In 2004 when Drew went off the air, as much as i had loved it during its run, I never thought i'd truly miss it since it ran forever and a day, and reruns were still plentiful in syndication (and on TBS) but little did I know that those reruns would vanish soon after. (who knew that a show that had 230 plus episodes to its name could just disappear from cable like that?!?!?!? I just assumed with an episode count that high, it ensured it would be around forever somewhere on the dial) When even Drew himself would go on to look quite different just two years later when he landed the plum gig of replacing Bob Barker on The Price Is Right I knew the past was truly gone..but i sure do love to visit it when i can. (its been said before but skinny Drew Carey just doesn't look quite right.)
Although he was a great straight man to bounce the wackiness off of...and remained a very sturdy anchor to tie the show around throughout its lengthy run, it was definitely Diedrich Bader and Ryan Stiles who were the show's aces for me--those two I swear could wring laughs out of even the weakest material given them, those guys consistently found the funny...even in the very questionable quality of the show's 132nd season, (Entertainment Weekly once referred to two episodes being burnt off of the show over a summer as being part of the 132nd season. Snarky as it was, it wasn't too far off a guess!) Bader often gave great line deliveries tho the show made him cartoonishly dumber each passing season, and tho the show would make Stiles seem increasingly psychotic with each passing season, Stiles was as you'd expect always game for anything and even in reruns you can see the fun they're both clearly having.
Rounding out the main cast was Christa Miller as Kate whom i don't believe is on the reunion show tonight but i don't know for sure, I'd like to think she'll pop up but i'm skeptical, (but that's fitting cause often so was she on the show) Ditto for Craig Ferguson whom as the gleefully debouched (and affably slimy) Mr. Wick also never seemed like he wasn't having fun being there...which brings us to Kathy Kinney whom i havn't seen on anything since the show's ending outside of an episode of My Name Is Earl. Loud and never not abrasive, somehow she clicked with Drew perfectly as his eternal nemesis and professional life ruiner....probably the show's riskiest character (because again super abrasive) she worked oddly well within the bizarre universe the show had built up for itself over its long run and its hard to imagine the show existing without her...Yes Mimi is back for one night only but enough about my fond reminiscing of tv shows past--there's TV present to cover here damnit!!! (I know smooth transition over here)
Streaming:
The big 800lb gorilla in the world of streaming this weekend is the Netflix premiere of the Breaking Bad Movie Event "El Camino" which is a one off movie and not a tv series...but the movie supposedly chronicles what happens to Jesse Pinkman the night the events of the final episode of the show took place after he took off from his kidnapping to freedom. So i guess we find out what freedom looks like for Jesse, and maybe even if he can get his life back together after the traumatic events of that last season. (If i remember right he spent most of that last season kidnapped and being bounded and gagged and forced into making meth for that group of neo nazis that Jesse Plemmons/Landry from Friday Night Lights was the leader of.)
Its an unusually light week for streaming tv series premieres this week tho-the only tv premieres tonight are three Netflix shows--each going into its 2nd season tonight despite me having never heard of any of them before! (How is that even possible?!?!?!?)
Insatiable: (started life as a pilot for the CW that got passed over, but then picked up by Netflix) about a former overweight girl who was constantly bullied but thanks to a freak accident that causes her to be on a liquid diet for three months returns to school incredibly thin and seeking revenge. (Who is she Carrie???) A disgraced civil lawyer and obsessed pageant coach takes note of her and tries to turn her into a professional pageant winner. I don't get how this is an ongoing series and not you know a movie...but season two starts steaming tonight. Dallas Roberts plays the pageant coach, and the show also has Alyssa Milano, Arden Myrin, Chrisopher Gorham, and Irene Choi in it so solid support cast.
