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This Word, "Best," I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

Pajiba After Dark / Intern Rusty

Miscellaneous | November 9, 2009 | Comments (36)

Welcome to the first full week of November television not being pre-empted by World Series games. I realize that’s a very small kind of celebration to be throwing, but it’s a Monday, so cut me some slack. Also American Thanksgiving is in a couple weeks, which is awesome for me because it’s my chance to get fattened up on real food before returning to my grad student diet. I’m currently debating if I should make myself ramen with frozen veggies or pasta for dinner. So many decisions! Anyway, here’s tonight’s TV:

8:00 p.m.: “Dancing With The Stars” on ABC.

“Heroes” on NBC.

“House” on FOX, which they’ve been pimping with these commercials that “the best show on television is back!” and I’m kind of like “uh… about that…” There’s a big difference between “best” and “most consistent” and I’d argue that “House” is a lot more the latter than the former.

“How I Met Your Mother” on CBS.

“One Tree Hill” on The CW.

8:30 p.m.: “Accidentally on Purpose” on CBS.

“Monday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos” on ESPN.

9:00 p.m.: “Dr. G: Medical Examiner” on Health.

“Gossip Girl” on The CW, and the episode is called “They Shoot Humphreys, Don’t They?” and that makes me giggle because I know someone with that name. I know nothing else about “Gossip Girl” to put that title in context either.

“Trauma” on NBC.

“Two and a Half Men” on CBS.

“WWE: RAW” on USA.

“Lie to Me” on Fox, which starts at 9:01 for you who DVR.

9:30 p.m.: “The Big Bang Theory” on CBS.

10:00 p.m.: “CSI: Miami” on CBS.

“The Jay Leno Show” on NBC.

“PBS Special: How The Beatles Rocked the Kremlin” on PBS.

“Castle” on ABC, starting at 10:02.

Intern Rusty is a Masters student at the University of Miami. You can learn more about her at Rusty’s Ventures.


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Comments

Is Trauma holding up? I quit watching it a few eps in, but if y'all think it is getting it's legs under it, I would catch up and follow along. My SO likes it, but he has terrible taste in TV shows. (shhh, he doesn't know that. It's cute watching him go all fanboy over really stupid shit.)

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at November 9, 2009 7:07 PM

I fairly certain it will be getting shit-canned soon, if not already, so I wouldn't suggest getting attached. Nothing less but stellar reviews and ratings would be needed in order to keep a show like that afloat with those insane special effects. I'm pretty sure it has neither.

Posted by: Cruise at November 9, 2009 7:18 PM

I love this web site, but I continually loath how much you hate House, I remember reading over and over how you chose not to comment about House...and I loathed that, however now that you choose to mention it hear and there it makes me cry..cry.

Posted by: Jingram at November 9, 2009 7:19 PM

Go Broncos. Or at least don't embarrass yourselves.

Posted by: anikitty at November 9, 2009 7:21 PM

Jingram, to be clear, I don't hate "House" but I've also seen enough of it to know that it doesn't deserve to be called the "best show on television". I think we've seen little if any character development out of House himself (he went from a sarcastic yet brilliant doctor who was difficult to work with and who was caustic in his personal relationships to… a sarcastic yet brilliant doctor who is difficult to work with and who is caustic in his personal relationships) and I think the show owes most of it's success to Hugh Laurie's acting abilities.

Posted by: Intern Rusty at November 9, 2009 7:26 PM

Well, though House has strayed away from the novelty of its earlier seasons, it does have Hugh Laurie...and that's enough for me to follow it to the bitter end, unless it goes the way of ER.

Posted by: bonnie at November 9, 2009 7:27 PM

Sorry, guys. You lost me at "Hugh Laurie."

*drooooool*

Posted by: Jelinas at November 9, 2009 7:44 PM

Let's go Steelers!

It's due to my totally unhealthy obsession with Mr. Roethlisberger that the team can thank me for supporting them. I love that big, burly, I-look-like-a-logger thing that he sports. Also, he had one of the greatest rookie seasons in recent history in my opinion, and continues to be a kick ass quarterback, so that doesn't hurt either.

Posted by: ashes at November 9, 2009 7:47 PM

Oh, Genny. Why you gotta do me like that? You wound my soul.

(Okay, the season with all the contestants fighting for three spots was beat. But last season totally came back. And I'm waiting to see where the whole "sober House" plotline goes. And I want to have Hugh Laurie's cane-wielding, eye-piercing, snarky, rude, motorcycle-riding crotchety babies, even though he's really sweet in real life. Why did I put this all in parentheses?)

Oh Hugh. I would punch Rusty's grandma in the face just to have one night with you. Not Julie's mom mom, though. She's badass.

Posted by: Nicole at November 9, 2009 7:54 PM

Time to redeem yourselves, Broncos!

I thought Trauma was already canceled. Maybe they are just running out the episodes they have made. But yeah, it's done. Don't get attached.

