You know -- my weekly TV thread

[GalvestonDuck]

Dang, I missed being able to see ER last night. Can't wait til next Thursday!

Joey was funny as usual. It wasn't a spectacular knee-slapper but I just love his agent!

Will & Grace -- eh, it's been funnier. Much funnier.

This isn't a spoiler and I haven't read any kinds of rumors about it. But I am sooo positive this show is going to sneak in a kiss before its run is over (maybe not this season, but sometime). They've been close a couple of times and there was one comedic instance of a kiss. Those have happened all over the place on television but they don't count. As far as a serious relationship/romantic kiss is concerned, there's still no such thing in network history (between guys). It's been 15 or so years since Abby and C.J. did it on L.A. Law. I just kinda figure if any show is gonna do it, this one will. If not, I'm still certain it will happen on NBC (same network that carried L.A. Law).

SVU - OMG! Excellent episode where even George (the shrink) and Casey (the ADA) got to play pivotal roles in helping to solve the crime and save the victim. Now we just have to see what happens with Elliot and the IAB. Casey's good, but I miss Alex.

Tonight - my soap opera - Third Watch!

[Miss Mary]

I'll bite, as usual Shawn! Love discussing current TV shows...heck, even long ago ones too.

Joey....it was funny. I found myself laughing this week. TV Guide had a good comment this week, how long can Joey survive in CA without a job? In the past, he was never really rolling in it. Only briefly when he moved up to a new apt. on Friends but then spent way too much money, too fast and his character on Days fell down an elevator shaft. If you'll recall Chandler paid the majority of bills, for years. And now we have Michael living with Joey, not working. So....#1. Joey needs a job. Even if it's temporary until his next big break comes. Have him bartend or something! #2. I still can't stand the sister. She is just too hard for this show. No one on Friends was this hard, this sleezy! Even Janice and her skin tight leopard print pants, wasn't this slutty! Sorry, but I still can't stand Gina. But at least every single character knows she's rough and tough. I just say it's getting very old, too fast. #3. Joey needs another hang-out that the action can move back and forth from - similar to Friends. We had C. Perk, Monica's and Joey's apts. Even Ross' at times. But on Joey all we have so far is Joey's apt. Occasionally we see Gina's house or this week the inside of Alex's apt. See if he'd take a temp job, that could be the next hang-out! I really want to see this show succeed and thought by now he'd be working, and the action would be moving from place to place. And finally, a big #4 - we need a call from Chandler! Come on, by now you know Joey would be calling him!!!

ER....didn't even miss it. Can you believe that? I saw Love's Labor Lost the other day and teared up at the end. Made me realize the core member is still sorely missed - Mark. I'll still watch this season but my heart just isn't it anymore.

Sorry, don't watch the other shows you mentioned. Besides Survivor and Wifeswap, we watch That 70s Show, Raymond, Two and a Half Men, Still Standing, and 8 Simple Rules (which premieres tonight at 8, EST). So if you want to discuss any of these, feel free to add your 2 cents!

Mary

[GalvestonDuck]

*sigh* Love's Labor Lost - Colleen Flynn as Jodie O'Brien. It rocks...what more can I say? It was definitely a stand-out episode for the character of Mark Green.

[Miss Mary]

Shawn - I used to say Love's Labor Lost was my favorite ER ep but the more I think about it, Season One's finale, "Everything Old is New Again" is my favorite. Up until that episode I knew we were watching an awesome drama, superb writing, directing and acting of course. But the finale clinched it for me, I was crying and smiling at the same time as Carol still went to her ill fated wedding reception. Actually the tears started as Doug sat down behind her in the church. And kept flowing. Just watching them all dance in slow motion giving eachother glances and looks, sealed it for me - this was my new favorite drama. Haven't found one since either! They nailed it with that first season didn't they? I think that's why I have a hard time appreciating ER now. I know what we had is gone and it's almost like two different shows now.

If I had to choose my top 3 ER eps, it would be 1. Everything.... 2. Love's Labor Lost..... and 3. Hell and High Water (gotta love George Clooney in this ep!).

Won't give up on it but the excitement/anticipation I once had for weekly shows is gone I'm afraid.

Mary

[chicagopizza]

ER: I still like it, but it is on so late; it's more of the exception rather than the rule for us.

