been strong at its’ initial premiere, and, I thought, all season long. My reasons for not watching it were twofold – I already watch Modern Family, and while I get that they are two very different shows, I felt that they were too similar to find time for both in my already packed viewing schedule. My other reason for not watching was that it was a Ryan Murphy creation. Now, don’t start hatin’ because I really have NOTHING against the man himself. Personally, I would kiss his feet for American Horror Story alone. BUT, after watching Glee for four seasons now, I’ve had my fill of Mr. Murphy’s version of campy comedy. Another head scratcher for me is that they are also keeping around Grimm. Now, before you go get all, ‘well, you just don’t like fantasy-type shows,’ let me just tell you that I recently spent time at a Supernatural convention and would give up my life and family to go out on the road with the Winchesters… I am a child of the X-Files and I cried like a bitch when I found out that Fox was opting NOT to renew Fringe. (I also watched Charmed, god help me, and did tune in for other cultish sci-fi stuff like Dark Angel, Carnivale, and Dead Like Me). So, by letting my Nerd-Flag fly, I feel confident in saying I just don’t get Grimm. I get that all these networks want to cash in on a sci-fi genre show, especially in today’s television landscape, but I just feel that with the brilliant writing out there and beautiful CGI that seems much more readily available for the small screen, you could just do better. I won’t sit here and pull the show apart, since I wasn’t an avid watcher. Just more of a passing, WTF, NBC? But, I do have to give NBC a big thank you for recognizing what an amazing show Revolution is, and giving it another season. So I guess we can just call it even.

Let’s just be thankful to ABC for Modern Family. Somehow, they hit comedy gold with that thirty minutes of snarky goodness… but really, that’s all they got in the way of bringing the funny. With only a handful of episodes under it’s’ belt, ABC has already retired freshman comedies Family Tools and How to Live With Your Parents (For the Rest Of Your Life). I didn’t watch either of them personally, but some of my other fellow TV Junkies here had given the latter a shot and found it worth a second watch. So, what’s the reason that ABC can’t seem to hold its own in the laughlight? Sure, Suburgatory is returning, and the little I’ve seen of it, I can say it’s got charm. But when I watch for more than fifteen minutes of a thirty minute show, and all I get is a slight chuckle that really doesn’t make sound… I tend to lose interest. Happy Endings will NOT have a happy ending on ABC, even though I believe it is being considered by USA or TBS (if they were smart, they’d grab it the same way Cougar Town was pulled from obscurity). Know what ABC does well? Drama. Not life or death drama… (save for Grey’s Anatomy, which, yes, renewed for another season) but, ‘hey bitch, that’s my (man, wife, mother, father, sister, brother) and you (wronged, slept with, embezzled from, etc) and I will get you for that.’ Really, it’s soaps on a bigger budget. Not knockin’ it… just spittin’ the truth (as my strange little mind sees it anyway). Look at the success they had with Desperate Housewives and now with Scandal, Revenge, Nashville and even Once Upon A Time (granted, not a traditional drama compared to the rest, but still, a drama). All renewed, by the way. Otherwise, ABC will be perpetually known, in my house anyway, as ABC: Always with the Bachelor Crap. While I do have a handful of guilty pleasure shows hiding in the reality TV wave, I am not a fan of the Bachelor or Bachelorette. Both renewed, probably every year… until I die.

CBS is a foreign network to me. I easily watch more programming on the BBC, than on CBS. But just basing off their canceled/renewed list, I don’t see a huge shift in their programming come this fall. Axing mostly comedies, Rules of Engagement and Partners, and one of its many CSI-type shows, CBS is giving its’ core viewers what they want: consistency. I’m not saying every CBS viewer is eligible for Medicare, but no one I know under the age of 40 watches anything but Big Bang Theory on CBS. Hell, I don’t know anyone who watches that, but damn if it isn’t popular as hell. I suppose because I don’t find ‘set-up, joke, set-up, joke, insert laugh track’ type comedy funny anymore (sorry, Arrested Development and The Office completely, and thankfully, ruined that forever) I have a VERY hard time finding the comedies that CBS has to offer, funny. Stick to the murders and charming detectives CBS, it’s what ya know, it’s what you’re good at. Having said that, however, there are a few other TV Junkies here that are partial to How I Met Your Mother, so for them, I am happy to hear of its’ renewal.

QUICK CBS SIDE NOTE: This summer CBS is breaking tradition and airing a 13-week mini-series Under The Dome, based off Stephen King’s best-selling novel of the same name. I read that beast. If the cast and crew can come close to recreating that magic on screen, I will be one happy mama jama this summer. A-MAZING. A Must Read, and a Must Watch! So, fellow readers, I implore you to tune on June 24 when the Dome Comes Down.