Posted by: TylerDFC at November 9, 2009 7:56 PM

I heard a rumor that Hugh Laurie might be quitting the show because all the fake limping is giving him joint troubles. Anyone heard the same?

Posted by: Chugga at November 9, 2009 8:08 PM

2 things save House from going the way of ER:
1) Hugh Laurie is THE SHIT. He could carry any POS drama on his back.
2) Like Law and Order, House is a procedural that is primarily plot driven in individual story arcs in each episode, and less by long term story development. Want proof? Ever sit down and watch House episodes out of order? It works.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at November 9, 2009 8:14 PM

To be fair, House has gone from a sarcastic yet brilliant doctor who was difficult to work with and who was caustic in his personal relationships to… a slightly less sarcastic yet brilliant doctor who is difficult to work with and who is slightly less caustic in his personal relationships.

For fun, go watch Black Adder the Third, then watch an episode of House. After seeing Hugh Laurie as the Prince Regent in all his brilliant foppiness immediately juxtaposed with the brilliant and sarcastic House your brain might melt.

Posted by: Brenton at November 9, 2009 8:58 PM

Not saying anything. Just throwing this out:

HBO Family just put THE BEST "Christmas Carol" adaptation EVER: Scrooged starring Bill Murray, Karen Allen and Bobcat Goldwaith.

And I will not hear debate on this. THIS.IS.THE.BEST.CHRISTMAS.CAROL.ADAPTATION.EVER.

Posted by: Fredo at November 9, 2009 9:08 PM

Fredo: Agreed. One of my two must-see Christmas movies (the other is The Ref).

Nicole: Agreed. Even with the parentheses.

Posted by: fenchurch at November 9, 2009 9:22 PM

I have to agree with you about "House". I enjoyed the first couple of seasons. But it's not just consistant, it's consistanly the same episode. I got bored and gave quit watching.

Posted by: EricD at November 9, 2009 9:43 PM

Fredo:
Such a favorite of mine that I attempted to get my high school to do a production of it. From a script that I transcribed myself. And told them to not worry about the rights, that I would talk to Paramount about securing them.
Ah, I was young and stupid.
But I still love that movie.

Posted by: Jim Doggie at November 9, 2009 10:24 PM

Fredo:

I think you missed the chance to do a Kanye joke. Here, let me fix it for you:

I'm happy for you Robert Zemeckis, and Imma let you finish, but HBO Family just put THE BEST "Christmas Carol" adaptation EVER: Scrooged starring Bill Murray, Karen Allen and Bobcat Goldwaith.

THIS.IS.THE.BEST.CHRISTMAS.CAROL.ADAPTATION.OF ALL TIME. OF ALL TIME.

Posted by: Daniel Hall at November 9, 2009 11:15 PM

That picture.....


I'll be in my bunk.

Having dirty, naughty, nasty thoughts about House spanking me with his cane........

MMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Posted by: Commander Strikeher at November 9, 2009 11:44 PM

Dang, missed my chance for Kanye-ism.

As for House, I've lost interest. I've realized that: 1)He's never going to change his ways (fans wouldn't put up with it) and 2)the world of the show means that everyone's problems must revolve around him...which is very narcissistic and boring.

Posted by: Fredo at November 10, 2009 12:53 AM

WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO RUIN AMERICAN THANKSGIVING?

Posted by: Ian at November 10, 2009 3:33 AM

I watch House purely because of Hugh Laurie. What other reason do I need?

Ooh - Castle! I got mock-glared-at by The Fillion on Friday night for downloading his show. But it's his fault! Who can resist Nathan?

Posted by: Tarn at November 10, 2009 5:40 AM

Damn, man. That photo. It feels like it's on purpose.

I watch House solely out of lust and fun. It's not a show I follow religiously, because it doesn't need it. All I need is Hue Lorry.

Aaaand...my bunk is wet.

Posted by: Miss A at November 10, 2009 6:55 AM

laurie fans...

y, he rocks on black adder..but he's
even better w/steven fry as wooster in 'jeeves & wooster' :)

via wiki
It starred Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster, a jovial but empty-headed young gentleman, and Stephen Fry as Jeeves, his improbably well-informed and talented valet. The stories are set in Britain and the United States in the pre-World War II 20th century (there are aspects of the Edwardian era, 1920s, and 1930s).

Wooster is a well-to-do bachelor, a minor aristocrat and member of the idle rich. He and his friends, who are mainly members of The Drones Club, are aided in all manner of societal adventures by the indispensable "gentleman's personal gentleman," Jeeves. Wodehouse drew the themes of his plots, which concern the entangled love lives of the major characters, from classical New Comedy.

Four series were produced, with 23 episodes in total. The programmes were produced by Brian Eastman and are all available on DVD.