Haunted: This is an anthology horror show from Blumhouse Productions which is the low budget horror production company responsible for The Purge movies as well as Get Out and i think the Paranormal Activity movies as well right? Anyways its kind of a docudrama in that its people talking about the paranormal experiences they've had complete with re-enactments. (So its not an anthology show then!) Well i guess it kind of/sort of is??? (I dunno, this seems like Netflix's attempt at having its own Travel Channel Haunted Hotels or Ghost Activity kinda show where its just you know going places and listening to people's tell stories of stuff they swear they've witnessed firsthand.)
The Hook Up Plan: This French language show seems to be a Hallmark movie that somehow got stretched out to a show--This woman who is continually single gets set up by her friends on a date with the perfect guy whom she believes is a school teacher but is apparently a male escort hired by her friends. (How Is This A Show?!?!?!?)
Broadcast:
Hawaii 5-0 (CBS): "A plane that mysteriously disappeared and thought crashed in the Pacific in the 80's is found, but with a freshly murdered scuba diver inside. McGarrett and Quinn zero in on who planted the bomb in his garage; He also offers her a permanent place on 5-0. (And since she's played by a new cast member---'Sup Katrina Law---she'll undoubtedly say yes!)
The Blacklist (NBC): Liz, Dembe, and the FBI team continue to search for Red who attempts an escape of his own from his abductors. With help from an unlikely ally, Red soon discovers that he is not Katarina Rostova's only target in her hunt for information. (Well maybe she's planning on kidnapping the mailman??? As Newman once said on Seinfeld "When You Control the Mail...You Control Information!!!!")
American Housewife (ABC): When Anna Kat's school lunch lady refuses to make simple eco friendly changes in the school's cafeteria, Greg puts on a show highlighting the importance of recycling with his friend Bill Doty. (God I really hope this doesn't end up sucking--Please Lord don't let this end up sucking! I need this to be good!)
Friday Night Smackdown (FOX): No Synopsis Needed. Smackdowns will be handed out. That is all.
Charmed (The CW): Season 2 of this reboot about the trio of sister witches finds that "Following the devastating loss of the Elders, Mel, Maggie, and Macy take over their duties; Maggie takes time to celebrate her birthday with a big bash, but Mel finds herself too preoccupied with her new responsibilities to join in on the fun." (I don't think i ever made it past the pilot ep of this one last season and didn't really care for it all that much, but maybe it got better??? We'll have to ask Amadeus what he thought as i think i remember him watching this a little bit?)
Are You Afraid Of the Dark (Nick): This newly revived hour long scary stories anthology show for younger viewers premieres tonight and as you can probably tell it is a reboot of a show that was popular for the network in the 90s even inspiring a recent movie release by the same name. Will this make as big an impact in the minds of today's kids??? (its always hard to tell)
Raven's Home (Disney): When a new neighbor moves in next door on Halloween eve, the kids collect evidence to conclude that he could be an evil being. (Is This So Raven??? I honestly don't know!)
8:30
Fresh Off the Boat (ABC): "After seeing Marvin blissfully enter retirement, Grandma Huang decides its her turn to retire from something; When Louis fails to celebrate her as she wanted, it will take a visit from Hurricane Gene and maybe a hot tub to make things right again." (And Maybe A Hot Tub???)
Just Roll With It (Disney): Owen auditions for the school musical but quickly develops a case of stage fright. Blair's toothache leads her to the dentist where she must confront her worst nightmare. ("I Am Your Dentist, And I Enjoy The Career That I Picked.... I Am Your Dentist, And I Get Off On The Pain I Inflict") (God that's such a good song!)
9:00
Magnum PI (CBS): Mercenaries storm the estate in order to find out the true identity of the White Knight whom is Robin Masters' hero and literary muse and quite possibly fictional as well. Rick and TC help out one of Rick's employees when his car is stolen; and Higgins finally gives Magnum an answer regarding his asking her to be his partner in detective work. (Well she's only been putting him off for the last two weeks now!)
Dateline (NBC): A cross country investigation after a double homicide. (ok)
20/20 (ABC): Annoying there's no listing or synopsis for what this week's episode is about either on my cable guide OR ABC's 20/20 website itself. (Literally just says "Crime Investigation") But whatever its about--its two hours long.