Finally, in the spirit of finishing this column before my kids explode from boredom; let’s talk about FOX and the CW, shall we? Face it, FOX caters to the stoner college roommates that like to play drinking games to anything Seth McFarland touches. Frankly, I’m good with that. Just like FOX in that regard, CW knows its niche audience and they know how to make them fairly happy. So, for that, I applaud them. They may not have the strongest programming, or the most diverse shows. But they know how to shock and awe, whether it’s in humor, drama, or blood. FOX and the CW are like the bastard cousins that you are afraid to invite to Thanksgiving. You know it will be a blast to have them there, but you also don’t want the elder family members to give you the eye scolding because you are participating in their tom-foolery.

Can we have an honest moment… I like Glee, and while this won’t get me much love among Gleeks out there, I am a bit ashamed that I do. This season kinda sucked, but it was still better than a lot of other crap on TV. There is just something about Jane Lynch I can’t stay away from, and while Mr. Schushter is loved by all, I tend to agree with Sue that there is just something wrong with a man of his age wearing vests… in 2013. Outside of Glee, FOX brings most of the crazy-type drama with the breakout hit monster, The Following. I watched the first few episodes, and stopped, well for no good reason really. That is one of those shows I had to put on the summer viewing list, because it was pretty damn awesome. While I love me some comedy, I love some dark sinister, psychologically damning storytelling too. I’m well balanced like that. Checking out FOX’s fall roster they, too, have seemed to cut the dead weight, axing Ben and Kate, The Cleveland Show and Touch. I have to say though, good job on knowing you have something shiny, fun and new with New Girl and The Mindy Project. With the current void of smart and funny women on TV, I am beyond thrilled that Zoey Daschnel and Mindy Kaling are getting a shot to put their brand of humor out there.

Before I have to head off for an hour of poopy diapers and hair pulling, let me just say that I am grateful to the CW for knowing, and understanding, that Supernatural MUST continue. I don’t know how I feel yet about them constantly moving the Winchesters from Thursday, to Friday, to Wednesday and NOW to Tuesday… but as long as the boys show up every week in that hot ass car, I can look the other way on their scheduling A.D.D. For me personally, that is all I tune in for on the CW. I can attest to the fact that The Vampire Diaries has fans just as rabid as Supernatural does, so I wasn’t surprised to see their renewal, and subsequent spin off show, The Originals. I have just had my fill of vampires, so I will opt out of that. But, again, kudos to that network for understanding their average viewer. With the majority of their programming getting renewed, the CW is gaining strength in those who watch and tweet at the same time. Those that bombard social media like Twitter and Tumblr with their OTP mems (one true pair, for those of you who aren’t hip to fandoms and ‘shipping’). Saying goodbye to only four of its essential twelve shows, I would say the CW knows what it’s doing and will continue to make their way to the top of the off-beat television food chain.

IMHO summary: CBS, caters to the crime drama and demo of those in their golden years, ABC targets the bored house wives who secretly want to live the life of a Kardashian but don’t have the balls to admit it, FOX & the CW tunes in on the younger, more stoned generation of our country’s youth (just stop and think about THAT for a second… your kids may NEVER know who Michael Landon and Pa Ingels were, but they will for sure know who Seth McFarland and Stewie Griffin are). Then, you have NBC… NBC is the weird hybrid of them all, but I feel like they are most in tune and in touch with those of us who want to grow up and be Tina Fey, instead of Lindsay Lohan. So, which network will end up regretting their cuts and which ones will bask in the glory of their new and improved Fall schedule? Only time will tell I guess, but until then I will just dive into some summer series, and stalk other networks like AMC, A&E, FX, HBO, SCI-FI and TBS for what they have to offer for hiatus viewing pleasure.

Keep a lookout for our first ever EntertainMeTV Podcast on The Office finale… yeah, we cried. If you say you didn’t, you’re full of it… (c’mon, now, all together in your best Michael Scott voice)… That’s What She Said!

Hey, Tuesday! ‘Pig In a Poke’!

That seems like as good a title as any with the randomness that I am about to unleash on you.

Although, for you Supernatural fans, you get it; cause every Tuesday it’s the same thing, right?