One aspect of the series is that many of the supporting roles—including significant characters such as Aunt Agatha, Madeline Bassett, and Gussie Fink-Nottle—were played by more than one actor. One prominent character, Aunt Dahlia, was played by a different actress in each of the four series. Conversely, the actress Francesca Folan played two very different characters: Madeline Bassett in series one and Lady Florence Craye in series four.

Posted by: kikz at November 10, 2009 7:36 AM

1) "House" is awesomeness, personified by the delicious Hugh Laurie. He can spank me with his flame-covered cane any time.

2) Steelers suck. Deal with it.

3) Fredo, truer words were never spoken. When Carol Kane beating someone in the head with a toaster DOESN'T mean Christmas any more, I don't want to live any more.

4) Barney (HIMYM) in a fat suit is not as fun as it would seem.

Posted by: dammitjanet at November 10, 2009 8:43 AM

HOUSE SPOILERS

Um ... there were some hints last night that House is willing to change. Hell, he was going to offer to watch Cuddy's kid (which would have been great, she comes back to find them smoking cigars and watching porn or something), but she fucked that up good. And then he tried to open up to her and she couldn't handle it. Things are getting interesting.

You Pajibettes watch it for Hugh Laurie all you want. I'll watch for those moments when Cuddy bends over. Fore and/or aft.

Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at November 10, 2009 9:57 AM

Steelers suck. Deal with it. -- dammitjanet

Um, not as bad as the Broncs did in the 4th quarter last night...
I'm just sayin'.

Don't have anything against either team, myself. I'm just hoping (in vain) that Denver will be demoralized enough (wishful thinking, that) to lose to the 'Skins (my team, who suck pretty pathetically this year) this weekend.

Posted by: Rykker at November 10, 2009 10:15 AM

JEEVES AND WOOSTER!!!
Watch it, but brace yourself. It will make you fall madly in love with both Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.

Posted by: Empress of All the Russias at November 10, 2009 10:39 AM

And if you ever so inclined, treat your palate to a taste of "A bit of Fry and Laurie."

Wiki:

A Bit of Fry & Laurie was a British television series starring former Cambridge Footlights members Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, broadcast on both BBC2 and also BBC1 between 1989 and 1995. It ran for four series and totaled 26 episodes, including a 35 minute pilot episode in 1987. Both Fry and Laurie have expressed interest in working together again, but this has not yet taken place, due to both men's busy schedules.

The programme was a sketch show cast in a rather eccentric and at times high-brow mould. And so similar in design to the Two Ronnies elaborate wordplay and innuendo formed the cornerstone of its material; some sketches deliberately threatened to cross the line into vulgarity, but would always finish just before reaching that point.

It was a progressive show, playing with the audience's expectations. For example, it frequently broke the fourth wall; characters would revert into their real-life actors mid-sketch, or the camera would often pan off set into the studio. In addition, the show was punctuated with non-sequitur vox pops in a similar style to those of Monty Python's Flying Circus, often making irrelevant statements, heavily based on wordplay. Laurie was also seen playing piano and a wide variety of other instruments and singing comical numbers.

Posted by: Miss A at November 10, 2009 11:00 AM

Is it weird that I kind of love Castle?

Posted by: kylers at November 10, 2009 11:21 AM

I love House. i LOVE HOUSE! I know it's the same schtick, but it's done so well!

Also, I love Castle.

I would like to echo the sentiment that THE STEELERS SUCK!!!

Posted by: dene at November 10, 2009 11:41 AM

Brenton, I couldn't possibly agree more. Laurie is a genius.

I feel like I've met friends! Fry and Laurie? Jeeves and Wooster? Blackadder? This is what I call great TV.

Posted by: Suz at November 10, 2009 12:23 PM

I think I see change in House, due to this last couple of episodes, he's opening up, apologizing and in his own House way trying to change..

Posted by: Jingram at November 10, 2009 12:24 PM

3rd or 4th or whatever the love for Jeeves and Wooster - it makes watching House difficult because the genius of Hugh Laurie is his oh-so-British voice.

Also, check out his cameo on MI:5 .... pure British snark at its best.

Posted by: Stella at November 10, 2009 3:17 PM

dammitjanet u made me laugh do hard. I do love that flame covered cane.

My mate was hating on the consistency of House, so when Foreman, Cameron and Chase quit and we had a new gang in season 4, she enjoyed it, but later admitted they should stick with the old gang. It works so incredibly well. She's shut up now.

Hugh Laurie as House + cynism and funny one liners= Yes please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Jean at November 10, 2009 4:29 PM

@stella

ah yes.. laurie did a snarktastik performance as the MI6 liaison!

oh btw, don't bother w/MI9 (i think);
post nuK apocalyptic london. hollow, depressing, and there is no finesse. it's as if post nuk, all those w/ wit/charm/higher mental faculties/social mores... left the planet in a mushroom cloud of dust. it's a horror.

Posted by: kikz at November 11, 2009 8:04 AM





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