Dynasty (The CW): The 3rd season of this reboot (and consistently lowest rated show on broadcast tv now that Crazy Ex Girlfriend is done) returns tonight with "On the eve of an annual Carrington Foundation Fundraiser, bodies are pulled from the lake on the Carrington Estate; Fallon finds herself haunted by Trixie's death in rather unexpected ways; and Kirby finds comfort when he visits Culhane. (I don't remember who Trixie is, like at all...i saw a handful of season 2 episodes including the one where her mom gets plastic surgery to make her look exactly like her daughter, so i was vaguely aware of what had been happening, but yeah i don't think i know anything now...but that's ok cause i'm sure Michael Weyer will fill us all in!)
Great Performances (PBS): "Now Hear This: Handel Italian Style" Handel's footsteps and influence in Italy while exploring the country's tradition of fashion, cars, food, and wine. (Handel? Handel? Handel?)
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables (Disney): This new Disney channel sitcom finds a teenage girl named Gabby getting an out of this world job in her new town, but it turns out that its babysitting an unruly group of important extraterrestrial children who are hiding out on Earth. (Soooo its Adventures in Babysitting Meets Aliens??? Except you know...For Kids!)
Diners,Drive Ins, and Dives (Food): A pub serving grub like chicken n biscuits and in the shell clam chowder in Santa Fe, New Mexico; A place in Reno with dishes like a double elk chop and wild boar spaetzle. Finally a bagel place that makes its sandwiches from scratch that are as creative as the bagels in Cambridge, Mass. (There's another brand new episode weirdly airing at 10:30)
Gold Rush (Discovery): Season 10 of this reality show has "A crisis in the Klondike forces Parker, Rich, and Tony to take massive gambles to strike it rich and hunt for gold on new grounds. The setback hits just as the price of gold spikes starting a new gold rush" (shrugs) Season 10 Everybody!
9:30
Green Acres (MeTV): A beautiful agricultural student comes to visit and observes farm operations. (He's like one of those Observers from Fringe--i bet you he time traveled to the 60's just to appear in this very episode of Green Acres!)(this reference may only make sense if you used to watch Fringe)
10:00
Blue Bloods (CBS): Frank's esteem for an old friend proves to be a mistake. Jamie asks Erin for help apprehending a perp who shot at him after learning that Erin chose not to send him to prison six months ago. Eddie clashes with her new boss. (I could swear they did this Erin plotline with Danny several seasons back, and isn't Eddie's new boss also her landlord now???) (CBS!)
Hispanic Heritage Awards (PBS): Recognizing the achievement in the field of excellence from the Arts to STEM. (Its The First Annual Montgomery Burns Award For....) (Do you think Smokin' Joe Frazer is gonna present an award????)
Van Helsing (SYFY): A grieving and aimless Axel rescues an enigmatic Max who returns the favor with a job offer. (nods) (jobs offers are nice, although in this bleak post apocalyptic world where vampires are killing anyone who's human left and right, maybe career prospects aren't the best priority to have maybe?)
Ghost Nation (Travel): New haunted location show has again a team of people traveling across the country to investigate various supposed haunted locations.
10:30
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (Food): An authentic Chinese place that has Thousand Chili Chicken, a pair of Texas twins are making brisket chili, and a sibling duo run a taqueria that specializes in green chili. (So its Chili based...."Chili would be good for dinner")
11:00
River of No Return (Discovery): New reality show has "As the winter ice thaws the Idaho River of No Return, the people living on its shores must navigate the raging spring rapids." (shrugs) Go Idaho????
Room 104 (HBO): "The Drywall Guys"---Temporary roommates on an out of town drywall gig struggle to find a solution to one's sleepwalking problems. (Anthology Show...HBO...This Is It...The Night of nights...And ohh what heights we'll hit...on with the show...this is ittttt) (nods)
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND ONE AND ALL!!!!
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