Moving on…

Sunday night my television was a’hoppin’ with the drama. First, up Game of Thrones. Honestly, I did NOT see some of that coming down the line. Pappy Lannister is pissed off and taking it out on the kiddos. I generally despise the Lannister’s, and everything about them. Even their words annoy me, mostly because I feel like, yeah, they pay their debts… so what? Does that give you the right to be an asshole in the process? Me thinks not. However, watching Lord Tywin Lannister telling his smug-faced daughter Cersei, that she WILL wed Loras, the brother of the new soon-to-be-Queen and produce more babies… I got two words for you people. BOO-YAH! That was enough to wipe that privileged, arrogant grin right off her face, as she stomped her foot say, ‘but I’M Queen Regent!” I know I am jumping ahead of myself in the episode, but that moment was so epic for me, I just had to start there. Even though, I do find the Lannister’s at the top of my GoT shit list and virtually irredeemable, I have to say that I did feel bad for poor Tyrion. It doesn’t seem fair that after all he has endured for the family, he was appointed to marry that waif Sansa. We know he loves Shae, and how do you think this will go over with that firecracker?

Speaking of irredeemable characters, there was quite a scene between the King Slayer, Jamie Lanister and Brienne of Tarth. His breakdown of what actually went down with the mad king was pretty awesome. To see this great, brave warrior, whom is supposedly feared and hated throughout the lands, have this moment of absolutely vulnerability… wow. I never really thought much of Jamie, or the guy who played him, but that scene made me a fan of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Jury is still out on his character though.

In other Game of Thrones happenings, we once again get to see the Khalessi, Daenerys Targaryen, and her big ass army marching along with great passion. How can anyone else battling for the Iron Throne have more of a claim than she? Her actions speak volumes about what kind of ruler she would be, and honestly, King’s Landing needs her. The people need her. After all, she does have dragons. Dragons trump all. She inspires loyalty and love in people by the way she speaks, carries herself and burns down her enemies. She is the Queen for the people. Cersei should take note. For me, her story is the one I look forward to the most each week. I can’t help but cheer her on, especially after the way her story began. Nothing makes me happier than to see the underdog rise up from the ashes and keep fighting. Daenerys Targaryen takes that to a whole new, bad ass level.

‘Sidenote’ Note: Am I the only one that thinks that Arya Stark is the next Brienne of Tarth? She is going to be Hell on Wheels with a sword when she’s older. The fire that rages in her and all the shit she’s gone through. That girl is going to have some serious skills one day and I don’t doubt will be a better fighter than her brother. The Hound better hope he never crosses her path again.

After GoT winds up and the husband goes off to bed, I settle in to watch Mad Men. I usually press play off the DVR with a mediocre expectation of the next hour, and usually, it’s about what I get. This week, however, had another one of those moments that make me sit up and realize why this show is in season six, has dominated and won the Emmy drama categories, and keeps me coming back week after week. Starts out with a lot of blah blah blah… Peggy looking at apartments, Bobby Draper peeling wallpaper (Yeah, you read that right… THE KID WAS PEELING F-ING WALLPAPER!), Betty bitching about something or other, Don eye balling his mistress as she leaves with her own husband for a DC trip… completely bored and random nothingness. Then, the whole SCDP gang goes to some awards shows, and during the proceedings the news is announced that someone had assassinated Martin Luther King Jr. For a show set in a decade rife with news, war, social outrage, generational shifts, they don’t tend to use much historical happenings tied in with the central arc of the characters. However, the way they wove the assassination into the firm and showed how each of these characters dealt with all that comes with it, was truly awesome. Those moments lead to what, in my opinion, was the best moment of season six so far (Yes, even more than Trudy telling Pete to get lost) was Don’s monologue about his love, or lack thereof, for his children when they were born. I felt for the first time in a long time, Don put his shit aside and had an honest, self-reflective moment. I loved that Megan just let him go with it, and didn’t interrupt. Jon Hamm better submit that scene to the Academy. Because when Don Draper can actually make me feel sorry for him, there needs to be some sort of award for that! Check out the link before for a snippet of the scene I’m talking about.

http://youtu.be/_QWb0VoxwQk?t=3m40s

Joan and Dawn’s ‘hug’

Honorable ‘HA HA’ mention of the night: Joan’s awkward hug with Dawn. Really, we all felt it. Good try Joan, but you DID try and fire her last week.