Joey: The woman who plays the agent is so funny. She hooked me in Best in Show and I am glad to see her on tv.

However, I wish Joey would get some jobs too. Maybe a commercial for dog food, but the dog gets more money than him. Or a public service announcement with a loving family and Janice or an ex girlfriend he hates walks in as his wife-she won a walk on role in a sweepstakes.

The only ones I can claim true addiction to, though, are Raymond, American Dreams and Joan of Arcadia. Extreme Home Makeover and Wifeswap are close behind, though!!

[Yankeegirl]

I love ER as well, and I missed it on Thursday too, not to mention, that there was absolutely nothing on except that debate, which I really had NO interest in watching.. It would have made it better if the Astros were on, but they had an off night as well.. Oh well.. a boring nite, we rented Bad Santa... No comment on that movie... This Thursday is going to be a new one, right?

[GalvestonDuck]

I think it's gonna take something incredible to ever knock LLL out of the top spot as my all-time fave. EOINA was definitely a character-heavy episode...good for a season-finale. The "Be Still My Heart/All In The Family" coupling (where Lucy dies) also ranks up there as one of the classics for me, as does "Ambush (the live episode)" probably because of how incredible it was to watch it as it happened. For the whole Carol/Doug thing, wouldn't you just die without the reunion in "Such Sweet Sorrow" when she finds him at the dock and they go to each other? *sigh* Great ending for those two.

I'd have to throw the entire seventh season in as a favorite simply because of the whole angst-filled Kim Legaspi/Kerry Weaver thing. Saw that one coming a mile away in "Mars Attacks" long before I knew there were spoiler sites in the world. Here was this new character, interacting specifically with Kerry, tossing in subtle little compliments about clothes and glasses. Good writers don't write unnecessary lines, so I knew there had to be some purpose in their interaction. Found out later -- there was.

I still get excited waiting for ER on Thursdays and when those first little notes play and one of the stars says, "Previously, on ER...," I'm all there! But I can't deny it's running neck-and-neck now with "Third Watch." I first started watching it off and on before 9/11. One of the stars (my fave, Molly Price - "Faith Yokas") is married to an FDNY firefighter and after 9/11, the TW crew produced a special-episode called "In Their Own Words" where actual FDNY's, NYPD's, and family members talked about what happened that day. Then I watched the following two week's episodes called "September 10th" and "After Time," which showed how the fictional FDNY's and NYPD's of Third Watch dealt with 9/11. After that I was hooked. They carried over the aftermath of 9/11 into subsequent episodes, writing it into the characters' lives, with one officer coping with his stress and anger over the course of several weeks and with a firefighter dealing with the recovery of her father's remains at Ground Zero several months later. It was all very cathartic.

Since then, *sigh* it's been nothing but pure, unadulterated, wonderful, romantic angst between two cops - Bosco and Faith. Unrequited love at it best. Blonde hair, green eyes, babe with a gun. *falls over on the floor* It's heaven.

And, of course, ER and TW have some of the same writers and directors. So, you know I just gotta love it.

[Miss Mary]

Shawn - I loved when Carol and Doug got back together. Crying the whole time. Perfect ending. If that had not been George Clooney....OMG, I would have been just livid! The first season still is my favorite because it was so ground-breaking. And I'm a sucker big time for theme songs - for years I could not watch ER without hearing the theme song. Even if taped, I had to play it. And I have to see Carter hang his head at the end. It was sad seeing core members left out of the theme song/opening segments - Anthony Edwards no longer scooting out in his chair, Eriq La Salle not punching the air, etc. When we no longer see Carter hanging his head, I think I'll be hanging mine and tearing up. The end of an era.....

I just wrote to NBC about Joey. I feel compelled to do so. Each week so many of us are frustrated his character is not working yet (even if temp work), the ensemble cast is small, and Gina is so annoying! So I let it all out, my likes/dislikes/suggestions. In doing so I had a good idea. I suggested Joey needs a hang-out, similar to Central Perk. Maybe a local bar, diner, etc. Then it hit me - a local park. Joey can rescue a cute, loveable dog and what better way to meet new people, than to have a dog by your side? Hopefully my letter will be read by ~somebody~. I really want that show to succeed but if it keeps on the way it has been, I fear it won't make it season two.

Mary