American Idol has become such a ratings juggernaut that it’s always a little surprising when something actually tops it. The Grammy Awards were able to do just that last week, thanks to the best ratings for the show since 2004. The other big event for the week was the return of Lost on ABC. It didn’t approach the Idol or Grammy numbers, but it did finish the week as the number one scripted show in the adult demo. Granted, it was the season premiere, but knocking off Grey’s, House, 2 ½ Men, and Big Bang Theory is always worth noting. On cable, the big surprise was probably the performance from USA’s White Collar and Psych. Both were well down from last week. Read the rest of this entry »

I really love Damages and need to gush for just a little bit. It’s hard to find shows that excel in everything. Obviously, Damages does well with the mysteries and plot twists. With actors of the caliber of Glenn Close, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the acting is top notch. Even the small moments between characters are great. There was more real and genuine drama and emotion during the scenes with Phil and Patty tonight than in the entire run of some series (Heroes and FlashForward come to mind).

I’m just so happy to have the show back on.

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It was a bit of a slow week of television. Football on FOX sent all the other networks scrambling on Sunday. Then Obama took over all the channels on Wednesday. Add in an oddly quiet Thursday and we had three pretty weak nights of numbers. Not to worry though, there was still the occasional cause for celebration. To call the NFC Championship a success would be a terrible understatement. How terrible? How about it more than doubled the Idol numbers? In non-gridiron results, FOX took advantage of the quiet Thursday, garnering some very good results for Bones and Fringe. Castle managed to grow their numbers again. And Vampire Diaries tied for second in the demo! Read the rest of this entry »

Damages is back, and I’m thrilled. It’s truly become one of my favorite shows on TV and after watching the premiere of the third season this evening, I’m pretty sure that that isn’t going to change any time soon. Damages has managed, through each of its seasons, to essentially reinvent itself while remaining familiar and I think a lot of shows could take a lesson from that.

This premiere episode introduced a new cast of characters that will be the center of attention for the new season, as well as a look into the future. Boy howdy, there are some big things happening in six months! Suffice it to say, stop reading now if you haven’t watched the premiere yet.

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Did you notice the title said “winter season” and not “mid-season?” That’s due to the changing face of television. In the period known as “Back in the Day,” the period between December and the first few weeks of January were full of reruns. These days, everyone, including the original Big Three, launch a whole new set of shows that totally mess up your viewing schedule.

To keep track of this, especially the extremely hard to follow FOX lineup, we continue our annual tradition of listing the newest shows, as well as mid-season finales and returns, that you’ll be stuck watching during those never-ending blizzards that lock you up in the house with your wife, kids, three-year-old canned chili, and a four-pack of toilet paper. As mentioned in previous years, dates and times will vary at the whim of drunken network executives.

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Damages begins filming its third season tomorrow, and to celebrate the occasion, FX sent out a very curious press release. Two actors have joined as series regulars for the new season. The first, Campbell Scott, we had heard about a couple weeks ago. I think he’s a perfect fit for the show and will fill the void left by some of last year’s departing cast.

The other actor joining the cast? Martin Short. Yes, that Martin Short.

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In my DVD post this week, it occurred to me that Saving Grace’s Grace Hanadarko and Damages‘ Patty Hewes are a lot a like. Well, maybe not so much alike, but they’re both intense and tend to live life on the edge. Let’s take a closer look at these two chicks and see how they compare … or not …

Hair: Wild vs. Neat. Grace boasts a long mane that flies everywhere and is indicative of her unrestrained outlook on life. Patty, on the other hand, has a cropped ‘do with never a hair out of place unless she’s been stabbed and has collapsed in an elevator. Even then, the hair is still prim and proper, much like her ability to sit through a conversation without letting on she’s been stabbed.

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