Monday night’s TV adventure takes me through a haze of reality TV with The Voice, and then on the roller coaster ride that is Revolution. Ok, all kidding aside, if you aren’t watching this show, you seriously need too. I can’t put my finger on it as to why I find it to be appointment viewing… Oh wait, yes I can, because it kicks ass!! Miles is a BAD ASS people. Mysterious, sexy, and handy with a sword, I wouldn’t want Miles Matheson as an enemy. And if there was any hope for a ‘let’s let bygones be bygones’ between Miles and Monroe, Monroe pretty much burnt that bridge as he held their hometown hostage. When that didn’t work put a gun to Emma’s head. Now, was her declaration of a secret child a ploy to save her life or was it a truth? She did say it was Monroe’s son, but as the flash backs tell us, its possible it was Miles’ right? RIGHT? Again, I get ahead of myself episode wise, but that ending… damn! Miles is definitely more determined than ever to put Monroe down, and by the look of a wounded Monroe being escorted off by Lucifier, er… Jeremy (sorry, Mark Pellegrino will ALWAYS be Lucifier to me, right SPNFAMILY?!?) I am betting that Monroe has it in for Miles for killing Emma. Even though it was Captain Dick, sorry, Captain Dixon (…ya know what, screw it, he was a dick and I’m glad he’s dead too) that killed her.

Aaron seeing his long gone wife

Then, of course, there was Aaron finding the wife he left behind, only to learn she has a new family now. I generally like Aaron. He’s a smart, caring guy who looked out for Charlie and wants to do nothing but help. But, dude, really? You can’t be pissed that the wife you left behind ‘for her own good’, moved on. Even though she says she will always love him, part of her has to still be pretty miffed that he just left her with strangers. Oh, well, there was that note…

Charlie is harboring some rage at Uncle Miles for something he did to her mom years ago. Am I the only one who thinks that Miles and Rachel got it on behind Ben’s back? And that maybe Charlie is really Miles’ kid? Sorry folks, been watching soaps again so I tend to cross over shitty drama for good drama.

But that ending… hot DAMN, THAT ENDING! When the President of Georgia was talking about this unknown person, I had a feeling it would be Tom. But to see that door open and his icy grin fill up my screen made my heart go all a-flutter, and not for the reasons you may think. Giancarlo Esposito has quickly become the quintessential bad guy, and I love watching him do it. Putting aside his role as Pierce Hawthrone’s half-brother on Community, he actually terrified me as Gus on Breaking Bad, and as Captain Tom Neville on Revolution made me seethe with a rage I thought unthinkable to feel while watching television. Here is another man that deserves an award.

Giancarlo Esposito, as Captain Tom Neville

Thank God that this show got picked up for seasons two. I need more characters like Charlie, Miles and Nora. The action, drama and dialog in this show are genuine. Eric Kripke and J.J. Abrams have, once again, made some damn good TV here. With a cast and crew that are pretty awesome as well. I don’t know of too many casts that live tweet during their shows to connect with fans. I certainly don’t know any others that direct message their fans on Twitter, thanking them for comments and watching the show. I’m looking at you Tim Guinee and JD Pardo (@timguinee and @PardoJD respectively), stay classy boys.

So, with that being said… Watch it. Take Back the Power with the rest of us. You won’t be sorry.

Stay tuned kids, much more TV to dish about!

Including…

• SOAPS ARE BACK! With the premiers of All My Children and One Life to Live on TOLN (The Online Network), I can’t help but wonder, is this truly the future of television? But, more on that later. Keep an eye out for my review later this week of the new incarnations of some of television’s oldest (and longest) running shows!

• For reality junkies – Deadliest Catch is back for SEASON 9 people!! How can a show about crab fishing be so damn compelling?? Tune in a 9 p.m. tonight on Discovery and see. Really, I swear it is almost hypnotic. That, and the guys on the Time Bandit are f-ing crazy!

• A brand new Supernatural this Wednesday, which shows a very sickly Sam passing out, and Dean having to do ‘god-only-knows-what’ to save him. For any one else like myself who watches that show holding their breath half the time, Sammy wasn’t looking too good in that preview. With the trials two-thirds complete and a prophet on the run, the boys will need a miracle to get it done. Or Castiel, I’m sure he could help.

• Count down to The Office Series Finale with us! Every Thursday night we are watching and talking The Office. With only a handful of episodes left, don’t miss out on the fun!

• Speaking of Thursday nights, while The Office is the main event, there are also some amazing little shows called Community and Parks and Recreation. I can honestly say, NBC’s domination of the Thursday night line-up is chock full of characters that you just want to wrap up, take home and keep as pets. Who among us wouldn’t want your very own Abed or wished they were getting a text from Jeff? I know, personally, I would LOVE to have a Leslie Knope in my home. It would be so organized, and fun, and full of waffles. Throw in a Ron Swanson and you automatically have an assortment of breakfast meats at any given time. Pure bliss.

What are you most looking forward to watching this week?

OMFG Something Happened on Mad Men!

No, seriously… this is not sarcastic excitement. This is sheer, unabated joy all because something of note seemed to finally happen on Mad Men!

I tried watching this show once a few years back and I don’t think I got past the second disc of season one. That made me incredibly frustrated because I had heard nothing but great things from friends and online reviews about how amazing the show was. I have such an affection for the time period, for the area of advertising and sales, and, well, drama. Who doesn’t love a little drama? When I found myself unemployed this past fall, alone all day with three kids and a Netflix subscription, I decided to give the gang from Sterling Cooper another shot. And I was really glad I did.

Fast forward to this past February, I had finally caught up on all five seasons, and was marking on my calendar the premiere of season six. In discussing the show with friends, I tried to explain what the show was about and why I enjoyed it so much. A summary, sure, no problem… but why do I like it? That’s a harder question to answer. With the exception of three, maybe four, I don’t much like the characters much. In one way or another they are all obnoxious, pompous asses who all deserve the worst that karma could befall them for their actions. Having said that, I suppose that’s one reason I do love the show. The writers have an amazing sense as to who the characters are, and even though I may never want to have a drink with them, I would love to sit here and psychoanalyze them all! MOST of all, Don Draper.

Moving on to my OMFG moment of this week’s, Collaborators: Got three words for you folks: TRUDY “F-ING” CAMPBELL.

Alison Brie’s Trudy absolutely blew me away this week. Her reveal that she’s known about Peter’s affairs all along shocked me! Then, the seemingly perfect housewife’s new ‘I-wont-take-your-shit-anymore’ attitude kicked his ass to the curb, stating,

“I refuse to be a failure. I don’t care what you want any more. This is how it’s going to work — you will be here only when I tell you to be here. I’m drawing a 50 mile radius around this house and if you so much as open your fly to urinate, I will destroy you.”

Hell. Yes. Thank you Trudy, for finally giving Pete just what he deserves. Now, if she would only find out about Pete’s other kid…

Then, there is Peggy. She is still my favorite member of Madison Avenue, even though her time at the SCDP agency is over. I find myself looking forward to her story the most, as well as, her keeping in touch with Stan at SCDP. While their working relationship was rocky at the start, they seemed to have forged a genuine friendship akin to one you’d have with a bunker mate while at war. Even when the war is over, only that person can relate to that part of your life and the connection you form with them bonds you forever. Maybe it was the long hours smoking pot, er, being ‘creative’ at SCDP, or the fact that they endured the conference room meetings together while battling over the Heinz Baked Beans account… or maybe it was the fact that even though she is a woman working in a man’s world, he respected her work… whatever the reason, Peggy and Stan are my favorite blossoming potential non-couple at the moment. Even if they never move past that, I still think she’s got more chemistry with him, than her boyfriend Abe.

Adversely, you know who I DON’T care about, Don’s new side meat. With the flashbacks he is having to the whore house from when he was a boy, to the way that he tells his mistress, in a crowded restaurant no less, that he IS going to take her dress off at the end of the night, I just feel like he is a flat out nymphomaniac. Now, is that because he did witness (well, peeped) at his pregnant mother getting plowed by his drunk uncle, or is it because sexing up a new woman is how he maintains that feeling of control? It was apparent that its all finally taking a toll on him when he told her he wanted to stop what they were doing, then, unable to walk into his apartment, slinks down to the floor and stays there. He’s clearly having a rough time of it and I am starting to think that maybe all the death omens from last season will carry into this one. I mean, seeing your business partner hanging from his office door, then having visions of your dead brother all over the place, that’s gotta stay with a guy, right? Not to mention the divorce from Betty, countless affairs, and a whirlwind marriage to Megan… Maybe he could make an appointment with Roger’s shrink. Which, by the way, are scenes I could watch over and over again. Roger and his shrink are great, and I really hope the writer’s delve more into that man’s psyche. That LSD he took last season opened a door in his mind. Given the year is 1968 and the height of the ‘awakening’ of that generation’s consciousness, I think that they would be missing out on an opportunity if they don’t.

So to recap the third episode of season six: Don’s still spiraling out of control, despite his successful business, beautiful actress wife and Italian housewife side action… Peggy is still being harassed by most of the men she works with… Joan is still being propositioned by that creep from Jaguar… Roger is, well, still Roger, and poor Burt Cooper is still looking for an office. Once again, nothing much has progressed. Oh, Wait! TRUDY F-ING CAMPBELL happened! 

And THAT is why I love this show.

On a quick side note… WTF is up with the previews for the next episode? I can’t be the only person who noticed that they are cut awfully and make absolutely no sense whatsoever. Don’t believe me? Watch this and tell me if you can even get an inclination as to what this episode will be about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8HleDcZX0c